Dear friends,

Hello, April! I’ve been embracing the good weather and turning my extra energy to our yard. We’re starting a garden for the first time and going through the process of designing, building, and planning out the beds. I’m excited but also nervous—I have never had a garden like this, and I’m worried about my green thumb (or lack thereof). If you are an experienced gardener, I’d love to hear from you…any words of wisdom for a newbie?

Plans for my 2025 garden.

AI at Avalon

Avalon is committed to building an AI-literate workforce that understands both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. We know it’s a powerful tool, and we’re committed to using it responsibly to better serve our clients.

Last week, our whole team took part in AI trainings led by educator Josh Hirsch. These sessions helped us build a shared understanding of how AI can enhance our work—and the risks we need to watch out for. Right now, we’re focusing on Microsoft Copilot, which uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 to support our day-to-day tasks within Microsoft 365.

We’re also carving out time for our team to experiment with AI and discover ways it can improve efficiency. And for our clients, we’re running several tests to compare AI-driven approaches with traditional ones, while gathering data to see what works best.

Using AI responsibly is non-negotiable for us. That’s why we’ve created Responsible Use Guidelines and built an internal approval process for any new AI applications. If we use AI to generate images or text in a significant way, we will always be upfront about it. We also chose Microsoft Copilot for its strong security features, which protect proprietary data. And to be clear—Avalon will never share or input personally identifiable information (PII) when using AI tools.

We’re excited to explore AI’s potential, and we’re doing it with intention and care. If you have any questions or want to chat more about how we’re using AI, I would love to hear from you!

Write Headlines that Hold Attention

Avalon’s paid media and copy teams came together last week to collaborate and share knowledge around digital ad copywriting. One key concept is the crucial function of headlines to grab and hold attention—fast! Our team explained it this way: “Your headline is your first impression, and there are no second chances.”

Try these ideas to make your next headline a winner!

1. Talk directly to your audience.

2. Start your headline with a verb.

3. Use lists (“listicles”) to drive traffic.

4. Consider using a full stop at the end.

Excel-lent Resource!

Avalon analytics VP SB Birnie shared a fantastic resource created by Adam Rosenscruggs of Gambit Analytics: Excel for Fundraisers. You will find both an overview of Excel basics and more advanced tutorials on fundraising tasks like appending data, summarizing data, and splitting lists. He even explains the magic behind the ever-handy VLOOKUP formula. As Birnie notes, theater nerds will also enjoy the Easter eggs hidden around the site!

Change Management

Nonprofit PRO published a concise framework for leading organizational change. Author Preeti Ladwa outlines three phases: planning, execution, and sustainability. Throughout the process, Ladwa stresses the importance and hard work of great communication (“early and often.”) I particularly like her insight that your organization’s mission should be at the heart of any change process you undertake. It will be your team’s solid ground when other things are shifting. This part of leadership can be a challenge, but it adds tremendous value to your organization and is deeply rewarding.

American Women Quarters

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is celebrating the introduction of a new quarter in their American Women Quarters™ Program with the U.S. Mint. Between 2022 and 2025, the U.S. Mint is releasing new designs featuring remarkable American women like writer and activist Maya Angelou (2022), ballerina Maria Tallchief (2023), and congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink (2024). On March 26, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the National Postal Museum will host an event to celebrate the newest quarter, which honors Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.

“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”

– Juliette Gordon Low

April Fools!

We cooked up something fun for you this April Fools Day: two truths and a lie! Can you guess which of these Avalon factoids is actually a fiction?

Two Truths and a Lie

1. The name “Avalon” was chosen because the names of both founders, Ann and Allison, start with A.
2. 20% of Avalon staff have been with the company for 10+ years.
3. Avalon was ahead of its time with remote work. We set up our first full-time remote worker all the way back in 2000!

Scroll down to see which one’s the fib!