The Communications Network is a nonprofit organization comprised of social sector leaders from foundations, nonprofits and consulting firms across the globe who share the belief that smart strategic communications have the power to transform society and improve lives. Founded nearly 30 years ago by the late Frank Karel of The Robert Wood Johnson and Rockefeller Foundations to help social change leaders improve their work and “get the word out," today The Network is the premier leadership organization for nonprofit communications professionals.
The Communications Network’s Board includes senior leaders from some of the world’s most consequential social change organizations. Among them: Ford Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Lumina Foundation, The Duke Endowment and The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
What We Do: Community + Learning + Leadership
We deliver timely access to knowledge, expertise, practical advice, and guidance to help everyone in the social sector improve their work and better understand the unique role strategic communication plays in advancing mission and driving social change.
We connect professionals working in the social sector to each other. We provide guidance and mentoring on communications and regularly offer learning and networking opportunities through webinars and other presentations, both online and in local communities, and at our annual conference.
Not yet a member of The Communications Network? Join here.
Our Board
Minna Jung (Chair)
Vice President for Communications
Earthjustice
Charity L. Perkins (Secretary)
Director of Communications
The Duke Endowment
Rebecca Arno (Chair Emeritus)
Vice President of Operations and Communications
The Denver Foundation
Kevin Corcoran
Strategy Director
Lumina Foundation for Education
Maureen Cozine
Senior Director, Communications
New York State Health Foundation
Alfred Ironside
Vice President for Global Communications
The Ford Foundation
Andrew Sherry
Vice President, Communications
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Norris West
Director, Strategic Communications
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Joanne Krell (Vice Chair)
Vice President for Communications
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Craig C. Ziegler (Treasurer)
Vice President Finance, Administration & Investments
California HealthCare Foundation
Meredith Klein
Communications Officer, Public Affairs
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Tanya M. Barrientos
Director, Executive Communications
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Doug Root
Vice President of Communications
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Jesse Salazar
Vice President of Communications
Council on Foundations
Daniel Silverman
Vice President for Strategic Servies
James Irvine Foundation
Joanne Flores Moses
Director, Finance
Boettcher Foundation
