In today’s @AvalonFYI dispatch, meet Avalon’s new SVP of Digital, discover HR stats for fundraisers, an AI security checklist, industry honors, conference news, and more.
Dear friends,
To kick off this week, I’m excited to introduce Avalon’s new SVP of Digital, Chris Maddocks. Chris brings over two decades of experience to our team and has held senior leadership positions on both the agency and the nonprofit sides of the sector. These include his most recent role as Head of Integrated Strategy at Blue State, previous work as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at March of Dimes, and pivotal roles at UNICEF USA, Seed Global Health, and Boston Children’s Hospital. As a leader who knows what it means to sit on both sides of the table, Chris understands the pressure nonprofit leaders face and how Avalon can empower them to succeed. His combination of digital expertise, strategic thinking, and respect for the donor make him a perfect fit for our team. Please join me in giving Chris a warm welcome!
Leadership Summit
Like many of you, I am busy clearing the decks ahead of The Nonprofit Alliance Leadership Summit in San Antonio next week. It has been a privilege to serve on this year’s steering committee and help shape the agenda, which includes a “state of the sector” address by TNPA President and CEO Shannon McCracken, a keynote from leadership expert Alyson Van Hooser, the latest sector data from the Center for Effective Philanthropy, panels on AI and generosity, and a “closing mission moment” that is sure to inspire. Most of all, I can’t wait for the high-level, collaborative conversations among leaders that make this conference truly stand out. Safe travels to everyone making the trip!
Max Hart Achievement Award
Congratulations to Faircom New York founder and president Corinne Servily for winning the Association of National Advertisers Nonprofit Federation 2026 Max Hart Achievement Award! In an interview with ANA, Corinne shared her experience launching U.S. fundraising for Médecins Sans Frontières, along with important insights on direct response, donor engagement, crisis fundraising, privacy, and AI. In addition, she emphasized the importance of developing others: “What I am most proud of is not a campaign or a number. It is the fundraisers I have trained who went out and built their own teams, who learned to understand their donors in a human way.” I applaud this and am thrilled to be working closely at Avalon with Corinne and the remarkable team she led at Faircom New York.
Future of Fundraising
Stanford Social Innovation Review published an analysis of fundraising’s human resource pipeline, emphasizing senior fundraiser retirements, decreasing average tenure (<18 months), and the high cost of turnover (up to 5x annual salary). Though the article highlights major gifts, direct response fundraisers, agencies, and partners should also take note. We can all learn from the insight that our profession needs to call young people in, offer growth with purpose, and lead transformational cultures that inspire loyalty. This strategy has always been a cornerstone of Avalon’s success, and I hope more organizations will embrace it. The entire sector thrives when the fundraising profession is strong.
What kind of culture would make talented professionals choose to build their careers and legacies here? The answer, in every case, was the same. Purpose. Belonging. The sense that the work matters and that the organization sees the whole person, not just the performance metric. That is the transformational argument. Not just for how we treat donors. For how we treat each other.
—Mark Dobosz, Mozaic Senior Life, VP of Philanthropy, Major Gifts, and Planned Giving
AI Privacy & Security Guide
Our colleagues at VeraData have released an important white paper on AI security: “Adopted. Prompted. Now What?” The paper explores AI security threats, suggests precautions, and provides both an action plan and templates for nonprofits. In addition, they shared a 2-page guide on LinkedIn, which tracks how each LLM handles user data, their opt-out settings, and each platform’s risk level. If your nonprofit is using AI in any way, it is critical to be proactive on this matter. Avalon follows these protocols without exception and does not access, use, or store Donor PII (personally identifiable information).
VeraData’s “Do This Today” AI Security Checklist:
- Check every AI tool’s training setting, even the ones you’re paying for.
- Opt out of model training on every consumer-tier tool.
- Use Temporary Chat or equivalent for any donor data work.
- Establish a rule: Donor PII does not go into free or consumer-tier tools.
- If you must use consumer tools, anonymize data first (use ranges, strip names).
- Revisit settings quarterly—policies change without notice.
25 Years Later
Ahead of 9/11, I’ve been reflecting on how much the world has changed since that tragic day, as well as what remains constant. I will never forget huddling speechless around the television, watching the tragedy unfold, or the heavy responsibility of ensuring the Avalon team’s safety amid the uncertainty in Washington, D.C. To this day, I remain in awe of the first responders and other heroes who bravely risked their lives to help those in danger. Thank you to everyone who works to preserve and honor their legacies. 25 years later, their sacrifices and heroism continue to give me hope.
