We have some big news to share: Fenton has been named one of the top PR firms in the nation on Observer’s 2026 PR Power List.
Out of hundreds of submissions from agencies across the country, Fenton earned a spot alongside the best in the business — and we got here by doing social impact work with many of the top organizations and brands changing the world.
What It Means to Be Among the Top PR Firms
Observer’s PR Power List is one of the most respected rankings in the communications industry, recognizing agencies that are not just winning awards but driving real, measurable impact. Being named to this list as a top PR firm in 2026 is a reflection of the campaigns our team has poured their hearts into, the clients who trust us to represent their missions, and the communities we’re proud to serve.
At Fenton, we’ve always believed that the most powerful PR doesn’t just shape narratives — it changes lives. This recognition affirms that belief.
The Work Behind the Recognition
Observer highlighted several of Fenton’s landmark campaigns when naming us among the top PR firms of 2026. Here’s a closer look at some of the work that got us here.
Record-Breaking Voter Turnout in New York City
Fenton helped New York City achieve its highest primary turnout in over a decade — 29.9% of registered voters — and its highest general election turnout since 1969, with more than 2 million voters casting ballots.
How? We built a first-of-its-kind audience modeling system that delivered multilingual content in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Bengali, and Russian. In-language content delivery increased by 300%, and a randomized controlled trial confirmed that culturally relevant messaging significantly increases both trust and turnout.
Our work for the NYC Campaign Finance Board went far beyond digital ads. We met voters where they actually are — subway placements, murals, mall kiosks, ice cream trucks at Yankees games, and multicultural festivals — using research-backed strategies that specifically targeted historically hard-to-reach audiences including youth and immigrant communities.
800,000 New Voters Registered for State Voices
For State Voices, Fenton developed the “Vote for Something” campaign — a vibrant, inclusive initiative designed to cut through cynicism and inspire optimism in an era of deep distrust in the electoral process.
The results speak for themselves: 800,000 new voters registered, more than 250 million voter contacts made, and 100,000 people encouraged to plan their votes.
Explosive Growth in Fenton’s Advertising Practice
Fenton’s Advertising practice grew 60% in gross revenue, evolving into a multi-million-dollar powerhouse delivering transformative campaigns in the nation’s two largest jurisdictions — New York City and Los Angeles County. The firm maintained near-record revenue despite an off-year election cycle.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels: Turning Impact Into Engagement
Over the past year, Fenton managed 75 Handprint Ceremonies across 33 states for Hyundai Hope on Wheels — one of the nation’s largest funders of pediatric cancer research. We produced a national gala and a congressional event, uniting researchers, survivors, policymakers, and Hyundai leaders around a shared mission: ending childhood cancer.
A Culture That Sets Us Apart
Being recognized as one of the top PR firms isn’t just about campaign outcomes. It’s about how we show up — for our clients and for each other.
In a recent survey, 98% of Fenton employees rated creativity and expertise among the firm’s greatest strengths. Employee feedback captured something deeper too: “Employee wellbeing is truly prioritized… everything is very humanized, and everyone has a shared passion for mission-driven work.” And: “Diversity and representation is far greater than any other agency in the space.”
Our clients feel it too. In a recent satisfaction survey, Fenton earned a 4.86 out of 5.0 average rating, with perfect scores in 5 of 7 categories. One client called us an “incredible resource… key partners in helping our agency take new steps forward in research and strategy.”
What’s Next: Purpose Footprint
Looking ahead, Fenton is launching Purpose Footprint in 2026 — a proprietary framework delivering comprehensive forensic analysis across profit, people, and public dimensions. This shifts corporate impact strategy from reactive communications to proactive architecture, helping organizations build the business case for purpose investment in today’s volatile climate.
On the democracy front, Fenton is fighting for change at the midterm crossroads. Our 2026 partners include the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Black Voters Matter, and the Election Protection Coalition. We’re mobilizing young voters, voters of color, and working-class communities through integrated campaigns — digital organizing, earned media, targeted advertising, coalition strategies, and rapid disinformation response.
Four Decades of Social Impact
Fenton was founded four decades ago as the nation’s first social impact agency. That legacy isn’t a footnote — it’s the foundation for everything we do. Every campaign, every breakthrough, every record broken is built on that original commitment: that communications done right can be a powerful force for justice.
Being named one of the top PR firms of 2026 by Observer is a recognition of that commitment. But more than anything, it’s a reminder that at Fenton, we don’t just talk about change. We make it happen.
Read the full Observer PR Power List 2026 and see why Fenton earned its spot among the top PR firms in the nation: Observer PR Power List 2026