In today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, discover the power of curiosity, donor myths, remote work insights, national park advocacy, red panda cubs, and more.
Dear friends,
August is a transition month, and I’ve noticed that everyone approaches it differently. Some of us are ready for fall, while others want to squeeze every last drop out of summer. I personally love both seasons, so in August I try to pause and take stock before we’re off to the races with fall fundraising. With so many external forces impacting our sector, and in such a banner year for Avalon, clarity and direction are more important than ever. It’s never easy to find time, but I know many of you also make reflection a priority in your leadership, and I’m grateful.
Here are three questions I am asking myself and encourage everyone at Avalon (and you!) to reflect on:
- What’s working well?
- Where do we need to adapt?
- What new ideas will we try?
What I Wish I Knew
Speaking of reflection, Avalon Analytics VP SB Birnie shared wisdom with university students, recent graduates, and other young professionals at The Nonprofit Alliance Leading EDGE “What I Wish I Knew” event on July 21. The online panel was recorded, and SB is a fantastic speaker, so it’s definitely worth revisiting. I love the advice to pay attention, notice pain points, and take initiative in solving them. And I can confirm that SB’s curiosity and willingness to step in makes them an impactful leader at Avalon. Thank you to TNPA, SB, and their fellow panelists for encouraging the next generation of leaders to pursue nonprofit careers!
Busting Donor Myths
My VeraData colleague Joey Mechelle Farqué penned a great response to recent New York Times’ coverage of the famous Kennedy Center mice. As Joey points out, the story shows how some myths can become “too good to check,” including many longstanding beliefs about fundraising. However, nonprofits deserve better. Whether it’s “our donors don’t give online,” or the ever popular “we’re mailing too much,” no fundraising myth should be accepted without question. Citing Avalon’s Bridge Conference presentation from several years ago, Joey challenges fundraisers to verify long held assumptions with data and analytics. Avalon clients know we leave no stone unturned as we develop strategy, and no myth gets by without separating fact from fiction. Across Avalon and VeraData, we have a comprehensive set of customizable services and products that can support you with myth busting at your nonprofit.
Remote Managers Rock 🤘
SVP and director of remote work Margot O’Leary shared new research from Gallup on hybrid and remote teams, noting that teams with an intentional collaboration plan are 66% more likely to be engaged and 29% less likely to experience burnout. In addition, the report confirms the impact of managers: A whopping 70% of engagement variance is determined by individual managers and team leaders. This can be a real challenge in remote environments, where work is less visible and communication is often asynchronous. To support engagement and performance, Gallup outlines five standards: “clarify expectations, connect work to purpose, develop people intentionally, individualize through strengths, [and] maintain consistent communication.”
Remote work doesn’t just happen on its own; good management, connection, communication, and collaboration all must be intentional. It’s why we continue experimenting with things like Avalon Pods, Watercooler conversations, virtual gatherings, in-person opportunities in the DMV area and regionally, and other ways to keep us connected.
—Margot O’Leary, Avalon SVP and Director of Remote Work
Celebrating National Parks
Today, in honor of the National Parks Service’s 110th anniversary, Americans can visit national parks entrance-free. It is also National Park Week and a great time for park advocacy. Our clients at the National Parks Conservation Association are hosting a Day of Action both online and in person, and they created a National Park Advocacy Crash Course to help folks get up to speed on the issues. And don’t worry, if you’re busy today, you’ll have three more chances for free entrance this fall: September 17 (Constitution Day), October 27 (Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday), and November 11 (Veterans Day).
Panda Power
Congratulations to carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, who welcomed three red panda cubs this summer. For now, the cubs are bonding with their mothers (called “dams”) at the Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, which is closed to the public. However, the Smithsonian is sharing pictures and updates online, and at this stage, according to assistant curator of carnivores Jessica Kordell, they “are really just balls of fur that eat and sleep.” Red pandas are an endangered species, so the Conservation Biology Institute’s work to support healthy reproduction and development is critical. Thank you to everyone who is keeping the dams and their cubs safe!
