Dear friends,

July is a busy time for fundraisers: 22% of nonprofits are beginning a new fiscal year, many others will finalize budgets and reprojections, and everyone is preparing for fall and year-end campaigns. If you haven’t already, consider this a friendly nudge to schedule your next vacation and build rest into your work routine—not as extras, but as a necessary foundation. Especially this year, it will be important to manage our energy.

I took the opportunity to step away, recharge, and gain inspiration on a recent family trip to Greece.

USPS News

Direct mail professionals know to prepare for twice-a-year USPS rate hikes in January and July. The latest increase took effect last week, affecting both first-class and marketing mail. Looking ahead, the Postal Regulatory Commission has proposed a new rule that would limit increases to once per year, likely in October. Avalon’s production department will track this closely, and our client teams will continue to ensure that all budgets and strategies incorporate the latest information.

Multichannel Attribution

Multichannel marketing becomes more nuanced with every new touchpoint and technology. With so many options, attribution is increasingly complex—and increasingly important, to guarantee the best placement and ROI for fundraising investments. NonProfit PRO recently outlined common challenges and best practices, emphasizing the importance of a consistent process that decision makers understand. Avalon’s approach to this complexity is cross-functional, bringing together experts in analytics, digital marketing, direct mail, and strategy.

Picture-Perfect Fundraising

VP Dara Igersheim shared an actionable list of photography do’s and don’ts from Future Fundraising Now. Author Jeff Brooks correctly explains that fundraising images are a vehicle for your message and your case for giving, not merely “decoration” or “rectangles of color.” This means that every photo is an opportunity to communicate, and the wrong image can set you back. Your pictures, not just your words, should tell a compelling story and make a call to action.

Future Fundraising Now’s Checklist for Great Fundraising Photos:

1. The main subject is people.
2. There is eye contact.
3. The facial expressions don’t detract from the story.
4. The context/background adds to the story.
5. The story the photo tells is the same story the words tell.

The Full Smithsonian Experience

Our Smithsonian team is enjoying the story of Kathryn Jones, the “digital docent” who is on a “quest for the full Smithsonian experience.” This entails visiting every museum, reading every plaque in every exhibition, and documenting the experience online. In a recent post, Jones explained the project, noting “Yes, it’s taking forever. Yes, my feet hurt sometimes, and my back hurts sometimes… [but I do it] with the hope that you might feel inspired to come inside and visit.” Last week, Jones reported on two of our clients, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Air and Space Museum. It’s an impressive endeavor, and we agree that the Smithsonian is amazing!

Focus Hack

Senior VP Margot O’Leary shared a focus hack from a friend who teaches third grade: Try fidget toys. The scientific connection between fidgeting and attention is unproven, but anecdotal evidence does suggest a link. One theory is that fidgeting helps quiet anxiety, which can in turn deepen focus. If you’d like to try, Margot experimented with this magnetic putty and gave it a thumbs up!