Attio for Policy
Relationship tracking built for policy work
Policy influence is a relationship game played over years. A spreadsheet does not cut it. A sales CRM is the wrong shape. Attio lets you model the relationships, workstreams, and outputs that matter.
We implement Attio for policy institutes, think tanks, and research organisations.
Book a callSound familiar?
- Stakeholder relationships are tracked in spreadsheets that different team members update inconsistently
- You cannot tell at a glance which MPs, civil servants, or journalists have been briefed on a given project
- Event follow-up depends on whoever remembers to send the email after the roundtable
- Research outputs are not connected to the stakeholders who should receive them
- You have policy expertise but no system that reflects the complexity of the relationships
- Your outreach to decision-makers is reactive rather than planned
Why standard CRMs do not fit policy work
A stakeholder is not a contact
A contact record holds a name and a company. A policy stakeholder has a portfolio, a position, an institution, a level of influence on specific issues, and a relationship history spanning years. Tracking that in fields on a contact loses what makes the relationship useful.
Policy work is not a sales pipeline
A sales CRM tracks deals moving toward a close. Policy work tracks relationships moving toward influence: consultations responded to, briefings delivered, working groups joined, positions shifted over time. The rhythm is different and the CRM needs to reflect that.
Workstreams and publications are first-class objects
A think tank runs multiple workstreams simultaneously. Publications, events, and briefings belong to specific workstreams and reach specific stakeholders. Without that structure, output sits in Notion while relationships live in a spreadsheet and nothing connects.
Follow-up gets dropped between projects
After a roundtable or a report launch, follow-up happens once and then the relationship goes quiet until the next event. Stakeholders who should be heard from quarterly slip through.
The data model
Stakeholders
The people who matter: civil servants, parliamentarians, researchers, journalists, funders, and allied organisations.
- Role and institution
- Policy portfolio (multi-select: AI, health, climate, education, etc.)
- Influence level on specific issues
- Relationship owner and last touchpoint
- Priority tier for outreach
- Linked Events, Publications, Workstreams
Organisations
Government departments, select committees, think tanks, universities, foundations, and media outlets.
- Organisation type (government, academic, civil society, media, funder)
- Key contacts (linked Stakeholders)
- Policy areas of interest
- Current relationship status
- Active workstream links
Workstreams
Active research or policy projects. The hub that connects publications, events, and stakeholder engagement.
- Project lead and team
- Policy focus areas
- Status (Active, Completed, On hold)
- Target stakeholders for this workstream
- Linked Publications and Events
Events
Roundtables, briefings, public lectures, parliamentary engagements. Each event as a record with attendees and follow-up.
- Event type (roundtable, briefing, public lecture, parliamentary session)
- Date, host, location
- Attendees (linked Stakeholders)
- Linked Workstream
- Follow-up status and notes
Publications
Reports, briefings, submissions, and articles. Connected to the stakeholders they target.
- Publication type (report, policy brief, submission, op-ed)
- Linked Workstream
- Target stakeholder list
- Distribution status
- Date published, link
Automations
Stakeholder touchpoint reminders
Priority stakeholders get a follow-up task if they have not been contacted in a defined period. The relationship stays warm without depending on memory.
Event follow-up workflow
After an event date passes, tasks are created for the owner to follow up with each attendee. Nothing falls through after the roundtable.
Briefing distribution tracker
When a new publication is created, a list of target stakeholders is attached and distribution is tracked per record. The team knows who has and has not been briefed.
Inbound tracking
Consultation responses, press requests, and speaker invitations are logged as records and routed to the right workstream or team member automatically.
FAQ
Is Attio suitable for a small policy team?
Yes. Attio works well from a team of two to a team of thirty. The free plan covers up to three users. Paid plans scale from there without the overhead of enterprise CRM tools.
Can Attio handle GDPR requirements for stakeholder data?
Attio stores data in the EU by default and supports data export and deletion on request. For specific GDPR compliance requirements, review Attio's data processing agreement with your data protection officer.
Can we track parliamentary engagement specifically?
Yes. Stakeholder records can hold portfolio fields for specific parliamentary committees, bills, and inquiries. Events can be tagged as parliamentary sessions. The structure is fully custom.
What about Mailchimp or email newsletter integrations?
Attio connects to email tools via Zapier, Make, or n8n. Stakeholder lists can be synced to a newsletter tool based on fields or list membership in Attio.
How long does implementation take?
Most policy org setups complete in 1-2 weeks including data migration from spreadsheets or an existing CRM. The timeline depends on how much historical data needs to move.
Ready when you are.
Two ways in. Pick the friction that fits.