Dear friends,

Fall may be coming fast with several in our house headed back to school soon, but I’m not quite ready to let go of summer. I love a good concert at Wolf Trap and had a great time recently at the Goo Goo Dolls and Dashboard Confessional. I’m also puttering in my garden, and the dogs are getting longer walks, now that the worst heat has relented. To me, this is perfect Annapolis weather, so please visit if you’re in the area. I’ll share my favorite recommendations!

Sunset during a recent trip to Wolf Trap.

2025 Q1 Benchmarks

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project has released 2025 Q1 benchmarks. Overall, the trends are consistent with what we’ve seen in recent quarters. Donations are up (+3.6%), but the number of donors is down (-1.3%). Direct marketers should note that small donors ($1 – $100) dropped even more sharply (-11.1%). Though this trend is not new, it highlights the continued importance of strategic fundraising: acquiring donors who will stay, cultivating engagement over time, and targeting retention rates that will counter the sector-wide trend of attrition. Please reach out to your Avalon team if you have questions about our approach.

“Organizations can mitigate dependencies on larger donors by prioritizing small donor acquisition and tailoring retention strategies to smaller donor segments, in addition to strengthening relationships with major donors. With a focus on these areas, nonprofits can position themselves for successful giving throughout the rest of 2025.”

– AFP Global

Responsive Fundraising

Thank you to our friends at Names in the News for sharing their latest Acquisition Advisor. I always appreciate their in-depth analysis of giving trends alongside major events affecting the nonprofit sector. One stand-out recommendation is the wisdom of budgeting, where possible, for getting to mail quickly. Given both the climate of uncertainty and today’s rapid rate of change, nonprofits must prepare for responsive fundraising across channels. In addition to expedited printing, a strong digital strategy can add flexibility and reach. As always, direct mail and digital should be implemented as strategic complements, not campaign silos.

Chart Crimes

Washington Post published a cautionary take on AI “chart crimes.” The problem surfaced at ChatGPT’s GPT-5 demo, where a chart depicted 53% as larger than 69%, and 69% as equal to 31%. If you find that confusing, welcome to the club! Chart fails make entertaining fodder for social media, but they also point to a deeper concern: authenticity. Data visualization is a powerful skill that, in the wrong hands, can be used to mislead an audience. Fundraisers must be aware, and we must continue to safeguard trust. To learn more, check out analytics VP SB Birnie’s “Foundations of Data Visualization” course in the NTEN library. Avalon is committed to impactful analytics that are both technically and ethically sound.

Productivity, Please

COO Kerri Kerr shared an “epic list” of 90 productivity strategies from Inc. Her advice is to review the ideas and notice what stands out. Then, experiment with a few changes to explore what works for you. In addition to tips, the article includes a round-up of productivity books and podcasts, many of which Avalon leaders can vouch for. For example, Cal Newport’s Deep Work informed Avalon’s commitment to providing focused time for strategic and creative work—and it inspired our three meeting-free weeks per year!

A selection from Inc. author Jeff Haden’s productivity library.

Get Outside

National Parks Conservation Association created a fun “park personality quiz” to help you plan your next visit. Marking the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, August 4 was a free entrance day across the parks system. But if you missed it, don’t worry: You’ll have more free entrance opportunities on September 27 (National Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day). Both are perfectly timed for fundraisers to take a break during our busy season!