Etymology From grass + tops, by analogy with grassroots.
1
Idiomatic Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
Along with the ads, industry worked to mobilize local politicians and business executives in what business groups called a "grass tops" campaign.1998, Dan Clawson, Alan Neustadtl, Mark Weller, Dollars and Votes: How Business Campaign Contributions Subvert Democracy, Philadelphia, Pa.: Temple University Press, →ISBN, page 12:
"Some of the work is grassroots," he said, "and some of it is grass-tops – like this summit."2003 November 6, Cara Gardner, “Prepping for surgery”, in The Pacific Northwest Inlander, archived from the original on 26 Sep 2015:
2 more examples
[Mitchell] Schwartz said [Hillary] Clinton's campaign in California – which has been heavy on endorsements and organization – is more "grasstops" than "grassroots," while the Illinois senator [Barack Obama] has "a campaign of inspiration and not obligation."2007 November 12, Carla Marinucci, “Obama’s team oozes optimism”, in San Francisco Chronicle, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2016:
In recent years, groups have made considerable use of "outside lobbying" techniques, which try to persuade ordinary citizens to serve as their frontline advocates. Prominent here are "grass-roots" and "grass-tops" lobbying. […] Grass-tops lobbying strives to favorably energize an elite rather than the masses.2015, James E. Anderson, “The Policy-makers and Their Environment”, in Public Policymaking: An Introduction, 8th edition, Stamford, Ct.: Cengage Learning, →ISBN, page 64:
grass tops
noun
Etymology From grass + tops, by analogy with grassroots.
1
Idiomatic People in a position of power or influence at a local level.
They also had important connections to advocacy groups and the local "grass tops."2007, David G. Smith, Judith D. Moore, Medicaid Politics and Policy, 1965–2007, New Brunswick, N.J.; London: Transaction Publishers, →ISBN, page 234:
"We are grassroots, not grass-tops," Kaplan said, meaning Common Sense Action seeks the opinions of all members regardless of leadership status within the group.2012 December 3, Sophie Yan, “New group seeks to incite political action”, in The Brown Daily Herald, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2019: