Mission of the FrameWorks Institute
The mission of the FrameWorks Institute is to advance the nonprofit sector's communications capacity by identifying, translating and modeling relevant scholarly research for framing the public discourse about social problems.
FrameWorks designs, commissions, manages and publishes communications research to prepare nonprofit organizations to expand their constituency base, to build public will, and to further public understanding of specific social issues. In addition to working closely with social policy experts familiar with the specific issue, its work is informed by a team of communications scholars and practitioners who are convened to discuss the research problem, and to work together in outlining potential strategies for advancing remedial policies.
FrameWorks also critiques, designs, conducts and evaluates communications campaigns on social issues. Its work is based on an approach called "strategic frame analysis," which has been developed in partnership with UCLA's Center for Communications and Community.
The FrameWorks Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization founded in 1999 to advance the nonprofit sector's communications capacity by identifying, translating and modeling relevant scholarly research for framing the public discourse about social problems. It has become known for its development of Strategic Frame Analysis ™, which roots communications practice in the cognitive and social sciences. FrameWorks designs, conducts, manages and publishes multi-method, multi-disciplinary communications research to prepare nonprofit organizations to expand their constituency base, to build public will, and to further public understanding of specific social issues. In addition to working closely with scientists and social policy experts familiar with the specific issue, its work is informed by communications scholars and practitioners who are convened to discuss the research problem, and to work together in outlining potential strategies for advancing public understanding of remedial policies.
Funders of the Institute include: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control, Norlien Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, W. T. Grant Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation.
FrameWorks research has been presented at the White House Conference on Teenagers, MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Pathways Through Middle Childhood, National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families, Education Funders Strategy Group, National Academy of Science Board on Children, Youth and Families, Surgeon General's Conference on Children and Oral Health, and numerous other forums.
Current projects focus on such issues as early childhood development, including child mental health; climate and ocean change; education, including STEM learning; environmental health; and immigration.
