Independent Sector recently partnered with Nonprofit Policy Forum and ARNOVA to host the 14th Symposium on Public Policy for Nonprofits — an event centered on a timely theme: How nonprofits can break through the noise to communicate, advance, and protect their impact.
The online symposium, held on September 12, 2025, featured 10 presentations across three focus areas:
- Communicating impact through data and storytelling
- Advancing impact through advocacy and engagement
- Elevating impact in increasingly restrictive political climates
“Now more than ever, we must effectively communicate the depth and breadth of the charitable sector,” emphasized Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins, pointing to the Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy report: 8 in 10 Americans want proof of impact —but few fully understand what nonprofits actually do.
That challenge set the tone for the day. Presenters — academics, practitioners, funders, and consultants — showcased new research and practical strategies that nonprofits can deploy now. A clear message emerged: While the sector faces real headwinds, it also has a growing toolbox of evidence-based solutions.
Data That Matters: Quality Over Quantity
Nonprofits are surrounded by data, but not always the kind that fuels understanding or trust.
Presenters highlighted the need for high-quality, meaningful metrics — not just more numbers. Stronger data can help nonprofits communicate real programmatic impact, quantify contributions to the economy, and illuminate drivers of civic engagement.
Ideas included:
- A national impact dashboard
- Multidimensional data frameworks
- Better integration of existing datasets across the sector
Takeaway: Data becomes powerful when it tells a story people can understand.
Storytelling and Advocacy: What Resonates — and What Doesn’t
What motivates people to engage, give, or advocate? Research shared at the symposium suggests one powerful through line: a sense of belonging. Whether volunteers, donors, neutral observers, or even hesitant voters, people act when they feel connected.
Panelists also unpacked which messages persuade — and which fall flat:
- Fairness and tribe-based appeals strongly resonate
- Equity-framed messages resonate the least unless reframed through fairness or care
- Values-driven narratives outperform purely informational ones
Takeaway: Advocates should stay true to their mission, but frame messages in ways audiences can embrace rather than resist.
Resilience in Restrictive Political Climates
Nonprofits across the U.S. and Europe increasingly face political and funding pressures once associated with countries like Turkey and China. The symposium’s final session explored how organizations can adapt and survive in such environments.
Strategies included:
- Diversifying revenue
- Restructuring operations
- Aligning advocacy pace with public readiness
- Reframing narratives to maintain legitimacy
- Leveraging cross-sector networks for support
Takeaway: The pro-democracy movement can even learn from right-wing infrastructure-building, particularly in long-term strategy and message discipline.
Despite sobering realities, the session closed on an optimistic note: Practical solutions exist, and many nonprofits are already putting them into action.
Looking Ahead
Across all three sessions, one theme echoed loudly: the charitable sector is at a crossroads. Funding disruptions, political polarization, and public confusion about nonprofit roles pose real challenges. But the symposium also showcased a sector full of innovation, data-driven solutions, and renewed commitment to impact.
Breaking through the noise will require:
- Smarter, more human-centered data
- Narratives that resonate rather than alienate
- Adaptive strategies that strengthen organizational resilience
You can read more about the symposium discussions in this detailed summary. All papers from the symposium will be published in an upcoming special issue of the open-access journal Nonprofit Policy Forum.
Stay tuned—there are more insights to come!
Amanda Christman is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
