Avalon Dispatch 03.03.2026

In today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, you’ll find our 2026 fundraising outlook, where nonprofits stand with AI adoption, an important lawsuit, a very special Times Square billboard, the Avalon Winter Olympics, and more. Read it here!

A dark blue banner with the words THE DISPATCH BY AVALON; DISPATCH is in large yellow letters, while the other text is smaller and white. Two sets of triangular shapes point toward the center text.

Dear friends,

March has arrived, and with it the promise of warmer days and more light in the weeks ahead. At the same time, the events of this past weekend and the now ongoing conflict in the Middle East weigh heavily. Many of us may be feeling the impact personally—particularly those with family serving in the military—and our thoughts are with them.

This moment also adds to an already complex external environment for our clients. Market volatility, economic uncertainty, and global instability will shape the decisions our nonprofit partners and their donors must make every day. As we discussed at last month’s town hall, this is when focus matters most. Staying grounded in the core of your program—protecting what works, avoiding reactive shifts, and leading with discipline—becomes even more important in periods of uncertainty.

Against that backdrop, I want to thank Avalon’s senior leaders, department heads, and entire staff for your thoughtful participation in our annual strategic planning process. Though our industry and the nonprofit sector face real challenges, I continue to be inspired by the energy, collaboration, and commitment I see across this team. Our plans are built for moments like this—steady, intentional, and designed to support both our clients and one another.

From here, we move forward together bringing those plans to life with clarity and care.

State of the Industry

Thank you to our clients who attended last month’s State of the Industry Town Hall. It was a great conversation that covered many challenges and opportunities—and was a chance to reflect on what it means to fundraise successfully during a time of what experts call “ungovernable change.” Successful programs will optimize and integrate all available channels, ensure a solid financial foundation, and maximize growth and engagement. In addition, messaging must remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment, including major shifts in philanthropy and donor demographics. All the while, we will steward the public trust and cultivate strong donor relationships for lasting impact. There are a lot of moving parts to this winning formula, but, fundraisers, we can do this. We’ve navigated complexity before, and we have the expertise and the tools we need to move forward. Avalon is here for you.

AI Adoption Gap

NonprofitPRO reports that benchmark research highlights an AI “efficiency plateau” in the nonprofit sector. A new report by Virtuous and Fundraising.AI finds that 92% of nonprofits have adopted AI tools, but only 7% report strategic impact. Part of the challenge is that use is mostly individualized, rather than embedded in workflows or strategic processes like budgeting. In addition, less than half of nonprofits have formal AI policies, which would encourage innovation and provide essential guardrails. To move beyond what researchers call “reactive use” and towards responsible, strategic adoption, experts recommend the following:

Six Steps to Meaningful AI Adoption

1. Assign a cross-functional AI team.
2. Establish AI governance ownership.
3. Create an acceptable use policy.
4. Document what works.
5. Pair the right tools with the right strategy.
6. Measure results.

Source: “The State of AI Adoption & Transformation for Nonprofits”

Protecting “America’s Largest Classroom”

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has joined a coalition lawsuit to stop the removal of history and science from America’s national parks. The National Park Service is an essential steward of knowledge and cultural memory in the United States. Indeed, as the coalition explains, our parks are “America’s largest classroom.” When stories about slavery, Indigenous history, civil rights, or climate science are erased, that’s not minor editing; it is censorship of what the parks exist to preserve and teach. Thank you to our clients at NPCA, to their donors, and to their coalition partners for taking on this fight.

“We’re so proud to support NPCA as they fight to make sure our parks tell all Americans’ stories. This is why our work matters.”

– Avalon Senior Vice President and Director of Remote Work Margot O’Leary

Hello, Times Square!

Congratulations to our clients at Farm Sanctuary on their Times Square billboard! This exciting moment celebrates 40 years of success healing farm animals through rescue and sanctuary, working to end factory farm exploitation, and inspiring a more compassionate food economy. The attention is well deserved and impactful: “This billboard is more than an ad. It’s an invitation—to imagine a kinder food system, and to include farm animals in our circle of compassion.” Avalon is proud to support you.

The Avalon Olympics

Thank you to our Virtual Gathering Committee for organizing Avalon’s Virtual Winter Olympics last month. Not only did we have impressive participation from the Avalon staff, but Team Belgium (Barb Perell, Jackie Libby, Chris Rempert, and Will Griffiths) pulled off a stunning victory with three gold medals for the Typing Test, Olympic Trivia, and Rock, Paper Scissors—in addition to their bronze for QWOP. Way to go!