Community Membership at ICI

For communicators who value participation over performance

Community Membership at the Impact Communications Institute is designed for emerging PR and communications professionals who want a place to ask real questions, learn in public, and build judgment alongside peers and mentors.

This is not a networking club or a credential mill. It is a participatory community for communicators who care about how stories shape decisions, behavior, and real‑world outcomes – and who want to practice their craft with integrity.

You do not need to be an “impact expert.” You do need curiosity, humility, and a willingness to engage.

What Community Members get

Everything included at the free Community Participant level, plus deeper access, agency, and connection.

1. Monthly Live Community Forum

Each month, Community Members are invited to a live, one‑hour Community Forum.

These sessions are intentionally unscripted and agenda‑light. A member of the ICI Board joins alongside an invited senior communications practitioner to respond to the questions members most want to explore.

Members can:

  • Submit questions in advance

  • Vote on which topics rise to the top

  • Ask questions live during the session

The goal is not polished panels, it’s honest conversation, practical insight, and real‑time learning.

2. Ongoing peer community

Community Members have access to a private online community space for day‑to‑day connection via Slack.

This space is designed for:

  • Asking questions you don’t yet know how to Google

  • Sharing challenges from work, school, or early‑career roles

  • Learning from peers navigating similar decisions

Participation is optional, but many members find this is where learning deepens between events.

3. Early access to job opportunities

Community Members receive early access to job postings shared with ICI.

Roles are shared with members five days before they are released to the broader ICI mailing list, offering members a meaningful head start as they explore career opportunities aligned with ethical, impact‑first practice.

4. Learning pathway benefits

Community Members receive:

  • Discounted pricing on ICI certification and learning pathways

  • Greater access to senior advisors, council facilitators, and mentors

Members are encouraged to engage at their own pace – getting out of the community what they put into it.

Community Membership

Equity access options (6 mo)
US$30.00
Individual Community Membership (12mo)
US$120.00
Employer‑sponsored membership (12mo)
US$200.00

Equity access guidelines

Equity access is intended for individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

  • Are students, early-career professionals, or career-switchers

  • Are paying personally (not reimbursed by an employer)

  • Would experience financial hardship paying the full rate

Applicants must affirm each of the above criteria as part of the equity access request. Access decisions are trust-based, and no proof of income is required.

How membership supports impact

Membership fees help ICI:

  • Keep Impact Councils and community programming accessible

  • Compensate facilitators and guest practitioners responsibly

  • Offer scholarships and reduced‑cost learning opportunities

  • Invest in community care, moderation, and quality

Community Membership is not designed to be a primary revenue driver. It is a way for those who can contribute financially to help sustain access for others, while receiving deeper engagement in return.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Community Membership is designed for emerging communicators at all stages, including students, early‑career practitioners, and career‑switchers. Curiosity, intent, and willingness to engage matter more than experience.

  • There is no minimum time commitment. Members can attend monthly forums, participate in the community space, or simply stay connected and observe. You engage at your own pace.

  • Community Members have access to a private online community space (currently hosted on Slack) for ongoing discussion, questions, and peer learning. Participation is optional.

  • No. While relationships form naturally, the focus is learning, judgment‑building, and ethical practice, not transactional networking.

  • Yes. Scholarships and sliding‑scale options are available to ensure access regardless of financial means.

Certification and learning pathways (launching 2026)

Beginning in Q3 2026, ICI will launch its first learning pathway: Foundations of Impact Communications.

This self‑paced certificate focuses on core frameworks, real‑world scenarios, and ethical judgment, not theory alone.

Indicative pricing: $395
Outcome: A foundational understanding of responsible impact communications and the confidence to apply it early in your career.

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Why ICI’s model is different

ICI puts impact first and PR second. Free entry points remain core to our mission, while paid learning pathways support sustainability, rigor, and scholarships, without pay‑to‑play influence.

People-First Approach
A Focus on Quality
Long-Term Relationships

Impact Councils: Practitioner‑Led Learning for PR and Communications Professionals

Impact Councils are ICI’s signature learning experiences: curated, facilitated conversations designed primarily for emerging PR and communications professionals navigating uncertainty, tradeoffs, and ethical decision‑making, with senior practitioners joining as mentors and facilitators.

Explore Impact Councils