PITTSBURGH — Sept. 29, 2025 — Gatesman, a full-service marketing communications agency, is proud to celebrate its client and partner, the Geena Davis Institute, for receiving the Best Branding or Rebranding Campaign Award at the 2025 Ragan’s PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Awards in New York City.

The recognition honors GDI’s bold brand refresh and social media strategy developed in collaboration with Gatesman in celebration of the Institute’s 20th anniversary. Together with GDI, Gatesman created a visually vibrant and confident identity designed to honor GDI’s research-based legacy and amplify its mission of advancing representation across  entertainment media.

“Our 20th anniversary provided us with the perfect timeframe to herald our achievements while launching a brand refresh that better incorporated how we visualize our mission,” said Madeline Di Nonno, president and CEO of the Geena Davis Institute. “Receiving this award reaffirms that our partners, our audience and our stakeholders are recognizing the impact of our work as we continue to build our momentum for the future.”

As the Institute’s social agency of record, Gatesman worked closely with GDI to:

  • Establish content pillars showcasing GDI’s groundbreaking inclusivity research and systemic influence on global media.
  • Apply vibrant new branding across assets — from letterhead and business cards, to event materials and social media templates.
  • Design engaging visuals (graphs, charts, collages) to make research findings more accessible.
  • Execute a strategic launch with a social media grid takeover and press release to kick off GDI’s 20th anniversary celebration.

The rebrand generated immediate impact, including:

  • 113K+ impressions across GDI’s social platforms.
  • 5,900+ engagements.
  • 165M+ impressions from press release distribution.
  • 280+ press pickups.
  • Significant follower growth across channels.

“The Geena Davis Institute has set the global standard for advancing equity and representation in media, with an impact that reaches far beyond the entertainment industry,” said Beth Thompson, VP, Director of PR & Social Media at Gatesman. “We are honored to have partnered with GDI to create a refreshed brand that accelerates their mission worldwide.”

For more information, please visit gatesmanagency.com or keep up with #TeamGatesman on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

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About Gatesman:

With offices in Pittsburgh and Chicago, Gatesman offers expertise in strategy/branding, advertising, public relations, social media, digital and analytics. Gatesman is a partner in AMIN Worldwide, an alliance of over 50 independent marketing agencies, and IPREX, a global communications network. Gatesman acquired Quest Fore in 2014 and Noble Communications in 2017.

About Geena Davis Institute:

Founded in 2004 by two-time Academy Award Winning Actor Geena Davis, the Geena Davis Institute (GDI) is the only global research-based organization working collaboratively within entertainment media to systemically increase the on screen representation of six major identities: gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, disability, age 50+ and body type. If they can see it, they can be it. For more information, visit geenadavisinstitute.org or follow the Geena Davis Institute on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, or YouTube.

‍About the PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Awards:

The PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Awards recognize nonprofit organizations and campaigns that demonstrate excellence in storytelling, creativity, strategy, and impact. Winners are celebrated annually for work that moves the needle on awareness, advocacy, and mission.

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