Communications Awards

Communications Contest

Award Winners

Each year, NAYDO recognizes YMCAs that demonstrate excellence in strategic communications. These awards honor innovative campaigns, creative storytelling, and impactful strategies that strengthen philanthropy and community engagement. There are two types of awards, one with five categories. Explore the winners by year to see how Ys across North America are raising the bar in communications.

2026 Communications Contest Awards Winners
2025 Communications Contest Award Winners
2024 Communications Contest Award Winners
2023 Communications Contest Award Winners - links are being updated - check back
2022 Communications Contest Award Winners - links are being updated - check back

Download a PDF of the Communications Contest categories and entry requirements.

Preview of Strategic Communications Excellence Entry Form

Preview of Cause Communicator of the Year

Deadline is January 8, 2027

Strategic Communications Excellence

Five categories/types of awards

NAYDO Strategic Communications Excellence Awards recognize exemplary YMCAs that have developed a multi-faceted communications campaign designed to inform, educate, or persuade specific audiences about the Y's cause, impact, or an initiative. Each award will be given to small, mid-size, and large Ys in the following categories of communications excellence:

Best Overall Campaign Excellence

Recognizes a YMCA for developing the best overall strategic campaign within its budget size. This campaign (philanthropic, member recruitment, camp, etc.) must have been successful in meeting or exceeding its initial targets, including people impacted, financial goals (if associated with this campaign), and people/donors reached through awareness.

Community Engagement

Recognizes a YMCA that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in developing communications that foster a welcoming environment for all individuals in the community. The award highlights communications that clearly elevate the organization's commitment to creating opportunities and ensuring access for all, creating a welcoming theme in their outreach and messaging.

 

Philanthropic Communications

Recognizes YMCAs for a clear and creative strategic approach to the development of communications fundraising campaigns and tools. Entries should include a compilation of 3–5 pieces that best demonstrate the philanthropic strategy in action, which may include annual reports, impact reports, annual support campaign materials, capital campaign materials, endowment or planned giving, and general donor cultivation materials.

Small Budget Star

Recognizes YMCAs that have developed a multi-faceted communications campaign designed to inform, educate, or persuade specific audiences about the Y's cause, impact, or an initiative while spending $5,000 or less on their campaign.

Excellence in Strategic Collaboration

Recognizes a group of YMCAs (3 or more) who come together to share assets and resources for a common strategic campaign or communication design to raise funds, educate, or persuade audiences about the Y cause, impact, or initiative. Only one award is given in this category.

Cause Communicator of the Year

Only one award selected

Is there someone in the YMCA Movement who is truly moving the dial on communicating the YMCA mission, vision, and/or purpose? Then this is your chance to nominate them. Reminder: This person does not have to come from your YMCA. For example, they could be a community advocate or a board member.

This award recognizes efforts by a YMCA leader to inform, educate, and engage their team, volunteers, donors, and/or community. This person (often a CEO, Board Chair or Volunteer, or Branch Executive) clearly articulates a vision that inspires and motivates others to positive action. Excellent communication requires real strategy. Your entry should demonstrate the strategic effort related to internal and/or external communication by a Y leader.

Communications Awards Criteria

Judges will be looking for the following:

  • Follows YMCA graphic standards applicable to your country.
  • Used in the previous 23 months (January 2025 – November 2026).
  • Reflects the development of a strategic approach to communications.
  • Successfully supported a financial development effort.
  • Graphic and digital design and/or videography is clean and easy to follow.
  • Content reflects the Y's mission and voice.
  • Strong imagery supports the content and purpose.
  • Clear qualitative or quantitative measures that demonstrate communications and/or philanthropic success.
  • Possesses a distinctive caliber of excellence, or an extraordinary or insightful approach or result.

Entry requirements for each category are listed below.

Questions? Contact Communications Awards Co-Chairs Christina Harley, CFRE, 519-907-5500 ext 1152, or  Rob Totaro, 518 429 1701.

Strategic Communications Excellence Awards

To be valid, this award submission must include 2 components:

  1. 2027 Strategic Communications Excellence Awards Entry Form 
    A preview of the form is available. You have to complete the form in one sitting, so it is recommended that you cut and paste your answers from a word document into the form. Read the instructions thoroughly to ensure you have included all necessary components. This is a summary that clearly explains your Y's rationale, organization and measurable impact of your campaign.
  2. Portfolio of Communications Pieces
    A portfolio of 3–5 communications pieces that best demonstrate your communications strategy in action, with no more than 1 per category. These may include annual reports/community impact reports, annual support campaign materials, capital campaign materials, endowment/planned giving materials, general donor cultivation tools, media or public service campaigns, websites, and/or social media.

Cause Communicator of the Year

To be valid, this award submission must include 2 components:

  1. 2027 Cause Communicator of the Year Entry Form
    A preview of the form is available. You have to complete the form in one sitting, so it is recommended that you cut and paste your answers from a word document into the form. Read the instructions thoroughly to ensure you have included all necessary components. Your responses should clearly articulate why you believe the nominee should be selected.
  2. Portfolio of Communications Pieces
    A compilation of 3–5 philanthropic communications pieces that best demonstrate your nominee's efforts to engage and inspire audience groups. These pieces may include internal and/or external communications materials such as emails, newsletters, social media, media interviews, videos, presentation materials, communications plans, and/or message platform materials. You may include photos or videos of this person actively engaging others.