FrameWorks Institute

2024 was a special year—FrameWorks’ 25th anniversary—and a special Annual Impact Report is in order! This year’s report features reflections on the past quarter century of framing, including the story of one movement’s success in shifting an unproductive narrative, along with reflections on the mission-driven sector’s evolution from FrameWorks’ Founder, Susan Nall Bales. In the second half of the report, you’ll find a recap of our year conducting and mobilizing research, some of our latest innovations, and the 2024 Resource Library. Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/eHWRyxc2

In his new op-ed, former Meet the Press moderator, Chuck Todd, describes the moment we're in as, among other things, an opportunity. Americans undoubtedly feel that systems are rigged against the majority, and that feeling isn't going away. Here's an excerpt: "A new poll from the FrameWorks Institute ... brings some clarity to the public’s mood. The group found that more than two-thirds of the country (70%) believe “the system is rigged. What was fascinating about the research is that the group intentionally didn’t give any specifics describing 'the system' in the question. It simply used that basic framing, 'the system,' without picking 'corporate, political, cultural' etc.  When the group drilled down, it found that some folks thought the system was rigged 'against' racial and ethnic minority groups. Still others thought the system was rigged against the white working class. Of course, a poll like this should be seen as an opportunity for a reform-minded politician or political movement." Read full article: https://lnkd.in/e8e6haDx

Around this time of year, sharing information about a nonprofit's positive impact isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Hearing about a project’s momentum can inspire more people to join the effort. But not all success stories are equally effective. When framing your success stories, remember the VIP approach: The “Victory” theme highlights clear, evidence-backed successes, showing how an organization overcame a social issue. The “Ingenuity” theme works for technical wins, focusing on the problem-solving process to make the success more relatable. The “Progress” theme emphasizes steady progress toward a larger goal, showing both achievements and ongoing efforts, and avoids reinforcing negative stereotypes. For more tips on talking about impact, click here: https://lnkd.in/gKQWavw4

The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson jolted the nation this month, but perhaps even more jarring were the common responses that the killing elicited. Many folks appeared to identify with Luigi Mangione’s sentiments, if not his actions. In their latest op-ed, FrameWorks' senior vice president of research, Andrew Volmert, and CEO, Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor make the case that the “system is rigged” mindset is too dominant and too widespread among the American people to ignore—and that understanding it is the first step to un-rigging systems that don’t work for most people. Read full article: https://lnkd.in/ei5WDHDC

Thanks to the FrameWorks Institute, a longtime partner, for visiting us last week to explore productive ways to talk about the system-is-rigged mindset. Look out for a 2025 report with key recommendations for framing rigged systems effectively to support progressive solutions. For now, learn more about this mindset in their latest research brief: https://lnkd.in/edd8HRNB

2025 will bring a new administration in Washington, debates about controversial policy ideas, and an unknowable host of cultural events and trends that will shape headlines, social media feeds, and kitchen table conversations. With all this change comes new and evolving questions about American culture—many of which we plan to investigate in 2025. Here’s a preview of what we’ll do:  -Assess the strategic implications of “mindset clusters”: Our research has already shown that some mindsets tend to cluster together—like Individualism, Meritocracy, and Market Naturalism, for example. Within each cluster, the more strongly people endorse one mindset, the more strongly they endorse others in that cluster. In 2025 we’ll continue to explore these connections to understand how culture change efforts on different issues can reinforce and amplify each other’s effects, and where it’s most critical for movements to come together to address mindsets that obstruct or enable change. -Examine how to frame with values to build systemic thinking across issues: We're currently researching how to appeal to certain values to strengthen systemic thinking across the board, on topics ranging from the economy to democracy to race and racism. This research will also examine the pros and cons of engaging with politically contested values—like freedom and fairness. -Explore how to navigate Americans’ deep desire for fundamental change: Our research to date shows that there is a critical mass of Americans who are deeply dissatisfied with the status quo, but struggle to envision a different future. We’ll explore how to navigate this challenge and help people imagine a better future without turning to charismatic strong men or technology as a deus ex machina that would swoop in and fix things. -Examine how to build a more inclusive “we the people”: In the coming year, we will begin investigating how framing can help build a more inclusive understanding of “we the people”—one that encompasses all groups within American society and that people in different groups can see themselves and others in. -Investigate how immigration and gender are connected to broader cultural trends: It is readily apparent—both in our research and in the news—how salient immigration and gender are in our current politics and people’s thinking about society. We aspire to deepen our understanding of how mindsets on these issues are connected to broader cultural currents and how to respond to them. We look forward to continuing to share what we learn in hopes that it can support our collective work in the years ahead. 

Over the past few years, there has been significant online and offline discussion on how to promote safety and address violence within communities. The concept of 'safety' often brings to mind its opposite—violence—leading many to think of dangerous, crime-ridden neighborhoods and view policing as the primary solution. Media coverage of crime rates often reinforces these associations. To shift this perspective, it's important to keep your message aspirational. Show people what you are going to create as a community first, before talking about what you need to prevent. This doesn’t mean you should avoid talking clearly and honestly about the problems your community faces, but from the very beginning, you want your audience to know what you can achieve together. For more guidance on how to frame community safety, click here: https://lnkd.in/eP2Pz6Eb

Framing complex and critically important health issues is a dynamic skillset we are constantly sharpening. Many thanks to Julie Sweetland and FrameWorks Institute for breaking down effective communication research on immunizations, health equity and other other challenges we need to think about differently with our Milbank Memorial Fund Fellows and Alumni. We will be pondering and implementing this for a while. https://lnkd.in/ejmSht9V

ICYMI: Last week, we hosted a webinar featuring FrameWorks senior advisor, Dr. Julie Sweetland, and moderated by FrameWorks board member and director of the Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Dr. Sheri Johnson. The conversation explored the most important framing strategies for dampening disinformation, reducing polarization, and rebuilding trust in science. Watch the full webinar: https://lnkd.in/eVecTCEb 

New research from FrameWorks Institute and the National Diaper Bank Network dives into how Americans are thinking about diaper need and systemic poverty, as well as emerging insights into how we can start to change the narrative and build support for systemic solutions. Here are three insights from the FrameWorks Institute and the National Diaper Bank Network’s new research: 1) When people think that diapers are widely available, they often struggle to recognize diaper access and affordability as a basic need like food, water, or shelter. 2) People often blame individuals for experiencing diaper need and systemic poverty, instead of understanding the larger systemic factors at play. 3) There is a prevalent assumption that economic inequality is natural and that poverty is inevitable, which makes it challenging for people to recognize the possibility of change. Dive further into the research: https://lnkd.in/gVjQSnPy