PolicyWorks
PolicyWorks is an Iowa-based government affairs and public relations firm providing bipartisan lobbying, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, public relations, and event planning services to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to credit unions and nonprofits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWest Des Moines, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
PolicyWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PolicyWorks
- Legal name
- PolicyWorks-Iowa, LLC
- Website
- https://policyworksiowa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PolicyWorks is an Iowa-based government affairs and public relations firm providing bipartisan lobbying, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, public relations, and event planning services to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to credit unions and nonprofits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PolicyWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Affairs & Public Relations Consulting
- NAICS
- Media Representatives (541840)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying (BPAFADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE), Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where PolicyWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PolicyWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Relations Services: Lobbying and legislative advocacy services for clients seeking to influence public policy at the state level in Iowa. Services include strategic counsel, legislative tracking, and direct advocacy before the Iowa Legislature.
- Public Affairs and Public Relations: Media exposure, digital strategies, brand awareness enhancement, and public relations campaigns for organizations and causes.
- Music Industry Support Services: Social media management, advertising, traditional and digital media, content creation, website design, consulting, Patreon management, and fan outreach for musicians and music industry clients. Services offered in tiered packages.
- Event Planning: Event planning services for clients including legislative events, conferences, and special events.
- Grassroots Advocacy: Coalition building and grassroots advocacy strategy development to mobilize constituent support for client causes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Music Industry Support - Multiple Service Tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
PolicyWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PolicyWorks is a government affairs and public relations consulting firm that provides bipartisan legislative lobbying, public affairs strategy, public relations campaigns, grassroots coalition building, and event planning services to clients in Iowa and nationally. The firm also offers a niche Music Industry Support service covering social media management, content creation, website design, and fan outreach. Clients range from Fortune 500 corporations and trade associations to non-profits and individual musicians.
Product overview
PolicyWorks is a government affairs and public relations consulting firm offering six core service modules: Government Relations (bi-partisan lobbying), Public Affairs (media and digital strategy), Public Relations (brand awareness campaigns), Grassroots Advocacy (coalition building), Event Planning, and a specialized Music Industry Support service. The firm serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to smaller non-profits, with a focus on Iowa-based advocacy and legislative objectives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Government Relations Bi-partisan lobbying and legislative advocacy services helping clients achieve legislative objectives at the Iowa state level, including strategic counsel, legislative tracking, and direct advocacy before the Iowa Legislature.
- Public Affairs
- Public Relations
- Grassroots Advocacy
- Event Planning
- Music Industry Support
Quantifiable outcome
- Six-year legislative journey resulting in Iowa Legislature passing and Governor Reynolds approving Internet Fantasy Sports in 2019 for DraftKings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PolicyWorks
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PolicyWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PolicyWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Iowa Credit Union LeaguecoreLong-standing strategic partnership with the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL). PolicyWorks CEO Justin Hupfer previously served as VP of Government Affairs for ICUL. PolicyWorks assists ICUL with annual Legislative Conference, government affairs activities, and political action fundraising. ICUL's PAC and grassroots program consistently ranked among the most effective in the state under PolicyWorks' direction.
- CUNA (Credit Union National Association)majorPolicyWorks team joins Iowa Credit Union League at CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington D.C., an annual premier event for credit union advocacy.
- Greater Des Moines PartnershipmajorPolicyWorks sponsors the Greater Des Moines Partnership's annual trip to Washington D.C., participating in federal advocacy efforts alongside other Iowa business leaders.
- NAMI IowacorePolicyWorks supported NAMI Iowa's advocacy efforts that resulted in establishing the 988 mental health crisis hotline for Iowans.
- Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS)corePolicyWorks serves as advocate for DISCUS and Iowa distillers, successfully lobbying for legislation (SF 2374) allowing Iowa distillers to offer products in cocktails at their establishments.
- Iowa Credit Union FoundationminorPolicyWorks sponsored the Iowa Credit Union Foundation's 'Be the Light' Golf Classic, an annual event raising money to help Iowans in need and improve financial health.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PolicyWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cornerstone Government Affairs: Cornerstone Government Affairs is a national bipartisan government relations firm with offices in DC and across multiple states. It overlaps with PolicyWorks on legislative advocacy and public affairs work but operates at much greater scale, often serving as the multi-state incumbent PolicyWorks competes against when Iowa clients expand their lobbying footprint.
- CGCN Group: CGCN Group is a bipartisan government affairs and strategic communications firm. Comparable in combining government relations with public affairs/communications for association and corporate clients, but at significantly larger scale than PolicyWorks and often serving as a multi-state incumbent.
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath: Faegre Drinker is a national law and government relations firm with a substantial state government affairs practice. Competes for large corporate advocacy mandates where PolicyWorks is sub-contracted or outmatched, offering integrated legal-lobbying services at scale.
- Forbes Tate Partners: Forbes Tate Partners is a bipartisan government affairs and public affairs firm based in DC. Comparable to PolicyWorks on bipartisan advocacy strategy and public affairs campaigns, particularly for corporate and association clients expanding from Iowa into federal work.
- Mercury Public Affairs: Mercury is a national public affairs and strategic communications firm with bipartisan teams across the US. Comparable to PolicyWorks on the integrated government-relations-plus-PR model but at much larger scale, often competing for the corporate and association clients PolicyWorks serves at the state level.
- Vogel Group: Vogel Group is a DC-based government relations and public affairs firm serving corporate, trade association, and non-profit clients. Comparable service mix to PolicyWorks (advocacy, public affairs, communications), with broader national reach that makes it a likely competitor when PolicyWorks' clients seek federal or multi-state representation.
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is a large national law and lobbying firm with a deep government relations practice. It competes for high-end Fortune 500 advocacy mandates and offers the kind of multi-jurisdiction, integrated legal-and-lobbying capability that limits PolicyWorks' ability to scale flagship clients like DraftKings into federal work.
Direct peers
- Samaritan Strategies: Samaritan Strategies is an Iowa-based government affairs and public affairs firm focused on non-profit, faith-based, and advocacy clients. Comparable to PolicyWorks in regional Iowa focus and grassroots advocacy offering, though with a more issue-oriented client base.
- RKM&Co: RKM&Co is a Des Moines-based public affairs, government relations, and strategic communications firm serving Iowa clients. Comparable in size, location, and service mix to PolicyWorks, and frequently competes for the same Iowa-based advocacy and PR engagements.
- LS2 Group: LS2 Group is a Des Moines-based government relations, public affairs, and lobbying firm serving Iowa and Midwest clients. It is the closest direct competitor to PolicyWorks given shared Iowa base, similar bipartisan approach, and overlapping service lines (government relations, public affairs, public relations).
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PolicyWorks social profiles
Digital presencePolicyWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PolicyWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PolicyWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PolicyWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PolicyWorks
What does PolicyWorks do?
PolicyWorks is a government affairs and public relations consulting firm that provides bipartisan legislative lobbying, public affairs strategy, public relations campaigns, grassroots coalition building, and event planning services to clients in Iowa and nationally. The firm also offers a niche Music Industry Support service covering social media management, content creation, website design, and fan outreach. Clients range from Fortune 500 corporations and trade associations to non-profits and individual musicians.
Is PolicyWorks a public or private company?
PolicyWorks is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was PolicyWorks founded?
PolicyWorks was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PolicyWorks based?
PolicyWorks is headquartered in West Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does PolicyWorks make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Relations Services are the primary driver. The others are public Affairs and Public Relations, music Industry Support Services, event Planning and grassroots Advocacy.
Who are PolicyWorks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cornerstone Government Affairs, CGCN Group, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, Forbes Tate Partners, Mercury Public Affairs, Vogel Group and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Direct peers are Samaritan Strategies, RKM&Co and LS2 Group.
Does PolicyWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for PolicyWorks.
What industry is PolicyWorks in?
PolicyWorks's product category is Government Affairs & Public Relations Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAB, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying, with a secondary code of MPAAADAE, Public Affairs & Government Relations. Its NAICS code is 541840 and its SIC code is 7310.