The SPN Communications Excellence Awards recognize and encourage outstanding achievements in marketing, communications, and media across the state think tank Network. Winners will receive a grant to pursue future projects, as well as a trophy to honor their effort and results. Grant prizes and trophies will be presented at a special reception at SPN’s 29th Annual Meeting in Orlando. SPN will highlight both the winners and the nominees to share their success stories and best practices across the Network.
2021 Finalists
Voting is now closed for the 2021 SPN Communications Excellence Awards! See all of the 2021 Finalists.
Winners will be announced at SPN’s 29th Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The winners will receive grant prizes, and trophies, so be sure to make your voice heard by voting today.
Be sure to register for SPN’s Annual Meeting in Orlando so you can join us in celebrating this year’s finalists and winners!
2021 Finalist Selection Process and Voting
Finalists for the 2021 SPN Communications Excellence Awards were selected by a committee of SPN Staff. This committee was led by SPN’s Senior Director of Leadership Development and Strategic Communications, Meredith Turney. The committee was primarily made up of SPN communications staff, with input from members of our leadership team.
Nominations were judged based on the qualities listed below for each specific award. In addition to those qualities, nominations were judged on impact, replicability, and how the project will position the nominated organization for future success.
2020 Winners
The winners for the inaugural 2020 Communications Excellence Awards were voted on by the Network’s Communications Peer Group and State Think Tank CEOs. The 2020 Winners were announced at SPN’s Annual Meeting. Voting for the 2021 awards will be open to the public via SPN’s website.
See all the finalists from 2020’s awards. Please note that the inaugural 2020 awards had more categories than the 2021 awards.
Communications Excellence Award Categories
Bold Brand Boost Award
A powerful brand means your organization has a seat at the policy-making table. Citizens look to your organization for information and guidance on important policy issues. Lawmakers and media see you a trusted resource for quality research and information. This award recognizes the influence of a powerful brand boost.
Powerful Storytelling Award
Storytelling is the most fundamental element of communication. In marketing, storytelling can inform and persuade. An organization that tells powerful stories will boost its brand, spread the message of policy impact, and change public sentiment. This award recognizes the storytelling that truly impacted an organization’s brand image and policy impact.
Expanding Your Audience Award
No matter how just your cause, or how impeccable your research, none of what you say matters if it’s to an empty room. Only slightly more useful is talking to an echo chamber of the same audience again and again. After pouring through the nominations from our exceptional Network, it was clear a new category of award was needed for the folks who expanded the reach of their message to achieve new heights and build new coalitions. This award recognizes the organizations whose efforts led to expanded audiences and increased capacity and infrastructure for educating and mobilizing their states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will finalists be selected for 2021?
Finalists for the Communications Excellence Awards will be selected by a committee of SPN Staff. This committee will be led by SPN’s Senior Director of Leadership Development and Strategic Communications, Meredith Turney. The committee will primarily be made up of SPN communications staff, with input from members of our leadership team.
Nominations will be judged based on the qualities listed above for each specific award. In addition to those qualities, nominations will be judged on impact, replicability, and how the project will position the nominated organization for future success.
How will finalist voting work for 2021?
Finalist voting will begin on July 8 and end on July 18. Finalists will be announced when voting opens. Voting will be conducted publicly this year, via SPN’s website. The winners will receive grant prizes, and trophies, so get those email lists ready!
What projects are elligible for the 2021 Communications Excellence Awards?
Projects and initiatives that took place from June 2020 through June 2021 will be eligible for the 2021 Communications Excellence Awards
Can I nominate my organization for more than one award?
Yes! You can nominate your organization for as many of the awards as you want.
Can I nominate my organization for the same award multiple times, for different projects?
Yes! As long as they’re distinguished as different projects in the nomination, you can nominate your organization for the same award as many times as you’d like.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Meredith Turney.