In today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, you will find new data on giving platforms and donor trust, questions to ask before hiring, client research, a merger update, and more. Read it here!
Dear friends,
It’s officially summer, and we’re off to the races. Between fiscal year transitions for many nonprofits, the leadup to fall fundraising, and major events like Bridge Conference, it’s an exciting time across the industry. And speaking of Bridge, Tiffany Neill, Mwosi Swenson, and I will remix our “30 Wow! Ideas” presentation at the Main Stage on Thursday, July 30 (8:45 AM). I hope to see you there!
EY Entrepreneur of the Year
Congratulations to Michael Peterman at VeraData for his win at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Florida Awards. The honor is particularly sweet because Ernst & Young (EY), a global leader in business and management practices, nominated Michael and VeraData, and he was one of eleven chosen in a surprise win at the awards dinner. He will now be a contender for the National Awards in November, but, in the meantime, kudos to Michael for this incredible recognition.
Giving Platforms and Donor Trust
A special report by Better Business Bureau’s Give.org on “Online Giving Platforms and Donor Expectations” validates concerns about third-party donation pages. The research documents confusion around nonprofit consent, vetting processes, fees, and oversight, while also stressing the increasing relevance of third-party platforms for discovery and trust. Fortunately, regulators are taking action to address overreach, and this data will empower that process. But for now, nonprofits should remain vigilant. Reporting for NonProfitPRO, Amanda Cole explains how, in addition to legal concerns, this creates a “reputation problem,” and she urges nonprofits to “continuously audit your presence.”
Our findings suggest that many interpret a charity’s presence on a well-known platform as a signal of trust, charity consent, and platform oversight. Donors value convenience and discovery, but they also expect transparency, secure handling of donations, accurate information, and meaningful charity involvement in how organizations are represented online.
– Bennett Weiner, Give.org President and CEO
Easing Nonprofit Burnout
Earlier this month, I shared survey data from the Center for Effective Philanthropy that highlights the problem of nonprofit burnout. To help address this challenge, NonprofitPRO outlined six questions nonprofit managers should ask themselves before hiring. Together, they make an important line of inquiry that leaders in agencies and other nonprofit-adjacent organizations should consider as well:
- Do you have a fully functional program to manage?
- Are your managers and leaders actually helping new employees succeed?
- Does the job match the role you described – and is it available to own?
- Is there enough information and context for the person to perform well?
- Are you protecting the new employee from unhealthy internal dynamics?
- Does the current structure support clear ownership and accountability?
Celebrating Pride with AARP
For Pride 2026, AARP shared a fun quiz that tests your Pride knowledge. It’s a great tool for engagement that also highlights important moments, trailblazers, and milestones in queer history. For a deeper dive, check out their Dignity Series, an LGBTQ+ research program that includes new data on “The Duality of the 50+ African-American Experience.” AARP is also doing great work to support LGBTQ+ adults affected by online scams and fraud, and they have an expansive LGBTQ+ Community page on their website. Thank you to AARP for all your work to support LGBTQ+ adults during Pride and year-round.
Merger Update
Finally, Avalon continues getting to know our new colleagues at VeraData and their agency partners, Teal Media and Faircom. Soon, this will include expanding Avalon’s internal “Pulse” survey and Clifton Strengths analysis across the entire enterprise. The more I see our combined capabilities, the more excited I am for our clients and team. In addition, infrastructure collaborations for Avalon marketing, finance, and HR are gaining speed. Best of all, the people are great! I’m enjoying this part of the process.
