The 14th Annual Symposium on Public Policy for Nonprofits was hosted by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA), Independent Sector, and Nonprofit Policy Forum on September 12, 2025.

This year’s theme, “Breaking Through the Noise: Assessing and Communicating the Impact of Nonprofits and Philanthropy,” addresses a critical policy moment marked by shrinking government support and growing demand for nonprofit services. Now more than ever, the sector must find powerful new ways to tell its story. Let’s work together to elevate the voice, value, and visibility of nonprofits in America.

The Symposium consisted of three separate groups of panel discussions: Communicating Nonprofit Impact Through Data and Storytelling, Advancing Nonprofit Impact Through Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement, and Elevating Nonprofit Impact in Restrictive Political Climates. This post covers just a few of the many highlights from the latter two groups of panel discussions. As with all of our posts capturing highlights of events, my interpretations, opinions, and suggestions of additional resources may be sprinkled in with the general information provided by the presenters.

Advancing Nonprofit Impact Through Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement

“Shift from Defense to Offense: Targeted, Emotional Language Can Broaden Support for Nonprofits” Allison Grayson, PhD, AloDay Consulting

• “The language nonprofits use to communicate their missions can unite people to change the world or ignite fiery opposition. Unfortunately, nonprofit organizations may not always wield the power of language in ways that advance their cause – particularly in the public policy arena. In some cases, their language can even become a barrier. “
• “Psychology and communications literature show that people make most of their decisions, including political decisions, based on emotions rather than facts.
• Objective facts and education can be persuasive when people do not have a preformed opinion or emotional reaction to an issue.”
• “When advocates create emotional messages, they often choose language that appeals to themselves rather than their target audience.”
• “[I]f a nonprofit seeks to build a broad base of support based on shared values, it is important to center that value in all aspects of the work, not just in the final communications stage.”
• “[C]ontent about equity may be a good candidate for “moral reframing,” a strategy that enables nonprofits to maintain a policy position or practice but describe it using other values the target audience already understands.”

Allison’s presentation was eye-opening while at the same time a reminder of things many of us know (but fail to effectively and consistently apply).

“From Exclusion to Inclusion: Measuring Transformation in Nonprofit Civic Engagement” Caroline Mak and Kimberley Carroll-Cox, Nonprofit VOTE

• “This steady erosion of trust in government, media, and law enforcement has contributed to a cycle of detachment. What we are seeing is not just political apathy; it is, instead, a profound sense of invisibility and civic disconnection. When voters feel unseen, unheard, or actively excluded, they are less likely to participate, engage, or believe that their voice matters.”
• “Helping someone move from “I don’t think my vote matters” to “I have the power to make a difference” is rarely captured in a spreadsheet, but it’s this internal transformation that defines true democratic engagement. And it’s precisely this kind of shift that nonprofits are uniquely positioned to cultivate, if only we broaden the way we define and recognize success.”
• “Shifts from civic exclusion to belonging are uniquely possible through the trusted relationships nonprofits cultivate by showing up with empathy and consistency.”
• “When institutions and organizations prioritize outcomes over relationships and view communities as tools rather than partners, trust erodes.”
• “Measuring emotional belonging reflects a deeper organizational and personal ethos: empathy as a core outcome, not an incidental benefit. When people feel included, seen, and believed in, their material outcomes change.”

“Civic Intent as a way to understand how belonging, trust, depolarizing attitudes, and one’s preferred news sources affect nonprofit trends in the US” Marc Maxmeister, Annie Collins, Samir Khan, and Woodrow Rosenbaum, Giving Tuesday

• “GivingTuesday Data Commons developed Civic Intent, a measure designed to detect societal changes in aspects of prosocial behavior that affect communities …. Civic Intent means having each of the following traits: good intentions towards those most in need, in order to strengthen community, doing good regularly and recently, and generally trusting people.”
• “How might Civic Intent aid in designing interventions? Understanding the relationship between trust, belonging, activism, and one’s news environment relate to personal drive to contribute can help organizations better recruit and better support volunteers. Organizations are the means by which most people most often get involved, and the “being together” aspect of community work may be part of the intervention, in addition to the work.”
• See also Civic Intent: A Deeper Dive on Civic Engagement Using the U.S. GivingPulse Survey.

Elevating Nonprofit Impact in Restrictive Political Climates

“Legitimacy Under Watch: How Transnational Environmental NGOs Build Credibility in Authoritarian Settings” Ceren Çevik, PhD, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies and Centre for Global Cooperation Research

• Credibility can be built despite government opposition and treatment of certain NGOs as supporters of terrorism or foreign agents, but it may depend on the NGO’s focus on mission and values and connection to its communities, including its donors (from a governance perspective, think of the principles of purpose-driven board leadership).
• The NGO may need to play by the government’s rules and stay away from certain overt political advocacy while still focusing on values-driven service provision.

“Resistance & Resilience: LBGTQ+ Nonprofit Response to the Trump Administration” Erwin de Leon, PhD, Columbia University

• Forms of resistance include legal challenges and political organizing and activism.
• Resilience includes building solidarity and plans for the future. There is a growing awareness that there is no going back; there is only moving forward from what is hoped to be a transitionary period.

“How Nonprofits Can Power a Pro-Democracy Movement to Withstand – and Confront – Authoritarianism” Thomas Showalter, Showalter Strategies

• “In the face of rising authoritarianism, nonprofit leaders and their allies in the academic and philanthropic sectors need to see themselves as advocates for democracy, and act accordingly.”
• “Nonprofit leaders must be central players in any thriving Pro-Democracy Movement. However, time is not on our side. Our authoritarian moment is the product of at least 50 years of concerted, well-resourced efforts.”
• “Policymakers treat nonprofits as reactive service providers rather than proactive partners in democratic governance. The result is a risk-averse, cautious, and siloed ecosystem. This silence is no longer just a barrier. It is dangerous.”
• “Foundations can support, and nonprofits can engage in, far more political activity than is taking place today. Solving this inefficiency could unlock billions of dollars for the [Pro-Democracy Movement].”
• “Every 501(c)(3) – whether a homeless shelter, a nonprofit hospital system, or an issue-based advocacy organization – should consider establishing or partnering with a 501(c)(4).”
• “Art, especially humor, has always been a tool of anti-authoritarian movements. We must create safe, comfortable, and fun spaces for movement actors to convene, especially those who pursue different tactics, those who occupy different roles, and those who work on different issues.”
• See How to Power a Pro-Democracy Movement that Confronts Authoritarianism