Allison Porter Archives - Avalon Consulting

“Avalon is prepared” — A Time Capsule

Below is the text of the email I sent to clients on March 10, 2020. Subject: Avalon is prepared Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 9:08:23 AM EDT From: Allison Porter Greetings! As we continue to watch the impact of COVID-19 unfold, please know your Avalon teams are prepared to respond to changing dynamics and […]

March 11, 2024

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Four Signs a Donor Relationship Wasn’t Made to Last (And What You Can Do About It) For all the talk in our industry about donor retention, donor desirability is a rarely discussed topic. But the fact is: Acquiring the right type of donor is as critical to strong retention as any post-acquisition cultivation strategy. Some […]

February 11, 2022

Avalon Analytics Announces Enhanced VitalStats™ Dashboard

I’m thrilled to announce Avalon’s new VitalStats™ Dashboard. This tool highlights the most important fundraising metrics for your program in a digestible, actionable and easy-to-share format. Fundraising dashboards allow you to quickly evaluate, make decisions, and communicate to your leadership about your program. You will know at-a-glance how your program is doing, what has changed, […]

September 11, 2020

DMAW AdVents Feature: “Data Literacy is Key”

Now more then ever, fundraisers are focusing on how data must guide their fundraising decision-making. Check out “Data Literacy is Key” by Avalon CEO, Allison Porter on how can strengthen your organization’s data literacy.

October 10, 2019

Yes, You Need That Matching Gift

Like everyone in the industry, Avalon is in the process of analyzing year-end returns and assessing tests. One clear winner: the matching gift strategy.

We were surprised to get pushback from development directors last year—some wondered if the match is more trouble than it’s worth? Is it overused? Is it too gimmicky? The answer to these questions is a resounding NO. And here’s why:

Including a matching gift offer amplifies your year-end giving. We’ve proven this time and again, but here are some of our most recent successes using a matching gift in year-end appeals: For one advocacy client, we mailed a test panel with no matching gift offer. The control with the match garnered a 37% higher response rate, 54% more revenue, and a 63% higher average gift. Online, this client’s matching gift email was the highest-grossing email—with the highest response rate—of its eight-email year-end series. The same results held for another client that received a last-minute match and used it successfully in a year-end email series.

One client had a slightly larger match to work with this year, which allowed us to set an earlier deadline with a portion of the match, and then extend it after the initial deadline. This strategy resulted in 39% more revenue than the previous year, raising 138% of budget. They’re starting work now on soliciting an even larger match amount for 2015.

A matching gift is a highly effective vehicle for engaging your major donors. Asking higher-level donors to pitch in to fund a matching gift challenge sends them a positive message about capacity building. It’s an opportunity for them to make a tangible difference and see exactly how their gifts impact your program. (Be sure to report back to your major donors with the rippling effects of their gifts on lower-dollar donors and the corresponding revenue.)

Other important points to remember for matching gift campaigns:

January 27, 2015

DMA Conference Highlights

I had the pleasure of attending this year’s Direct Marketing Association (DMA) annual conference recently with my colleagues Rick Malchow and Jackie Biancolli. Some of the key takeaways for us:

February 22, 2013

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Author: Allison Porter