Strong data is a great motivator. It enriches public conversations, informs political debates, and spurs behavior and policy changes.
We’ve partnered with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation since 2010 to spotlight issues on children’s health. Together with LJR Custom Strategies, we’ve designed national polls and focus groups—and then used the results to hone messaging, arm foundation grantees with data, and garner national media attention on the foundation’s priorities.
Making healthy school meals a priority
In advance of the 2010 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, we polled Americans about their opinions on the nutritional quality of school meals. The poll, which was featured in USA Today, showed that only 26 percent of Americans thought their nutritional quality of school meals was good or excellent.
Five years later—after robust school nutrition standards were put in place—we polled again. We found that confidence in the nutrition standards more than doubled since the 2010 poll. What’s more, nearly 90 percent of people supported the new nutrition standards.
To promote these findings, Pyramid designed and built an animated, scrolling website, which we then shared with key reporters. We also prepared grantees content and recommendations for sharing the poll results broadly on their social channels.
In advance of Congressional debates on the standards, the WKKF poll demonstrating broad public support ran in the New York Times, USA Today, Politico and other outlets, reaching an audience of more than 297 million people. The poll website and media stories made nearly 7 million Twitter impressions in the first 48 hours.
Media stories
Combined audience size
Twitter impressions
Focusing attention on healthy food incentives
In 2012, we collaborated with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and LJR to conduct a national poll on fresh food access, including questions about doubling SNAP benefits (food stamps) at farmers markets. The data and shareable infographics of the data were released at the foundation’s Food & Community gathering, with more than 600 attendees, who immediately put it to use. One grantee said, “This is the data our movement has been waiting on for years.”
The New York Times, Washington Post, National Journal, Congressional Quarterly, and other outlets—with a combined reach of more than 78 million people—reported the poll data.
“These findings would appear to underscore the success of various organizations… in spreading the gospel about local produce, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more healthful diets,” wrote the Washington Post. “The message is clearly sinking in with the American public.”
Reframing the breastfeeding conversation
We’ve also teamed with the foundation and LJR to conduct a national poll and focus groups on people’s attitudes about breastfeeding, helping move the debate out of “mommy wars,” and into a frame where everyone has a role to play in supporting moms and babies.
From the research, we created a message guide for advocates to reshape the conversation about breastfeeding. We’ve conducted communications workshops at national conferences, arming advocates with the data.
