Today’s Avalon Dispatch is guest-authored by Mary Meredith, senior vice-president and director of digital innovation.

Dear friends,

As you know, Allison Porter is on sabbatical through July 27, and I’m pleased to report that everything is running smoothly. This is no surprise, but it’s worth mentioning! Our seamless operations are a testament to Allison’s leadership, Avalon’s strategy for developing leaders at every level, and the incredible talent across our agency. It is very cool to see this in action, and I’m proud to be part of it.

Nationally, the news is more challenging. Like most Americans, I was saddened and alarmed by last weekend’s political violence. Saturday’s events leave no room to doubt that our country has a long road ahead. I’ve been thinking a lot about the role of nonprofits to provide stability and hope during times of crisis—and how fundraisers help make that possible. Doing my best to support our clients gives me a sense of purpose and shared mission, and that steadies me. I’m so grateful for this work we do together.

To that end, one area of focus is digital advertising. As politics (and uncertainty) intensify, the Forbes Agency Council released guidance on advertising in an election year. Their advice is targeted to commercial brands, and it does require some translation for nonprofits. However, it’s a helpful overview of the media landscape. Big picture, the Council acknowledges that political advertising will impact brands, they caution against slashing budgets, and they recommend agility:

It may be tempting to sit it out or slow it down, but resist. Pulling back advertising spend during challenging times can hinder growth. As evidenced by research from McKinsey, marketing during uncertain times can drive resilience…Watch campaigns closely, be patient and move quickly when you need to.

In our sector, NonProfitPRO compiled a list of marketing challenges currently facing nonprofits. I was happy to see that web development is a priority, as many nonprofits act to improve outdated sites. The article emphasizes the importance of frictionless interfaces, easy mobile payments, and accessibility, all areas we are working with our clients to implement.

In DEI news, analytics VP Sarah Birnie circulated an interesting post by Vu Le on gender norms in fundraising. For example, “our conditioning to be excessively thankful to donors” and language around “courting” donors can reinforce outdated hierarchies. While it will always be important to thank donors, a framework of partnership and mutual appreciation is more aligned with today’s values than one-way gratitude. Le writes, “Our traditional fundraising philosophies and practices often perpetuate heteronormative patriarchal norms, and it’s time we move beyond that.” It’s a thought-provoking piece and good food for thought.

On a personal note, I love to sail and have spent many hours and days on the water. I find it to be a great teacher for leadership and life. If you’re curious about the connection between sailing and leadership, check out Fast Company’s 6 lessons in teamwork from competitive sailing, or read this first-hand account in CEOWORLD Magazine. Some business schools even incorporate sailing into their MBA curriculum.

Finally, it’s summertime and my bees are buzzing. I once gave the Avalon team a presentation on my hives, and I recently shared this fascinating 1-minute video about how flowers talk to bees. Nature is so cool. 🐝 🌸