The 2026 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report is officially here! This year’s report marks the 16th year of this research so it was only fitting we went with a “Sweet 16” theme (that and I may have been craving cookies when I came up with it). The 2026 Trends Report shows that nonprofit communications has grown up. Nonprofit communications in 2026 is more sophisticated, expectations are higher, and communicators largely know what “good” looks like. Unfortunately, the systems around this work (your bosses, your tech stack, your colleagues, your budget) haven’t fully caught up.
The 2026 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report is available for free to download. (If you are already a member of our community, no need to fill out another form! You can find the report in the Library.)
We know nonprofit communicators are capable, experienced, and thoughtful, but you’re also often overworked and stretched in ways that make long-term, strategic work way harder than it needs to be. We hope this year’s Nonprofit Communications Trends Report can help you put language around what you’re experiencing (and to see how common these experiences really are). Research alone doesn’t solve these challenges, but shared language can make them easier to address!
Here Are a Few Key Findings from our 2026 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report:
Three Realities of NPCOMMS Work in 2026
- When communicators struggle, the data shows it’s rarely because they don’t know what to do. More often, it’s because their work is shaped by external pressure, late involvement, and limited authority to set priorities or say no.
- Teams that describe their communications as more effective tend to work toward objectives where success is clearer (fundraising, event participation, etc.) highlighting how measurement
and evaluation shape behavior. - This year’s data also points to a persistent mismatch between what nonprofits expect communications staff to accomplish and how their work is managed day-to-day.
In Your Own Words
We asked survey takers to share what part of your communications work in 2025 gave you the most satisfaction or pride. Responses centered on visible impact, creative ownership, and tangible progress especially when communicators could see their work making a difference or coming together cohesively.
We also asked survey takers to share what they were most looking forward to in 2026. Responses reflect a mix of hopeful anticipation and cautious realism, with many communicators looking ahead to improvements in how they work, not just what they produce.
And lastly, when we ask about frustrations and challenges of the last year and concerns and uncertainties about 2026, survey takers describe a persistent strain that goes beyond any single task or channel. The most common challenges are not about creativity, but about capacity, structure, and sustainability.
Communications Strategy & Effectiveness
- Nonprofit communicators are clear about their goals. Community engagement, brand building, and raising awareness remain the top priorities.
- Teams that describe their communications as most effective tend to focus on four to six goals, not one.
- Mission area, budget size, and recent team growth have little relationship to how effective teams feel.
How Communications Is Understood
- Only 5% of respondents say their communications role is understood very well by colleagues.
- Teams that feel better understood are much more likely to describe their communications as effective.
- More than a quarter (26%) say communications is still mostly seen as content creation or promotion to the rest of their organization.
Planning, Workflow, and Project Management
- Most nonprofits have a system for planning content.
- 34% have no system for managing communications requests from other departments.
- Microsoft systems were used most often for project management
- Dedicated project management platforms (e.g.,Asana, Monday) can help as complexity increases, but they are not a magic solution.
Communications Channels in Practice
Social Media
- Facebook is still the platform most likely to reliably help nonprofits meet their objectives (31%).
- Only 4% say they want to invest more time there going forward.
- LinkedIn leads future investment interest at 36%.
- 67% use segmented email lists.
- Only 14% run re-engagement campaigns.
- Only 12% use dynamic or conditional content.
- 50% still never stop emailing unengaged subscribers
Video
- 89% of nonprofits produce video content.
- 49% of nonprofits produce videos featuring testimonials or storytelling.
- Only 16% of solo communicators produce video weekly, compared to 27% of large teams.
Download the full 2026 Communications Trends Report to see other content nonprofits share via video.
AI and Accessibility
- 84% of respondents use AI tools in some way, mostly for low-risk tasks like drafting or editing.
- 79% say accessible communications is a moderate or high priority, but confidence drops sharply for smaller teams.
The full 2026 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report includes deeper analysis, charts, and context to help you understand what these patterns mean for your work. Download the full report to explore the complete findings and see where your experience fits into the broader 2026 nonprofit communications trends.
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