Today’s Avalon Dispatch is guest-authored by Jackie Biancolli Libby, senior vice-president and director of client services.

Dear friends,

Happy birthday to Avalon! Avalon was founded on July 14, 1997 by Allison Porter and Ann Herzog—but our staff celebration just took place, so the party continues. This year, we hosted a virtual ice cream social and treated everyone to their favorite flavor. It is always so fun to celebrate this milestone with the Avalon team:

Happy birthday, Avalon!

On a serious note, President Biden’s decision to withdraw his candidacy has reshaped the election. With each development, nonprofit leaders may wonder how events will impact their organizations. For perspective, Forbes shared research from CCS Fundraising on the history of charitable giving in election years. The good news is that political donations represent a small fraction of overall giving. And, in 9 of the last 10 presidential election years, charitable giving actually increased. While I don’t love the phrase “rage giving,” which they use to explain the uptick, it is helpful to see the numbers. As always, your nonprofit’s data is the best guide.

In other news, Giving USA released its 2023 annual report. The headline is that total donations increased by +1.9% in 2023, to $557.16 billion. However, when adjusted for inflation, this becomes a decrease of -2.1%. The Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy, which helps write and research the report, projects even stronger numbers in 2024 and 2025. They predict increases of +4.2% in 2024 and +3.9% in 2025, surpassing $600 billion in 2025 (before inflation adjustments). Their analysts are using 10-year histories to make assessments, as we recommend at Avalon. It is important to understand recent activity within a wider frame, for perspective on outlier pandemic years.

From the commercial sector, I was fascinated by a Fast Company report on “how the sky became a giant billboard.” Some major brands are investing in drone marketing, which comes at a high price that is often inaccessible for smaller brands. The opportunity is raising eyebrows and some interesting questions about who owns the sky. However, “sky marketing” is nothing new: the first example was in 1922, when a Manhattan hotel used smoke to send its phone number into the air above Times Square. I wonder, will we ever see nonprofits take to the skies?

In client news, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shared “The Promise of US,” an amazing slate of programming for the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 2026 celebration starts now with “Portraits of US,” an open call for artistic self-portraits that will be featured onsite and online. I love their vision for inclusive community and engagement around the nation’s “collective cultural journey,” and I’m excited to participate.

In addition, the Kennedy Center announced their 47^th annual Kennedy Center Honors. It’s a great year! This year’s Honorees include Francis Ford Coppola, The Grateful Dead, Arturo Sandoval, and Bonnie Raitt, who sings one of my favorite songs. And, for the first time in Kennedy Center Honors history, an organization, The Apollo, “will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution.” The event will take place live on December 8 and will air on CBS on December 23.

Finally, I hope you enjoy the second half of summer. Getting away, logging off, and having fun are so important—especially in our industry, as we energize ourselves for fall fundraising. Who knows…you might encounter something marvelous when you step outside your normal routine!

Meeting my favorite superhero, Captain America!