Dear friends,

Happy Pride Month! Avalon is honored to support clients like SAGE and Rainbow Railroad, who are leading the way for LGBTQ+ rights, safety, and wellbeing. And we are equally proud to foster a workplace where everyone can show up as their authentic selves, every day. To our LGBTQ+ friends and allies, we are with you.

🌈 SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers.

‍🌈 Rainbow Railroad is a global organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. Based in the United States and Canada, Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.

The Case for the Arts

Senior VP Margot O’Leary shared a timely post by Vu Le on “support[ing] the arts like democracy depends on it.” In it, he explains how the arts have been a means of resistance throughout history, using examples like Pablo Picasso’s Guernica and The Studio Museum in Harlem. In addition, art is a vehicle for diverse stories, amplifies marginalized voices, and inspires us to imagine and work for a better world. Le’s call to action is direct:

Donate to arts nonprofits. Go see a show. Become a member. Support artists on platforms like Patreon. Take a class. Avoid using AI to replace human-made art. And of course, take time for yourself to draw, paint, write a poem, dance, make some music, audition for a play, or whatever art form makes you happy. By creating art, you’re building community and reaffirming our collective humanity.

AI and Marketing Design

Writing for Ad Week, Getty Images executive Rebecca Swift considered how AI is shaping commercial marketing design. We’ve seen a lot of “tech blues” and “icy palettes” as we encounter more and more AI-generated images from commercial marketers. However, though 62% of marketers report using AI for campaign assets, 98% of consumers indicate that “authentic visuals are pivotal to building trust.” So, the trend is beginning to shift towards warmer palettes.

As Swift points out, the real solution for this disconnect is transparency. This includes strong industry standards for labeling AI-generated images and using AI that is trained responsibly. I find that nonprofits grasp this easily and are well versed in the importance of protecting donor trust. However, it’s good to see growing awareness in the commercial sector. Avalon will always be upfront if we use AI to generate images or text in a significant way.

Next-Generation Philanthropy

Senior account director Kristin Dlesk will participate in an AFP-Maryland Chapter Young Professionals panel on attracting and retaining younger donors. The event, “Power of the Pivot,” will also feature Lauren Webb Tolstoi, director of the annual fund at Maryland Food Bank, and Takiyah Roberts, COO at The Black Mill and founder of Dare to Dream. Registration is required for this virtual event, which takes place on Thursday, June 12.

How Avalon Supports Belonging

Avalon is committed to belonging for everyone on our team. In 2024, we introduced “Avalon Pods” to support this goal and help our team develop strong work friendships. Pods are assigned annually, so team members can build relationships throughout the year—and new hires are welcomed by their pods on day one. In addition, at our monthly staff meeting we use breakouts and icebreakers to keep each pod connected. Please ask your Avalon team about their answers to our June pod questions in your next meeting!

June 2025 Avalon Pod Questions

Check-in: What’s the best work advice you’ve ever received?

Engagement: How did you end up in this career? What connections put you on the path to where you are now?

Check-out: What’s something that made you smile recently?

Creativity Challenge

VP of finance Kristina Deutsch encouraged our team to take on The New York Times 5-Day Creativity Challenge. These prompts are not just for artists: Everyone can access their creative side through activities like doodling, daydreaming, and simply trying something new. The challenge is a good reminder that creativity is as much about mindset and practice, as it is about innate talent. Let me know how this goes if you give it a try.