Building a bench of savvy civic leaders for the 21st century.
At this time of great political and economic unrest, the U.S. civic sector must be strong. But in 2025, we saw a large portion of the sector deflate or go silent in response to a new president. That hasn’t and won’t end well.
Art of Advocacy is a civic leadership and strategy center. We equip leaders in nonprofits, academia, science, public policy, and public health to win in the public affairs arena. Our goal: a bigger pipeline of savvy talent to beat authoritarian creep and reimagine democracy in America.
Make your voice not just heard but effective.
I’m Kevin Nix and I started the Art of Advocacy because the civic sector needs to up its advocacy game. We’ve never needed a more powerful sector outside of government and business than we do today.
Quick highlights about me:
I’ve led or managed 10 national and statewide advocacy communications campaigns (mostly wins). My issue portfolio includes public health, healthcare policy, marriage equality, military policy, and democracy.
I’ve had the privilege of working for large issuee advocacy campaigns and at powerhouse nonprofits, including the Human Rights Campaign, the Gill Foundation, the largest nonprofit public health system in Texas, Legacy Community Health. I also worked on Capitol Hill for a quick minute and boutique public affairs firms.
National on-the-record spokesperson in the New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Texas Tribune.
Master’s in American Government from Johns Hopkins University; a higher education certification from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center; and Bachelor’s from Tulane University.
What I Offer
Civic Leadership and Strategy Consulting
I help leaders in the nonprofit, academic, public health, public policy, and civic entrepreneurial sectors with:
Building and projecting power
Finding a civic ROI
Summoning moral courage
Expanding their sphere of influence
Winning the message + media wars
Upping their fundraising savvy
Navigating prickly politics
Using AI in civic work
Schedule a 15-minute meet-and-greet to see what your needs are.
Publishing: How-to Memos
Art of Advocacy regularly publishes “how to” briefing memos and short books on public advocacy. One-time payments for on-demand downloads. The newest briefs for 2026 include “Advocacy Communications 101” and “Six Action Items to Battle Authoritarian Creep in the U.S.”
Live Course: Solo or Group
“Message and Media in 2026” is a two-week virtual course on best practices in political advocacy applied to the civic sector. It’s for civic leaders who want to up their political game in a nonpartisan way. Walk away with what works, doesn’t work, and could work in today’s chaotic environment.
Subscribe to Kevin’s Substack
Real-time observations and interviews with civic leaders.
Kevin is “smart…strategic, buttoned up… the kind of guy you want in the fox hole with you.”
— Mark McKinnon, Creator of The Circus
“Kevin is the perfect communications expert: He manages to simultaneously tell your target audience what they want to hear and what you want them to hear. He’s tireless and committed. And his sense of humor never fails.”
— Jay Campbell, Partner, Hart Research