In today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, you will find new data on DAF practices, a nonprofit technology tracker, ChatGPT advertising, a personal operating manual, great small talk, and more! Read it here:
Dear friends,
I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and the unofficial start to summer. I appreciated the chance to catch my breath after a whirlwind month for Avalon. It is always nice to pause before summer activities ramp up with everything from vacations to conferences, to budgets, reprojections, and kick-offs for fall and year-end fundraising. I love this time of year, so let’s dive in!
New Data on DAF Practices
The Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Research Collective has published a report on whether and how financial advisors recommend DAF giving: “Financial Planning in the Age of Donor Advised Funds.” One statistic worth noting is that over half of survey respondents recommend DAFs to their clients “about half of the time,” and 35% recommend DAFs “most of the time or always.” In addition, the report outlines common reasons for DAF hesitation, which include lost control and complex rules. The data suggests nonprofits should continue to emphasize DAF giving and educate donors about the process, benefits, and value of actively using DAFs to support nonprofit work. Direct response is an important space to convey this message, so donors can better trust and access DAFs as a vehicle for impactful philanthropy. Fundraisers should make every effort to encourage timely giving and ensure active use of DAF funds.
Nonprofit Technology Tracker
The pace of technological change in the nonprofit sector is rapid and, it seems, getting faster every day. To help nonprofit professionals stay current, NonprofitPRO keeps a running list of new launches, major updates, integrations, and acquisitions. VeraData, Avalon’s merger partner, made the list in March for its Wealth Index, a tool for identifying mid-level and major gift prospects. The complete catalog is long and constantly changing, so don’t expect to implement everything right away. Rather, assess the landscape for opportunities, design tests with clear guardrails and KPIs, and build on your findings. Good-fit technology will align with your organization’s vision, mission, workflows, and values.
OpenAI Enables Cost-Per-Click
OpenAI now offers cost-per-click (CPC) ads inside ChatGPT. Previously only cost-per-thousand (CPM) buys were available, which charged advertisers for every 1,000 impressions. The change supports a more performance-based advertising approach and easier 1:1 comparison across search platforms. According to Digiday, OpenAI is currently setting bids between $3–$5 per click and has lowered the minimum spend threshold. In addition, they are improving their conversion tracking API, which will enhance attribution and ad capabilities. Big picture, this demonstrates how brand engagement is evolving and will continue to reshape how nonprofits reach and communicate with donors. Avalon is vetting this media placement for our clients, alongside other opportunities.
“Your Energy Is So Very…”
From our friends at Teal Media, operations VP Barb Perell shared an important call to awareness for agency professionals. Teal’s director of growth and client partnerships Alex Smith generously shared her experiences navigating agency life as a person with dyslexia. It hasn’t always been an easy road, and there’s a lot we can learn from her story. Most importantly, she calls agencies into serious work at partnership, not just process. This involves understanding colleagues’ and clients’ unique brains and work styles, celebrating those differences, and aligning complementary strengths. To support this, Smith swears by personal operating manuals, which work as crib sheets for inclusive teamwork. If this tool interests you, here’s a creative example from Kevin Kruse at LEADx.
A new colleague can read it in three minutes and skip the six months of guessing. The neurodivergent benefit is obvious. The bigger benefit is that it normalizes the idea that everyone has a way of working, and naming it out loud is a kindness, not a burden.
—Alex Smith, Teal Media
In Defense of Small Talk
Senior director of HR Melissa Ferrell noted the value of small talk for building stronger connections. Meaningful conversation often starts with small human moments, so it’s good to have a few prompts up your sleeve. Here are three tips to move past “how’s the weather” awkwardness the next time you’re at the watercooler. We can all try them out at Bridge this summer!
