The Elrod Gifford Group
Political Advising ● Public Affairs ● Finance & Fundraising Strategy ● Thought Leadership
Strategic Communications
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Media Relations Support
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Media Training
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Communications Training
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Influencer Engagement
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Influencer Mapping
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Thought Leadership
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Crisis Communications
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Political Advising
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Project Management
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Public Affairs Support
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Salon Dinners
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Political Introductions - Federal, State and Local
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Stakeholder/Donor Introductions - US and Abroad
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Finance and Fundraising Strategy - US and Abroad
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Strategic Communications ⇢ Media Relations Support ⇢ Media Training ⇢ Communications Training ⇢ Influencer Engagement ⇢ Influencer Mapping ⇢ Thought Leadership ⇢ Crisis Communications ⇢ Political Advising ⇢ Project Management ⇢ Public Affairs Support ⇢ Salon Dinners ⇢ Political Introductions - Federal, State and Local ⇢ Stakeholder/Donor Introductions - US and Abroad ⇢ Finance and Fundraising Strategy - US and Abroad ⇢
We want to help you navigate what feels like an increasingly challenging and complex world.
Adrienne Elrod and Rufus Gifford have been on the front lines of politics and government both at home and abroad, helping candidates win and companies grow while engaging people and stakeholders in the mission.
Our careers have taken us to every corner of the world, working hand-in-hand with Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs, Cabinet Secretaries, Members of Congress, policy experts, members of the media, and leaders of civil society. With this in mind we want to use our breadth of experience and extensive contacts to help you succeed.
Whether you are a company looking to scale and navigate politics at home or abroad, a NGO or non-profit looking to grow and scale in order to meet the increased needs of communities or a campaign looking to win hearts and minds, we are ready to put our expertise at work for you.
“We live in a time where it’s more important than ever to find partners. Whether on campaigns, as an Ambassador serving the United States or in the private sector, my career has been devoted to building historically successful operations by investing in people and data. Give me a goal and I don’t just want to achieve it, I want to do something that’s never been done before.”
- Rufus Gifford
“During these unprecedented times, tackling tough challenges through an aggressive yet consensus-building, common-sense approach is not only necessary, but paramount to succeeding. I’ve worked on four presidential campaigns, two presidential administrations, and at the highest levels of Capitol Hill, and have a firm understanding of what it takes to achieve and win results in Washington and beyond.”
- Adrienne Elrod
The Elrod-Gifford Group helps clients achieve their goals by providing the following services:
▶ Strategic Communications
▶ Media Relations Support
▶ Media Training
▶ Communications Training
▶ Influencer Engagement
▶ Influencer Mapping
▶ Thought Leadership
▶ Crisis Communications
▶ Political Advising
▶ Project Management
▶ Public Affairs Support
▶ Salon Dinners
▶ Political Introductions - Federal, State & Local
▶ Stakeholder/Donor Introductions - US & Abroad
▶ Finance and Fundraising Strategy - US & Abroad
Strategic Communications
⇢
Media Relations Support
⇢
Media Training
⇢
Communications Training
⇢
Influencer Engagement
⇢
Influencer Mapping
⇢
Thought Leadership
⇢
Crisis Communications
⇢
Political Advising
⇢
Project Management
⇢
Public Affairs Support
⇢
Salon Dinners
⇢
Political Introductions - Federal, State and Local
⇢
Stakeholder/Donor Introductions - US and Abroad
⇢
Finance and Fundraising Strategy - US and Abroad
⇢
Strategic Communications ⇢ Media Relations Support ⇢ Media Training ⇢ Communications Training ⇢ Influencer Engagement ⇢ Influencer Mapping ⇢ Thought Leadership ⇢ Crisis Communications ⇢ Political Advising ⇢ Project Management ⇢ Public Affairs Support ⇢ Salon Dinners ⇢ Political Introductions - Federal, State and Local ⇢ Stakeholder/Donor Introductions - US and Abroad ⇢ Finance and Fundraising Strategy - US and Abroad ⇢
Meet your team
Adrienne Elrod
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A veteran of four presidential campaigns and two presidential administrations with nearly three decades of federal government, campaign and private sector experience, Adrienne Elrod is a seasoned political strategist, government affairs expert and communicator. She most recently served as Senior Advisor and Senior Spokesperson to Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign, where she frequently appeared on television on behalf of the candidate and campaign and was a member of the leadership team. She held this same position for President Biden’s re-election campaign.
In the Biden Administration Elrod served as a top aide to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo as Director of External and Government Affairs for the CHIPS Program Office, where she managed legislative affairs and communications for President Biden’s signature effort to catalyze domestic semiconductor production.
During the 2020 general election, Elrod served as a top advisor to President Biden's general election campaign as Director of Surrogate Strategy and Operations, and later, as the Director of External Affairs and Talent for the Biden Inaugural. Elrod served a similar role on the 2016 presidential campaign overseeing the campaign’s vast surrogate operation as Hillary for America’s Director of Strategic Communications and Surrogates.
She has held previous senior level positions on Capitol Hill, including nearly six years as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Ron Klein. She was also a senior communications aide to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign and served as a regional press secretary during the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
A native of Arkansas, Elrod began her political career in President Clinton’s Administration, serving in both the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She later returned to her home state to join the Arkansas Democratic Party as its Communications Director.
Elrod received her B.A. from Texas Christian University.
Rufus Gifford
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Rufus Gifford is a former U.S. Ambassador, senior aide to Presidents Obama, Biden and Vice President Haris, civic leader, public speaker and advocate for Democratic causes.
Most recently Gifford served as Finance Chair of the Biden-Harris and Harris-Walz campaigns amassing a record $ 2.2 billion for the efforts. Prior to that he was the Chief of Protocol of the United States with the rank of Ambassador and Deputy Campaign Manager for Biden for President in 2020 with a focus on finance, external outreach and coalition building. Aside from Presidential politics, he is focused on promoting civic engagement, particularly among youth and issue areas ranging from U.S. public diplomacy to renewable energy.
From 2013 to 2017, Rufus served as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark where he led efforts to address the effects of climate change, build international coalitions, and invest in clean energy. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for his meritorious service.
His pioneering tenure as Ambassador has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, CNN, and Vice News, among many other national and international outlets, and he has spoken extensively across Denmark and the United States about his efforts to break down walls and humanize the work of government.
Prior to Government service, Rufus was the National Finance Director of the Democratic National Committee and supported passage of a number of Obama policy initiatives including the Affordable Care Act. Before that, he was an aide on Obama’s historic 2008 presidential campaign. During Obama’s first term, Rufus was the National Finance Director of the Democratic National Committee and supported passage of a number of Obama’s policy initiatives, most notably the Affordable Care Act. Before that, he was an aide on Obama’s historic 2008 presidential campaign.
A native of Massachusetts, Rufus holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. He is married to veterinarian Dr. Stephen DeVincent and they live in Concord, Massachusetts with their Golden Retrievers, Svend and Odin.
