Recently, Kivi joined Farra Trompeter on Big Duck’s Smart Communications Podcast to talk about insights from the latest Nonprofit Communications Trends Report and what they reveal about the state of nonprofit communications in 2026.
Drawing on 16 years of survey data, the conversation explored whether nonprofit communications is finally “coming of age” and what that maturity looks like in practice.
Here are a few highlights from the discussion:
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A more strategic field, with familiar constraints. Many nonprofit communicators have a strong grasp of strategy and long-term goals, but organizational structures, expectations, and leadership buy-in still limit how strategic they’re able to be day to day.
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Long-term impact vs. short-term metrics. Communicators are often tasked with influencing awareness, attitudes, and behavior over time, yet their success is still measured using short-term or surface-level metrics that don’t always reflect that impact.
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Team growth has stalled. For many organizations, communications teams aren’t growing — and in some cases are shrinking — which makes it harder to move beyond reactive work and build sustainable programs.
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Digital strategy is changing fast. The conversation touched on emerging questions around AI, search visibility, and website traffic, and how many nonprofits aren’t yet tracking or adapting to these shifts.
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Signs of real progress. Editorial planning, more intentional channel choices, and smarter social media strategies point to a field that is increasingly confident, experienced, and willing to ask harder strategic questions.
If you’re curious about where nonprofit communications is headed in 2026 — and what these trends mean for your work — listen to the full podcast. And don’t forget to get your own copy of the 2026 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report. It’s FREE!
