Dear friends,

Last week was a scorcher. In addition to the discomfort that affects us all, heatwaves present urgent needs for many nonprofits and their communities. As always, I am proud to see Avalon clients showing leadership: The Boston Globe featured Pine Street Inn’s outreach to people living without shelter during extreme heat; SAGE USA earned an award from NYC Emergency Management and NYC Department of Aging for the success of its Sage Center Bronx at preparing older adults for emergencies; and Farm Sanctuary shared humane strategies for keeping farm animals safe and cool. Thank you all for your readiness and response.

New Benchmarks from Giving USA

Giving USA released its annual report, which recaps 2024 philanthropy. On the surface, the news is good: contributions totaled $592.5 billion, 66% of which came from individual giving. This signifies overall growth of +6.3% in current dollars and +3.3% when adjusted for inflation, making 2024 the first time in three years that donations beat inflation. However, experts’ reactions were muted because the report lacks information on donor count, which has experienced a downward trend across the sector in recent years. This aligns with what Avalon is seeing for our clients. We will continue to maximize every avenue for strong revenue and donor files in the second half of the calendar year.

“The headline from Giving USA – that charitable giving reached $592.5 billion in 2024 – is a testament to the resilience of generosity in America. What’s not captured in this report is how many people contributed to that total. Without knowing how many donors are behind the dollars, we’re left with an incomplete picture, one that can create a false sense of optimism and, in turn, fuel complacency.”

– Nathan Chappell, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous

Time to Innovate

Last week, the Avalon Analytics team held “Development Days” to prioritize R&D on internal and early-stage projects. This includes work like systems capacity, process efficiencies, new reports, and exploring advances in data science. Analytics VP SB Birnie introduced Development Days to ensure their department not only delivers day-to-day excellence, but also innovates. Though R&D happens year-round, stepping back and focusing deep strengthens momentum and supports clarity. Thank you to Birnie and the Analytics team for making this a priority!

“It’s incredibly valuable to step back and review our core deliverables to ensure we are answering the right questions and using the right visuals to tell a client’s data story.”

– SB Birnie, VP of Avalon Analytics

What Makes a Great Leader?

Forbes reported on new research that compiles over 63,000 leadership assessments in order to determine the behaviors that make great leaders stand out. They find that consistency is important—and so is courage. Truly memorable leaders are not afraid to take bold and decisive steps at the right moment. Author Joseph Folkman recommends ten behaviors to leaders who want to make a positive and long-lasting impact:

1. Create an atmosphere of continual improvement.
2. Inspire and energize others.
3. Make decisions under pressure.
4. Take initiative on challenging assignments.
5. Provide clear direction and purpose.
6. Build trust through good judgment.
7. Walk the talk as a role model.
8. Maintain focus on high-priority goals.
9. Achieve results through cooperation.
10. Inspire people to stretch beyond perceived limits.

Bee a Good Communicator

Did you know that bees communicate with extreme precision? From the angle of their “waggle,” to their energy level, to the way they mark themselves with pollen, every detail conveys a specific message. Senior director of HR Melissa Ferrell recently encouraged our team to apply this bee wisdom to our communication at Avalon. It’s a great reminder:

“Like bees, we work in a busy and fast environment where a lot is happening all at once. That’s why how we share information, with each other and with our clients, matters so much. When we’re clear, concise, and intentional, we avoid confusion, stay aligned, and make better decisions faster. That’s a win for our team and for the missions we support.”

– Melissa Ferrell, Avalon Senior Director of Human Resources

Backyard Buzz

And speaking of bees, senior VP and director of digital Mary Meredith gave our team a virtual tour of her backyard hives, complete with bee facts and cameos by her chickens, Henrietta, Maxine and Rhonda.

This is always a treat and made for a fantastic virtual gathering. Thanks for having us, Mary!