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Policy and Advocacy Communications plus Data Visualization for a Health Non-Profit

Client: Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH)
Sector: Nonprofit, Health Grantmaking & Advocacy
Services: Policy and Advocacy Communications • Data Visualization • Legislative Strategy

Background

Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) was established in 2000 following the conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri to a for-profit entity. Proceeds from the sale of the nonprofit assets were used to endow MFH’s mission: to eliminate health inequities and improve health outcomes across Missouri by transforming systems and empowering communities.

MFH’s policy and advocacy work spans multiple focus areas including food justice, behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, digital equity, and access to care.

The Challenge

MFH had witnessed firsthand how other foundations were winning policy battles with district-specific briefing materials. Lawmakers responded to localized data in ways that statewide statistics couldn’t achieve, turning abstract policy discussions into concrete, actionable conversations about their constituents’ needs.

MFH needed their own strategic advantage: a comprehensive library of one-page district briefs that would translate complex health data into compelling local narratives. The challenge was creating materials that could work across multiple audiences from legislators needing quick talking points to advocacy partners building detailed campaign strategies while remaining easy to update as new data emerged.

MFH needed advocacy tools that were specifically:

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District-specific, branded, and easy to understand

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Grounded in reliable, current data

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Scalable and repeatable for future use

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Useful across internal teams, lobbyists, and policy partners

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Designed as leave-behind materials that legislators could reference long after initial meetings

Edison Spaces

Research and Execution

Working in close partnership, K.C. O’Rourke and Catherine Mores led the development of over 200 customized district briefing documents, guiding both the research and creative execution phases of the project.

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Data Curation

Used the MySidewalk platform to curate data from over 50 trusted sources, including:

  • U.S. Census Bureau (875 data points)
  • USDA Food Environment Atlas (120)
  • CDC PLACES (44)
  • Civil Rights Data Collection (40)
  • National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (36)
  • FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (27)
  • Plus 44 additional federal and state databases
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Comparative Framing

Each brief compared district data to statewide benchmarks, making disparities and opportunities clear at a glance.

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Strategic Focus Areas

Each brief highlighted six core policy domains:

  • Food insecurity
  • Gun violence
  • Insurance coverage
  • Demographic indicators
  • Child care access and affordability
  • Digital access
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Design & Production

Developed branded, single-page infographics tailored to each legislative district, highlighting actionable insights and opportunities for policy development.

Highlights

The final deliverables made an immediate impact at the Missouri State Capitol and beyond:

Legislators used the briefs in committee meetings, caucus discussions, and constituent communications

Policy partners adopted the materials to customize advocacy messages by district

MFH’s reputation as a credible, data-informed voice in health policy was strengthened

The structure and strategy are now being used as a repeatable model for future issue campaigns

Legislators were empowered to self-advocate using data grounded in authoritative sources

Integration of 50+ validated data sources increased trust and transparency across audiences

MO Legislature

Why It Worked

The rebrand created immediate clarity and consistency across Health Forward’s communications ecosystem. Internal teams, especially policy and grantmaking, reported stronger alignment and faster workflows. Staff and external partners now had the tools and confidence to apply the brand consistently, maintaining a strong visual and strategic presence across digital and print platforms.