2025 Association Insights CommImpact Award Winners Announced
Awards Celebrate Exceptional Communications Leadership Across the Association Sector
ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 10, 2025 — OnWrd & UpWrd Marketing and Communications, Inc., publisher of the Association Insights newsletter and podcast, is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Association Insights CommImpact Awards. These awards honor the outstanding achievements of associations across North America whose communications, storytelling, and engagement efforts set new standards of excellence. Winners were recognized today during a live virtual ceremony broadcast on O&U’s YouTube channel.
The Association Insights CommImpact Awards celebrate excellence in eight core categories: Advocacy Excellence, Best Media Relations Campaign, Innovative Content Strategy, Thought Leadership & Research, Effective Member Engagement Initiative, Event Promotion, Outstanding Internal Communications and Leadership in Public Awareness Campaign.
“Each of this year’s winners demonstrated extraordinary creativity, strategy and purpose,” said Colleen Gallagher, president and CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd. “Their work moves industries forward, strengthens member communities and shows the power of communication to drive meaningful impact. We’re thrilled to honor campaigns that not only achieved impressive results but elevated what’s possible in association communications.”
2025 Association Insights CommImpact Award Winners
Advocacy Excellence: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
For their National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) campaign, which cut through a highly politicized public health environment with trusted, compassionate messaging from family physicians—reaching millions and strengthening vaccine confidence nationwide.
Best Media Relations Campaign: NTM Info & Research (NTMir)
For World NTM Day 2025, a bilingual, global media campaign that spotlighted an underrecognized lung disease through expert storytelling, national broadcast outreach, and strategic partnerships—achieving nearly 200 million impressions across 25 countries.
Innovative Content Strategy: College of American Pathologists (CAP)
For developing a dynamic, multi-channel content ecosystem—including rapid-response advocacy communications, cinematic podcast storytelling, platform-specific campaigns, and optimized digital experiences—that advanced education, engagement, and member value.
Thought Leadership & Research: Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
For transforming the release of ICH E6(R3)—a major global regulatory update—into a comprehensive, expertly informed suite of educational resources, tools, webinars, and trainings that reached tens of thousands of clinical research professionals worldwide.
Effective Member Engagement Initiative: American Bus Association (ABA)
For the ABA News Center, a modern digital hub that amplifies member stories, deepens community engagement, and delivers high-value industry content—driving significant increases in visibility, interaction, and cross-channel participation.
Event Promotion: Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) with Media Source
For their campaign promoting International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW) 2025, leveraging national survey data, compelling patient storytelling, a virtual media tour, and a multimedia newsroom to drive exceptional visibility and public action.
Outstanding Internal Communications: National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP)
For a thoughtful, people-first succession communications strategy that aligned staff, Board leadership, and stakeholders ahead of the transition to a new Executive Director—ensuring clarity, stability, and trust through every step of the process.
Leadership in Public Awareness Campaign: Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
For the “Care Matters” PSA campaign, a moving, story-driven public awareness effort that highlighted the vital role of state medical boards in safeguarding patient trust—earning more than 44 million views across platforms.
The inspiring work of this year’s honorees showcases how strategic, human-centered communication can strengthen industries, elevate public understanding and empower members and communities.
All winners will be profiled in an upcoming issue of Association Insights.
About the Association Insights CommImpact Awards
The Association Insights CommImpact Awards recognize and celebrate the most impactful communications efforts across the association sector. These awards spotlight organizations that use strategic communication, storytelling, research, and engagement to inform, inspire, and advance their industries and communities.
About OnWrd & UpWrd Marketing and Communications
OnWrd & UpWrd is a women-owned public relations and communications firm specializing in associations and nonprofits. We help organizations break through the noise to tell their story, engage their audiences, and elevate their brand through thoughtful strategy, strong narratives and data-driven execution. We care. We listen. We strategize. We create. We do the work.
OnWrd & UpWrd is also the publisher of Association Insights, home to the Association Insights Podcast and weekly newsletter. Together, these platforms reach thousands of association professionals across the U.S. and Canada, delivering candid conversations, expert interviews and timely analysis on the trends shaping today’s association landscape.
