Dear friends,

Happy daylight savings! As spring nears, I look forward to warm weather and bright days. This winter has been challenging across the sector, and it will be good to turn a fresh page. At the same time, I hope fundraisers will carry forward the determination and courage I have seen in recent months. Avalon is in this for the long haul, and I know you are too.

Spending Bill

All eyes are on the upcoming deadline of March 14th for Congress to pass a new spending bill. Time Magazine published a good overview of the politics and the potential impact of a shutdown, which would both squeeze revenue and increase the demand for nonprofit services. Nonprofits can build on strategies that worked before, but it’s also wise to prepare for an extended showdown. Avalon will once again be helping clients get ready as the deadline looms.

AI and Fundraising

William & Mary is the latest university to introduce “Wren,” an AI-powered virtual engagement officer that is gaining traction in higher education. The tool will “augment, not replace” the school’s human staff, to expand reach and help maintain donor relationships. In an interview with Inside Higher Ed, Wren described its contribution to the team like this:

I’m here to make things easy and personal! I learn from your interests—whether it’s scholarships, athletics, or a specific department—so I can share tailored giving opportunities. I also stay updated on all the amazing work happening across campus, so you always know the impact your gift will make.

As always with AI opportunities—and all aspects of fundraising—stewarding donor trust is paramount. I appreciate this perspective from Nathan Chappell, head of AI at DonorSearch AI:

This technology is very powerful. It can do the job well with great ease and efficiency. Although, as nonprofit professionals, we have to be guardians of trust and only design systems that build trust, not diminish it. We always have to ask ourselves: What do we want to achieve in the short term and what are the unintended consequences in the long term?

Writing Advice

Jeff Brooks recently shared 8 universal truths that can make your writing easier on Future Fundraising Now. It’s a great list that includes axioms like “The Crappy First Draft Principle” and “Nothing New Under the Sun.” Analytics VP SB Birnie noted that these rules apply to most tasks, not just writing—so, it’s worth a look for everybody!

How to Think Outside the Box

Senior director of HR Melissa Ferrell shared great advice from SmartBrief on how to become a creative thinker. To support innovation and growth, it’s important for leaders to engage new ideas and ways of thinking. They offer 8 strategies to open your mind, starting with a growth mindset, or the belief that one’s intelligence and abilities are not fixed.

Carol Dweck’s TED Talk on Growth Mindsets

Award-Worthy Fashion

The National Museum of the American Indian will host four public programs this weekend for their special installation, “Making a Statement.” The installation features two gowns designed by Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) of Ironhorse Quillwork, in collaboration with Gucci. Actor Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) wore the dresses to the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in 2024, when she became the first Native American to be nominated for best actress, for the film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Generations Trivia

Thank you to our Virtual Gathering Committee (VGC) for hosting Generations Trivia for the Avalon team. I laughed to hear about the event’s origin: Marketing VP Barb Perell noted in a meeting that she shares a birthday with Florence Henderson, and someone on the call did not know the Brady Bunch. To a proud Gen X-er, that seems impossible—but I’m sure I’m equally clueless about some of Gen Z’s references! If you’d like to try this with your team, our VGC used the board game Mind the Gap to create Avalon’s virtual activity.

Headings:

• Gen Z: How did Steve Harvey mess up the Miss Universe pageant in 2015?
• Millennial: Which Hollywood actor did Julia Roberts Hollywood leave at the altar three days before their scheduled wedding?
• Gen X: Name the oil tanker that spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil in the Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989.
• Boomer: What was the name of the first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957?

(Scroll down for answers!)