Visibility. It's not just a buzzword... it is central to everything we do at NGPA. Last year, our community faced unprecedented scrutiny and criticism, a microscope on who we are and where we belong. Yet since its founding, the NGPA mission has remained the same: to build, support, and unite the LGBTQ+ aviation community in the United States and around the world. Last year, we proved that in the face of difficulty, we will not let our voices be silenced. Social media reach and metrics may seem secondary to our mission (how much impact can a fun Instagram reel have, you might ask), and yet we've proven time and time again the importance of consistent, quality posts. When we share photos of friends, tag one of our hundreds of events across the country, or simply like a Facebook post, we can spread our message far outside our community and enact change.
In 2025, NGPA’s social media presence reached new heights, both in scale and impact. These milestones aren’t just numbers: they reflect growing visibility, deeper engagement, and a stronger connection to our community.
Our Instagram community now includes more than 15,000 followers, a major benchmark that underscores sustained interest in NGPA and its work. On Facebook, NGPA content rendered over 2 million views, while Instagram posts and stories surpassed 1.3 million views. Instagram alone drove 53,500 profile visits, signaling strong curiosity and active interest in our organization, events, and advocacy.
Internal communications are equally important. The On the Fly Newsletter achieved an open rate exceeding 60% on average, far surpassing original goals, and reinforcing the value of timely, relevant, and mission-driven content delivered directly to our members’ inboxes. Additionally, you might have noticed a slight change to the formatting of OTF this month. Our goal is to make it more accessible, legible, and modern, while still maintaining its eye-catching branding that has worked for many years.
Why does this matter? Because social media can be more than idle scrolling, it’s inclusion, connection, and representation. Every view, click, and follow increases awareness of the ever-growing LGBTQ+ aviation community, helps prospective members find us, and strengthens our collective voice. As we look ahead, our goal is clear: to continue growing year-over-year while making our digital presence even more useful, welcoming, and engaging for members.
We’re also excited to welcome Gabe Penney, our new marketing volunteer, who will be supporting NGPA’s social media and visibility efforts. Gabe will be attending our yearly Palm Springs events, helping expand our reach, boost engagement, and explore new ways social media can better serve the membership and highlight the incredible people who make up NGPA.
As we move deeper into 2026, we remain committed to thoughtful growth, meaningful engagement, and using every platform available to further NGPA’s mission. Thank you to everyone who likes, shares, comments, subscribes, and helps keep NGPA visible in aviation and beyond.
