Mayor Lori Lightfoot
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government allocated a $1,200 stimulus payment for each eligible American to help them stay afloat during turbulent economic times. While most Illinoisans would receive their payment automatically, many low-income individuals – those hardest hit by the economic downturn – would need to take action to receive their payment.
A coalition of nonprofit organizations was formed to help Illinoisans get the information they needed to receive their payment as quickly as possible. With a long history of successful statewide campaigns, Grisko was the right partner to help the coalition reach and educate the audiences who mattered most – and provide more economic relief to people across Illinois.
The coalition, which included organizations like Grisko client Ladder Up, the Economic Awareness Council, New America, Heartland Alliance, the Woodstock Institute and Bank On Chicago, understood it would be an uphill battle for many low-income and vulnerable Illinoisans to receive their stimulus payments. Whether they were unbanked, recently moved or didn’t earn enough to file taxes, many were at risk of waiting months to receive their payment – or not receiving it at all.
Knowing these audiences can be hard to reach through traditional channels, the coalition called on Grisko to create a comprehensive public relations, marketing and digital strategy that would get this crucial information to those who needed it most.
Grisko started by creating a brand identity for the coalition and their GetMyPaymentIL.org website, ensuring consistency across all touch points. We then worked quickly to develop a complete suite of multi-channeled collateral materials that conveyed the most important messages to share across mediums, platforms, partners and audiences. Comprehensive audience testing was conducted to ensure the visual and artistic direction effectively resonated with our target demographics. These efforts included:
When the coalition officially launched GetMyPaymentIL.org, Grisko engaged media across Illinois to help spread the word about this critical resource. And as nationwide stimulus distribution carried on, our team worked to leverage key moments and deadlines to keep the coalition in the public conversation, cement their standing as a regional leader on these issues and enable more Illinoisans to get the payments they were owed.
Grisko’s creative work allowed the coalition to quickly share resources and spread their message to at-risk communities all across Illinois, helping those who would benefit most receive their stimulus payment.
With Grisko spearheading media outreach, the coalition has educated people through stories on outlets including WGN Morning News, Univision Chicago and in USA TODAY.
In their first month alone, the coalition was able to drive nearly 9,500 unique users to the website who completed more than 11,250 sessions, proving the information was useful and resonated with a wide audience. Grisko continues to partner with the coalition as they expand their reach and impact across the state.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Ventra
Echoes & Reflections
American Heart Association
Camelot
Commonwealth LNG
Loop Link
Police Accountability Task Force
Chicago Police Memorial Foundation
WBEZ Chicago
The Field Museum