Group 1
Associations and nonprofits
Mission-driven organizations that need strategic communications guidance to reach the right audiences.
Fractional CCO
A fractional chief communications officer for nonprofits and associations
Last updated: November 2026
What does a fractional chief communications officer do for a nonprofit?
A fractional chief communications officer leads a nonprofit's communications at the executive level, part time. Beltway Media's fractional CCOs own the narrative, advise the executive director and board, direct media relations and public affairs, and prepare the organization for crises, on a schedule that fits your needs and without the price tag of a full-time executive.
What is included
Five areas of executive communications leadership
- 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
- Media training and spokesperson development
A chief communications officer is the organization's primary voice and ambassador. The role oversees internal and external messaging, keeps it consistent across channels, and connects communications to real decisions on risk, programs, funding, and people. In a fractional arrangement, that same role is filled by a senior Beltway Media leader for a portion of the week rather than by a full-time executive.
Who needs one
Who needs a fractional chief communications officer?
Group 2
Public affairs and government relations
Teams that need experienced communications leadership to manage complex stakeholder environments.
Group 3
Growing companies
Organizations that have outgrown do-it-yourself communications but are not ready for a full-time C-suite hire. Companies are Beltway Media's largest focus; see its fractional CCO page for companies.
How it works
Three steps from first call to ongoing leadership
Step 1: Discovery call
A free consultation to understand your communications challenges, goals, and current capabilities.
Step 2: Custom strategy
A tailored communications plan that aligns with your mission, audience, and objectives.
Step 3: Ongoing leadership
Your fractional CCO integrates with your team and provides consistent executive-level guidance on a schedule that fits your needs.
Fractional or full-time?
Is a fractional CCO right for your organization?
Choose a fractional CCO when you need executive-level strategy, board-ready counsel, and media judgment, but not 40 hours a week of it. Choose a full-time communications executive when you need someone managing a large internal team every day. Choose an agency when strategy is settled and you need execution volume. Many nonprofits start fractional, learn what the role requires, and decide on a full-time hire later.
The full side-by-side is on the nonprofit communications options comparison, and the main guide to nonprofit communications consulting explains how this service fits Beltway Media's wider work.
Leadership
Who leads the work
Managing Director
Joshua I. Altman
Joshua leads Beltway Media and has more than two decades of experience in communications. Before founding the firm, he was a multimedia journalist at The Hill, covering federal policy including energy and the environment, tax and finance, healthcare, immigration, defense, and criminal justice.
He holds an M.A. in Communication, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University.
In their words
What clients say
“Having a Fractional CCO changed how we communicate with every audience, from our board to the press.”
Executive Director, National Policy Nonprofit, as published on beltway.media.
“Within three months, our earned media coverage increased significantly.”
CEO, Mid-Atlantic Trade Association, as published on beltway.media.
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers to the questions nonprofit leaders ask most. See all 47 answers on the nonprofit communications FAQ.
- What is a fractional chief communications officer?
- A fractional chief communications officer is a senior communications executive who leads your communications part time, on a schedule that fits your needs. From Beltway Media, you get C-suite communications leadership, strategic messaging, media relations, and brand positioning without the cost and commitment of a full-time executive hire.
- Can a nonprofit hire a fractional CCO?
- Yes. Beltway Media names associations and nonprofits as one of three groups its fractional chief communications officer service is built for, alongside growing companies and public affairs teams. Mission-driven organizations often need executive-level communications judgment but cannot justify a full-time executive salary, and that is the gap a fractional role fills.
- 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.
- How much does a fractional chief communications officer cost?
- Beltway Media does not list a public price for its fractional CCO service. The model is designed to give you senior communications leadership without the full-time executive price tag, because you pay for the share of executive time you actually use. Book the free consultation at beltway.media/free-consultation to get a scope and quote for your organization.
- How is a fractional CCO different from a PR agency?
- A PR agency typically delivers defined work, such as press outreach or a campaign. A fractional CCO sits on your leadership side of the table, setting strategy, owning the narrative, advising the executive director and board, and directing agencies when you use them. Beltway Media's Managing Director has talked about managing agencies effectively on the Love Your Brand Podcast.
- Will a fractional CCO work with our board and executive director?
- Yes, that is central to the role. A fractional CCO advises your executive director directly and helps shape board communications. An Executive Director at a national policy nonprofit who worked with Beltway Media said having a fractional CCO changed how they communicate with every audience, "from our board to the press."
- How quickly can a fractional CCO make a difference?
- Timelines depend on your starting point and goals, so Beltway Media does not publish a standard one. As one data point, the CEO of a Mid-Atlantic trade association who worked with a Beltway Media fractional CCO said that "within three months, our earned media coverage increased significantly." Your discovery call is the place to discuss realistic milestones.
Talk to a fractional chief communications officer.
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.