Retainer arrangement ensures support while protecting against large consulting fees
 

Furlow Communications, LLC has advised hundreds of companies, government agencies, universities, hospitals, non-profit groups, schools and others who faced serious threats to their reputations and sometimes even to their continued existence. In most of those cases, we were called in on short notice and with no previous knowledge of the client. However, with a few non-profit, governmental, or business enterprises that recognize that they have the potential for negative events, we have offered retainer relationships that minimized and leveled out the cost to the client and reduced our incident response time. Today we make this type of relationship available to a wide range of organizations that have foreseeable risks but limited means to pay large consulting fees when a major crisis or an emergency occurs. Many of these organizations have responsibility for children as part of their mission.

For a modest monthly retainer, Furlow Communications, LLC will:

• Become familiar with your organization, your leaders, and the most likely threats you face
• Respond quickly when a crisis occurs or appears on the horizon
• Assist on small issues for which outside help would be useful but not otherwise justified
• Devote whatever time is required to get you through your crisis or emergency
• NEVER present an invoice beyond the monthly retainer

When an organization becomes a retainer client, we get to know all about it, including its culture, the people who lead it, and the most likely threat scenarios. Having that background saves valuable time when a crisis situation occurs. And because we receive a monthly retainer, there is never a reason not to call on us, whether the matter at hand is large or small.

This service is offered nationwide for churches and other religious organizations, school districts, private schools, non-profit or for-profit childcare centers, and non-profit groups such as community centers, social welfare organizations, scouting organizations, food banks, etc.

Of course, we will be there for you regardless of whether we have an existing relationship. But here are some benefits to having us on retainer:

• We’ll get to know you before a problem arises
• We’ll learn your values and the threats you face
• You’ll learn how we think and become comfortable working with us
• You're protected against the high cost of addressing a large-scale crisis
• You’ll never receive a bill for using our services

Furlow Crisis Planning

Innumerable crisis communications plans are available online. Some are offered by agencies and others by church denominations, organizations of school administrators, and national non-profit organizations. Many of them are fine. But while an off-the-shelf plan can spell out the principles of crisis communications, it cannot take into account an organization’s:

• Unique needs
• Specific threats
• Core values
• Strengths and weaknesses

At Furlow Communications, LLC, we believe the best crisis communications plans are created by an organization’s leadership team, not by consultants, agencies, academics, or even an institution’s national headquarters. We walk our clients through the steps necessary to develop their own plans and, in the process, try to identify threats that could be eliminated or reduced by preemptive action. Ultimately, we may be the ones who commit the plan to writing. But the client makes all the decisions, resulting in a more complete understanding and a deeper sense of ownership.

Crisis communications planning can be purchased as a stand-alone service, although the most value comes from combining it with our monthly crisis response program.

Any organization that has responsibility for children has specific vulnerabilities that argue strongly for crisis communications planning. No one sets out to hire a sexual predator, but we know it happens. Most schools and agencies do their best to protect children from being injured, but that happens, too. These and other threats are foreseeable, and therefore we should know in advance how we will handle them.

Spokesperson Training

The ability to speak with the news media, especially during times of crisis, does not come naturally to most people. Providing the important information in a clear and concise manner while communicating the desired key points is an acquired skill. Those who attempt it without proper training are likely to misspeak, appear evasive, or fail to deliver a coherent message. In a crisis, your credibility means everything. Every organization needs at least one person who is ready to stand before the cameras and articulate its positions effectively.

Furlow Communications, LLC will work directly with the designated spokesperson or spokespersons to help prepare them to meet the challenge.