Translated Budget Data Into a Citywide Public Advocacy Campaign

DTC’s role extended beyond policy analysis and direct government engagement to the communications infrastructure necessary to sustain a citywide advocacy campaign. New York City budget information can be highly technical, and funding allocations alone do not necessarily communicate why additional investment is needed or what those resources mean for communities. DTC helped translate complex funding information into language and visuals that could be understood and used by policymakers, nonprofit leaders, media, and community members.

The work included developing advocacy narratives, campaign messaging, talking points, public statements, press materials, briefing documents, graphic design, rally materials, and digital communications. DTC also connected funding gaps with the experiences of organizations providing direct services, helping demonstrate how public investment affects programs, staffing, organizational capacity, and the communities relying on those services.

This communications infrastructure allowed coalition organizations to advocate from a more consistent and coordinated narrative while still elevating individual community experiences. By connecting data, policy, storytelling, design, press, and grassroots communications, DTC helped turn technical budget advocacy into a broader public campaign capable of supporting government engagement, media outreach, coalition mobilization, and community education.