Leadership role

VP of Communications

Leads how a nonprofit presents itself to the public, the media, donors and its own employees.

Reporting and scope

Reports to the Executive Director / CEO or a Chief Marketing / Communications Officer. Authority covers the organization's public voice, including media, digital channels and internal communications.

Core responsibilities

  • Sets the communications plan and key messages for the mission
  • Manages media relations and serves as, or prepares, the spokesperson
  • Oversees the website, social media and publications
  • Protects the brand and handles crisis communications
  • Produces materials for donors and campaigns with the development team
  • Supports the CEO and board with speeches and stakeholder updates

How it differs

The Chief Marketing / Communications Officer is the C-level owner and usually covers marketing as well. VP of Marketing focuses on audience growth, enrollment or revenue. Director of Communications runs the function at a lower level or in a smaller organization.

By organization size

Below roughly $20M in revenue the top communications job is usually a director with a small team. In large nonprofits the VP leads separate media, digital and creative groups.

Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: VP of Communications; VP Communications; VP, Communications; Vice President of Communications; Vice President, Communications; VP for Communications

Related roles

Roles this description compares with VP of Communications, or that compare themselves with it.

Chief Marketing / Communications Officer
Directs an organization's marketing and communications, including its brand, public messaging and media relations.
VP of Marketing
Leads efforts to grow the audiences a nonprofit serves or sells to, such as patients, students, members or ticket buyers.
Director of Communications
Directs an organization's communications, including media relations, publications, digital channels and messaging.
VP of Advocacy / Policy
Directs an organization's advocacy, public policy and government affairs work.

See what this role pays

Median reported total compensation, nationally: $203,000. Based on 1,879 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.

This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.

State pay pages for this role: Maryland, New York.

Benchmark pay for this role

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