Call for Entries Deadline: March 20, 2026

Recognizing the Campaigns and Teams Driving Real Impact

PR Daily’s Nonprofit Communications Awards honor the campaigns, initiatives and teams that advance missions, mobilize communities and drive real-world impact through powerful communications. This is your opportunity to showcase the work that broke through limited budgets, heightened awareness, inspired action and delivered measurable outcomes for causes that matter most.

From grassroots storytelling to large-scale integrated campaigns, these awards recognize nonprofit communications work that turns purpose into progress, celebrating strategic thinking, creative execution and communications that make a measurable difference.

Earning a PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Award delivers more than a trophy. It provides third-party validation, industry credibility and national visibility across PR Daily’s audience of communications leaders, funders and peers, reinforcing your organization’s influence and your team’s expertise.

Finalists will be recognized—and winners revealed—at an inspirational live awards event on September 30 at the Yale Club in New York City.

If your work made people care, act, give or believe, now is the moment to claim the recognition it deserves and stand alongside the nonprofit communicators setting the standard for impact-driven storytelling.

CATEGORIES

CAMPAIGNS AND COMMUNICATION

 Advocacy or Awareness Campaign

Recognizes campaigns designed to increase awareness or shift public understanding around a cause, issue or mission priority. Entries should show a sharp target audience, compelling narrative, smart channel mix and evidence of reach, engagement and/or attitude change.

 Annual Report

Honors the best annual report or year-in-review experience. Judges will evaluate storytelling, clarity of impact reporting, design and usability, and how effectively the report builds trust with donors and stakeholders.

 Article

Recognizes a single standout written piece (owned or placed) that advanced a nonprofit’s narrative. Entries should demonstrate strong reporting or thought leadership, clear audience value, excellent writing and measurable performance where available.

 Artificial Intelligence – Use of

Honors thoughtful, responsible use of AI to improve nonprofit communications outcomes. Entries may include AI-supported content development, analytics, personalization, workflow optimization or creative experimentation; judges will weigh effectiveness, transparency, ethics and safeguards.

 Blog

Recognizes excellence in nonprofit blogging, either a single post or a sustained series. Entries should demonstrate clear audience focus, strong storytelling or subject-matter authority, consistent voice and measurable engagement.

 Branding or Rebranding Campaign

Honors successful brand development or rebranding for a nonprofit, including identity, messaging and rollout. Entries should show rationale and research, stakeholder alignment, creative execution, launch strategy and evidence of improved recognition or clarity.

 Community Impact Report

Recognizes reporting that translates outcomes into accessible, credible stories of impact for communities and supporters. Entries may include impact reports, outcome dashboards or narrative summaries; judges will evaluate clarity, transparency, design and stakeholder relevance.

 Community-Nonprofit Partnership

Honors a partnership between a nonprofit and a community-based organization, coalition or local entity that drove real-world impact. Entries should show authentic community involvement, equitable collaboration and communications that supported participation and trust.

 Content Marketing Strategy

Recognizes a documented, audience-driven content strategy that improved engagement and advanced mission goals. Entries should include goals, audience insights, content pillars, distribution plan, governance/cadence, and measurable outcomes.

 Corporate-Nonprofit Partnership

Recognizes the communications strategy and execution behind a corporate–nonprofit partnership. Entries should emphasize messaging, rollout, storytelling, media strategy and impact communication that drove awareness and engagement.

 Crisis Communications

Honors communications leadership during a crisis, reputational challenge or high-stakes moment. Entries should show preparedness, speed and accuracy, stakeholder management, message discipline, transparency and post-crisis learning.

 Digital Publication

Recognizes a digital-first publication such as an online magazine, e-zine, newsletter hub or resource center. Judges will evaluate editorial strategy, UX, accessibility, consistency, design and performance metrics.

 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Communications

Honors communications that advanced DEI commitments internally and/or externally with authenticity and accountability. Entries should show inclusive strategy, stakeholder involvement, clear language, credibility and outcomes beyond awareness.

 Donor Relations Strategy

Recognizes an ongoing communications approach that deepens donor trust, retention and lifetime engagement. Entries may include stewardship journeys, segmentation, impact storytelling and donor touchpoint plans; judges will evaluate clarity, consistency and results.

 Email Communications

Honors excellence in nonprofit email communications that engage, inform and motivate audiences over time. Entries may include newsletters, fundraising appeals, advocacy alerts, donor updates or integrated email series. Judges will evaluate audience strategy/segmentation, subject-line and message craft, design/accessibility, cadence, and measurable impact.

 Employee Communications

Recognizes internal communications that inform and engage staff, align them to mission priorities and support culture. Entries may include campaigns, change communications, leadership messaging or channel strategy; judges will evaluate clarity, usefulness and engagement outcomes.

 Event PR and Marketing

Honors communications that drove awareness, attendance and engagement for an event, whether virtual, hybrid or in-person. Entries should show pre-event promotion, onsite/real-time storytelling, stakeholder outreach, media strategy as relevant and post-event amplification.

 Executive Visibility Campaign

Recognizes a program that elevated an executive or organizational leader as a credible voice on mission-relevant topics. Entries may include thought leadership, speaking strategy, bylines, earned media and social presence; judges will evaluate authenticity, message discipline and results.

 First-Time Donor Acquisition Strategy

Honors communications strategies designed to convert first-time donors, with emphasis on messaging, storytelling and channel execution. Entries should show targeting, offer framing, creative, landing/UX considerations as relevant, and evidence of conversion performance.

 Fundraising Campaign

Recognizes communications that directly supported fundraising goals—annual giving, major gifts, peer-to-peer, grants storytelling or emergency appeals. Judges will evaluate narrative strength, creative execution, channel mix and measurable fundraising or donor-action outcomes.

 Global Communications Campaign

Honors campaigns that reached audiences across multiple countries/regions, or managed global stakeholders and media. Entries should show cultural nuance, localization, coordination across markets and results at scale.

 Grassroots Campaign

Recognizes campaigns that mobilized communities, supporters or volunteers to participate, advocate or take action. Entries should show organizing strategy, community engagement, shareable messaging, partner activation and measurable participation.

 Influencer Communications

Honors effective collaboration with creators, influencers or community voices to advance nonprofit objectives. Entries should show partner fit, clear guidelines and disclosure, creative integration and measurable reach/engagement or action.

 Innovation in Nonprofit Communications

Recognizes a novel approach that improved outcomes, such as new channels, formats, processes or audience strategies. Entries should show what changed, why it mattered, how it was executed and evidence the innovation produced better results.

 Internal Publication

Honors an internal publication that consistently informed and connected staff or members. Entries may include intranet hubs, internal magazines, newsletters or editorial series; judges will evaluate usefulness, editorial quality and engagement.

 Marketing Campaign

Recognizes marketing efforts that increased awareness, participation, program adoption or supporter growth. Entries should show audience strategy, creative and channel execution, and performance metrics (traffic, sign-ups, leads, conversions, etc.).

 Media Relations Campaign

Honors earned media strategies that generated meaningful coverage and advanced nonprofit goals. Entries should show a clear narrative, targeted outreach, spokesperson readiness, smart timing, quality placements and measurable impact beyond clips.

 Member Communications

Recognizes communications that inform, retain and activate members, associations, membership nonprofits or networks. Entries should show segmentation, value messaging, channel strategy and evidence of improved engagement or retention.

 Multi-channel Campaign

Honors integrated campaigns that intentionally used multiple channels (earned, owned, shared and/or paid) to drive outcomes. Entries should show how each channel worked together, consistent messaging and strong results across the funnel.

 Podcast

Recognizes excellence in nonprofit podcasting for single episode, limited series or ongoing show. Judges will evaluate concept, audience relevance, storytelling/interview craft, production quality and performance indicators.

 PR Campaign

Honors a comprehensive PR program designed to build reputation, shape narrative or drive stakeholder action. Entries may include launches, issue campaigns or reputation initiatives; judges will evaluate strategy, execution and measurable outcomes.

 PR or Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Recognizes standout results achieved with limited resources. Entries should clearly state budget and constraints, highlight creative problem-solving, efficient channel choices and measurable impact relative to investment.

 Print Publication

Honors excellence in print, such as magazines, newsletters, reports or collateral. Judges will evaluate editorial strategy, writing, design, production quality and how effectively the piece supported stakeholder goals.

 Public Affairs Campaign

Recognizes communications supporting policy, regulatory or governmental objectives. Entries should show stakeholder mapping, message development, coalition or community engagement, media strategy as relevant and evidence of influence or progress.

 Purpose-Driven Communication

Recognizes communications that advanced mission-aligned purpose initiatives, including social impact, ESG-style storytelling, community commitments and values-led partnerships. Entries should show authentic alignment, clear messaging, transparency, stakeholder trust-building and measurable engagement or action.

 Re-engagement Strategy

Honors communications designed to re-activate lapsed donors, members, volunteers or audiences. Entries should show audience insights, message testing or personalization, channel strategy and measurable reactivation outcomes.

 Research, Measurement & Insights

Recognizes communications research and measurement that directly improved strategy, messaging or performance. Entries may include audits, surveys, listening/sentiment analysis, benchmarking, evaluation frameworks or reporting dashboards; judges will evaluate rigor, insight and business/mission impact.

 Social Media Campaign

Honors social programs that drove meaningful engagement and outcomes on one or more platforms. Entries should show audience strategy, content approach, community management, creative execution and measurable results (reach, engagement, traffic, actions).

 Video

Recognizes excellence in video storytelling—single video or series—created to inform, inspire or motivate action. Judges will evaluate narrative, craft, accessibility (captions), distribution strategy and performance outcomes.

 Visual Storytelling

Honors compelling visual communication beyond video, such as photography, illustration, infographics, motion graphics or interactive visuals. Entries should show a clear story, strong design, accessibility and measurable engagement where available.

 Volunteer Communications

Recognizes communications that inform, recruit, onboard or retain volunteers through clear messaging and supporter experience. Entries may include journeys, toolkits, onboarding sequences or community building; judges will evaluate clarity, usefulness and outcomes.

 Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Strategy

Honors a documented strategy that improved volunteer acquisition and/or retention through targeted communications. Entries should show audience segmentation, messaging, channel plan, volunteer experience considerations and measurable results.

 Website

Recognizes nonprofit websites that effectively tell the mission story and make it easy for audiences to act (donate, volunteer, learn, register). Judges will evaluate UX, accessibility, content strategy, design, performance and outcomes.

 Youth Engagement Campaign

Honors campaigns designed to reach and activate youth audiences. Entries should show authentic insight into youth behavior, platform choices, creative tone, safety considerations where relevant and measurable engagement or action.

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

 Nonprofit Communications Campaign of the Year

Honors the single strongest communications initiative run by or for a nonprofit in the eligibility period. Entries should demonstrate a clear objective, strong insight or strategy, cohesive execution across channels as needed, and measurable results tied to mission outcomes (awareness, engagement, behavior change, fundraising, policy impact, etc.).

 Nonprofit Communications Professional of the Year

Recognizes an individual communicator who delivered exceptional strategic value and results for a nonprofit. Entries should highlight leadership, innovation, stakeholder influence, measurable impact and a record of elevating the organization’s communications function.

 Nonprofit Communications Rising Star of the Year

Honors an early-career nonprofit communicator who is rapidly building influence and delivering standout work. Entries should show growing ownership, strong judgment, craft excellence and quantifiable contributions to organizational goals.

 Nonprofit Communications Team of the Year

Recognizes a communications team that consistently delivered high-impact work and operated as a strategic partner to the organization. Entries should show collaboration, efficient processes, creativity, stakeholder management and results across multiple initiatives.

 Corporate-Nonprofit Partnership of the Year

Honors an outstanding partnership between a corporation and a nonprofit that produced meaningful impact and strong communications outcomes. Entries should show shared objectives, authentic alignment, clear roles, and communications that increased engagement, trust or action for both partners.

HOW TO ENTER

All entries must be submitted through the online entry form.

You’ll be prompted to:

  • Select the category or categories you’d like to enter
  • Complete a brief entry summary outlining goals, strategy and results
  • Upload supporting materials, such as creative assets, analytics, media coverage or links to your work
  • Once submitted, you’ll receive confirmation and further details about judging and announcements.
ENTER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

These awards are open to in-house, agency and independent communication practitioners in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Enter your work, the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.

Companies from around the world are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.

Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can email him at [email protected] or call 312-960-4407.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between March 1, 2025, and March 20, 2026, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $550 per standard category entry, and $600 per Awards of Distinction category entry.

A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, March 20, 2026.

Do you have a campaign, project, individual or team you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $250 for each additional category!

All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.

A late fee of $100 per entry will be added to all entries after 11:59 p.m. Central time, March 20, 2026.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
The PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Awards spotlight the organizations and teams redefining how nonprofits engage audiences, build trust and create change. Winners receive prominent exposure across PR Daily channels, a custom winner profile highlighting their work, a prestigious trophy symbolizing excellence and lasting recognition among nonprofit leaders, funders and communications professionals.
WHO CAN ENTER THESE AWARDS?
Entries are open to nonprofit organizations, associations, foundations and agencies worldwide. In-house communications and marketing teams, agencies, consultants and vendors supporting nonprofit work are all encouraged to enter. All submissions must be in English.
CAN I ENTER MULTIPLE CATEGORIES?
Yes. You’re encouraged to enter multiple categories if your work applies. Each submission is judged independently, and discounted pricing is available for additional entries—giving you more chances to earn recognition for your work.
WHAT ARE JUDGES LOOKING FOR?
Judges evaluate entries based on strategic clarity, creativity, execution and measurable impact. Strong submissions clearly define objectives, explain the strategy, demonstrate originality, include results or outcomes and provide compelling supporting materials. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded.
WHY ARE DEADLINES SOMETIMES EXTENDED?
Extensions may be offered to accommodate high demand and ensure outstanding nonprofit work has the opportunity to be recognized. They also allow additional time to gather results and finalize materials.
WHEN WILL I HEAR THE RESULTS?
Finalists and winners will be celebrated at the live awards event on September 30 in New York City. Entrants will be notified of their status approximately three months prior to the live event.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please email Brendan Gannon at [email protected].

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Morgan Einspanier at [email protected]. 

 

Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.