Inside today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, you will find the importance of small gifts, why fundraising changes as nonprofits grow, the key to clarity, industry events, and cherry blossoms!
Dear friends,
Spring has arrived, and I’m excited for the uptick in client and industry activities. First up, I look forward to seeing many of you at this week’s DMAW/TNPA Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium. Avalon COO Kerri Kerr is co-chairing this year’s event, and she has curated an incredible lineup of speakers and topics. Volunteering for a conference of this size is a huge endeavor and a labor of love for the industry. Thank you to Kerri and all this year’s organizers. I know it will be a great event!
Small Donors, Big Impact
Stanford Social Innovation Review covered small donor attrition in its spring issue, calling the challenge “an existential threat to social innovation.” In “Beyond the Mega-Gift,” author Mark Dobosz analyzes root causes of attrition, makes an important connection between grassroots funding and mission, and proposes organizational strategies alongside a call for systemic change. Direct response fundraisers know this issue inside and out, but I’m glad SSIR is educating their audience. This comprehensive article will be a great resource to share with leadership, boards, and other stakeholders outside your team—to help them understand the challenge, why to invest in small-gift fundraising, and how to support solutions.
“The challenges are real and interconnected: tax policy, trust erosion, economic pressure, demographic change, fragmented giving channels. But so are the solutions. We don’t need perfection; we need a commitment to rebuilding the democratic foundations of American philanthropy, one donor relationship at a time, as well as policy and culture that value widespread participation alongside major gifts.”
– Mark Dobosz, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Growing Pains
VP Rebecca Shapalis shared an insightful post by Jeff Brooks on how everyone thinks their donors are unique, but that can be a limiting bias. In “Your Donors Are Different, Until They Are Not,” he explains that most nonprofits begin with a committed core of loyal donors who just “get it.” Eventually, however, nonprofits need the support of a wider circle—donors who don’t know you personally and do need a reason to believe. As your impact grows, your fundraising must evolve. It’s a welcome challenge, but the shift requires expertise to navigate, and that’s how great fundraising makes a real difference. So, here’s to our profession: Helping donors engage and empowering nonprofits to grow is truly meaningful work.
“It’s a tough transition to make. It doesn’t feel right to many. Some of your original close-in donors might even notice your “tactics” and comment about them—because they are different from a wider audience. But unless your first-stage organically grown audience is large enough to fund your work, you need to make the switch.”
– Jeff Brooks, Future Fundraising Now
Ask This, Not That
Former Avalon retreat speaker Beth Ridley recommended an easy change to improve how you check for understanding when you are speaking. Instead of the generic, “Any questions?”, ask, “What feels unclear or incomplete before we move forward?” According to Ridley, this simple change better conveys the importance of clarity. In addition, acknowledging imperfection supports critical thinking, and the open question invites listeners to play a more active role. When repeated over time, this reframe can help cultivate a healthy culture of speaking up. Give it a try during your next presentation or meeting!
🌸 Cherry Blossom Watch
The beginning of spring means that Washington, DC is officially on cherry blossom watch. Yoshino cherry trees progress through six stages from green bud to bloom, and “peak bloom” will be achieved when 70% of the Tidal Basin’s trees reach stage six. As of yesterday, the trees were in stage five: “puffy blossoms.” It’s an incredible sight and locals know not to miss it—but, wherever you live, you can follow along with Trust for the National Mall’s live #BloomCam.
2026 Peak Bloom Predictions
National Park Service: March 29 – April 1
Washington Post: April 3 – 7
NBC StormTeam4: March 30 – April 5
WUSA9: April 2
