Base
Washington, D.C.
Beltway Media is a D.C.-based communications firm, close to the agencies, congressional offices, and national press that many associations work with.
Associations
Communications consulting for associations
Last updated: November 2026
How can an association get senior communications leadership without a full-time hire?
An association can get senior communications leadership through a fractional chief communications officer. Beltway Media names associations and nonprofits as a core audience for its fractional CCO service, which covers member and stakeholder communications, public affairs counsel, media relations, and spokesperson training for association leaders who must speak to members, policymakers, and the press.
Five audiences
What each association audience needs to hear
Associations rarely speak to one audience at a time. A message written for members can reach a reporter, and a statement for policymakers can reach a sponsor. Good association communications plans for all five at once.
| Audience | What they need from your communications |
|---|---|
| Members | A clear reason to renew, and proof the association is working on the issues they care about. |
| Board and committees | Concise, consistent updates that make the strategy easy to repeat and defend. |
| Policymakers and agencies | Positions stated plainly, backed by evidence, and delivered by a trusted spokesperson. |
| Reporters | A responsive source with a clear point of view and data they can cite. |
| Industry partners and sponsors | A credible story about reach and influence that matches what members hear. |
Why Beltway Media
Relevant experience for associations working in Washington
Background
Federal policy reporting
Managing Director Joshua I. Altman was a multimedia journalist at The Hill, covering federal policy and election cycles before founding the firm.
Clients
Federal agencies
Beltway Media has worked with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“We needed senior communications leadership but could not justify a full-time executive. Our Fractional CCO from beltway.media brought the strategic thinking and media relationships we were missing. Within three months, our earned media coverage increased significantly.”
Getting started
How associations usually begin
Most associations start with the free discovery call, then a custom strategy that sets priorities across members, policymakers, and press. Ongoing leadership follows on a schedule that fits the association's calendar, which often means more time around annual meetings, legislative sessions, and major announcements.
Association executives can also run the free executive director communications checklist before the call. For the full overview, read the main guide to nonprofit communications consulting.
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers to the questions nonprofit leaders ask most. See all 47 answers on the nonprofit communications FAQ.
- Does Beltway Media work with trade associations and membership organizations?
- Yes. Associations are named alongside nonprofits as a core audience for Beltway Media's fractional CCO service. The CEO of a Mid-Atlantic trade association said their Beltway Media fractional CCO "brought the strategic thinking and media relationships we were missing." Associations often need to reach members, policymakers, and the press at the same time.
- Does Beltway Media help with public affairs and government relations communications?
- Yes. Public affairs and government relations teams are one of the three groups Beltway Media's fractional CCO service is designed for, and proactive public affairs counsel is part of the service. The firm has worked with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
- What does Beltway Media's fractional CCO service include?
- It includes five areas: mission-aligned executive-level messaging and brand strategy; proactive media relations and public affairs counsel; investor, stakeholder, and internal communications; content strategy and crisis preparedness planning; and media training and spokesperson development. The exact mix for your organization is set during the custom strategy step after your free discovery call.
- Do we have to be in Washington, D.C. to work with Beltway Media?
- Beltway Media is based in Washington, D.C., which helps organizations that work with federal agencies, policymakers, or national media. Its fractional model runs on a schedule that fits your needs, and the free discovery call is booked online. Ask on that call how meetings and in-person time would work for your location.
- Do nonprofit leaders need media training?
- Anyone likely to speak for your organization in public benefits from media training. It builds confidence with reporters, keeps messages consistent under pressure, and lowers the chance that an offhand remark becomes the story. Media training and spokesperson development are part of Beltway Media's fractional CCO service, and its Managing Director previously worked as a journalist at The Hill.
Talk to Beltway Media about your association's communications.
The first step with Beltway Media is a free discovery call about your communications challenges, goals, and current capabilities. There is no obligation to continue.