Dear friends,

Last week’s election outcomes were energizing. It is interesting to see a two-pronged approach emerging, as Democrats find success with both moderate and progressive candidates. As we know well in nonprofit fundraising, understanding your audience is the foundation of a strong campaign—and it seems like Democrats are taking note. Thank you to everyone who took time to vote and volunteer last week. Let’s keep the momentum going!

FEP Benchmark Update

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) updated Q2 benchmarks, which include data for January 1 – June 30, 2025. One key finding is that donor count and retention were flat after accounting for the margin of error. Dollars were up slightly at +2.9%, exceeding the margin of error by +0.9%. While this suggests stability overall, lower-dollar segments continue to decline, including a sharp -10.4% decrease in the number of micro-donors (<$100). As we know, lower-dollar segments are critical for future sustainability, growth, and a healthy mid-to-major donor pipeline.

Source: Fundraising Effectiveness Project

Also of note, FEP incorporated a new memo for policymakers that outlines insights for charitable and tax policy. This is a welcome addition that I hope will amplify and strengthen nonprofit sector advocacy. Thank you to The Nonprofit Alliance and the Association of Fundraising Professionals for highlighting this resource in a recent letter to Congress.  

“With the expanded non-itemizer charitable deduction taking effect next year — along with an unprecedented charitable deduction floor for itemizing taxpayers — having data-driven policy tools has never been more critical.”

– Shannon McCracken, CEO, The Nonprofit Alliance

NTC 2026 Preview

I am pleased to announce that Avalon will present two sessions at NTEN’s 2026 Nonprofit Technology Conference (26NTC): 

• AI and the Future of Paid Search: What Fundraisers Need to Know, led by senior director of paid media Andrea Thorn and director of paid search Marcel Solorzano. 
• Beyond the Welcome Series: Five New Ways to Leverage Email Automations, led by senior digital account director David Lothamer and Maan Sacdalan, director of digital production & database management at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

26NTC will take place in Detroit, Michigan and virtually from March 10 – 13, 2026. Registration is open, with early bird pricing through December 15 and discounts for NTEN members. We hope to see you there! 

Agentic AI Milestone

ChatGPT has now integrated PayPal for an instant checkout experience. This is a major step in OpenAI’s effort to make agentic commerce a seamless process for consumers. Once ad offerings expand, it will create an exciting opportunity to reach and activate a wallet-ready audience. This is potentially a huge revolution in how brands persuade and activate consumers—but for now, the companies are focused on retail. Avalon is watching the commercial sector closely, to learn from early adopters and prepare to engage effectively. As always, fundraisers must be ready to both innovate boldly and responsibly steward the sector and nonprofits we serve. Trust, as ever, is paramount. 

“Agentic commerce is flipping the script on how consumers engage with the digital world. We’re entering an era where AI agents won’t just assist—they’ll decide.” 

– – Naveen Sastry, McKinsey senior partner and global leader of software and platforms 

Clarity + Emotion = Call to Action

Frank O’Brien has a timeless reminder for nonprofits as they enter the 2025 giving season: “Confusion is the enemy of action.” Too often, nonprofits are guilty of “nonprofit-speak,” which only causes confusion. Instead, a strong message will use both clarity and emotion to motivate action. As you review year-end messaging, check for O’Brien’s seven steps to clarify messaging: 

1. Eliminate your “huh” moments. 
2. Remember specifics always beat generalities. 
3. Most of all, make your ask specific. 
4. Don’t substitute clever for clear. 
5. Give your most powerful argument prime position. 
6. Avoid jargon and abstraction. 
7. Use active voice. 

We 💚 National Parks 

Avalon is closed today, November 11 for Veterans Day, which is a federal holiday. In addition, this coincides with a free entrance day in U.S. national parks. For those visiting parks, it is always wise to check their status—and even more so today, given the shutdown. Our clients at the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) have explained the impact of a shutdown on the park system, and you can find the latest Park Service alerts here. Thank you to NPCA for your guidance and advocacy!