Dear friends,

It’s a busy week, with DAF Day on Thursday and the normal fall fundraising rush. In addition, many nonprofits began a new fiscal year on October 1, and many more are navigating the government shutdown. Shutdowns present immediate challenges throughout the nonprofit sector, and fundraisers play an important role in managing that. Long story short, we’ll all need stamina—so don’t forget to manage your energy and take breaks along the way. Avalon is with you.

Harvard Business Review’s Tips for Better Breaks

1. Make it the right length.
2. Move your body.
3. Engage your mind.
4. Socialize.
5. Do something meaningful.

Remembering Jane Goodall

It has been moving to see many tributes to Jane Goodall throughout the nonprofit community, as we say goodbye to a true leader. I was so sad to hear she passed, but what an incredible life and impact she made. I am grateful to have seen her speak a number of times and was proud to work for the Jane Goodall Institute. She will live on as an inspiration and example for us all.

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

– Jane Goodall

Digital Innovation

Senior VP of digital Mary Meredith observed recently that one of the coolest parts of digital fundraising is spotting commercial innovations that can spark ideas in the nonprofit space. We’re seeing huge momentum right now around generative AI, predictive modeling, and retail media networks. For example, companies are using retail media networks to reach people right at the point of purchase with highly targeted ads.

At Avalon, we apply this principle to paid media by meeting donors where they are in wallet-ready experiences and optimizing campaigns in real time. The same tools fueling e-commerce can inspire us to think bigger about donor acquisition, engagement journeys, and targeting in the nonprofit sector. And, Mary noted, while it’s true that retail paid media channels require a hefty minimum spend, nonprofits have many effective options for applying digital innovation on a modest budget. Avalon is having great success with this, and we’re here to guide you.

New Sector Dashboard

Candid released a new public dashboard, which reports sector stats by congressional district. It’s an interesting picture of the nonprofit landscape, which could help inform sector advocacy as legislative issues arise. It’s also an interesting window into the overall distribution of nonprofit activity. For example, Washington, DC leads the way with the most nonprofit organizations (10,377), but New York’s 12th district has the highest number of nonprofit workers (413,000). Here’s how nonprofits are distributed nationally, by size and subject:

Source: Candid, Nonprofit Stats by Congressional District.

A Win for Nature

Our clients at The Trustees are celebrating political action around conservation and biodiversity in the state of Massachusetts. Governor Maura Healey announced a plan to increase the pace of land protection and meet ambitious targets outlined in the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan. Having grown up in western Massachusetts, this means a lot to me personally, and I hope other states will demonstrate similar commitment. Thank you to The Trustees for supporting this important work.

🎧 Now Listening

The Brennan Center for Justice added a new podcast to its digital media portfolio: The Briefing with Michael Waldman. Each week, Brennan Center President Michael Waldman will interview “leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy.” The most recent episode addressed “The Campaign to Undermine Midterms” with guests Sean Morales-Doyle, Director, Voting Rights and Elections Program and Jasleen Singh, Counsel, Voting Rights and Elections Program. It’s a great opportunity to hear from experts on the future of our democracy. You can listen on Substack, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Foodie Fun

For those who enjoy cooking shows, I’m delighted to share a personal connection to this season’s Chef Grudge Match on the Food Network. My stepbrother Matthew Jennings, a James Beard nominated chef and founder of the MAJC hospitality platform, competed on the show last month. He didn’t win, but he had a blast, and we’re incredibly proud of him. Check out the show the next time you need a break from spreadsheets and email!

Source: MAJC on LinkedIn.