Dear friends,

Happy Giving Tuesday! Thank you to our clients and to everyone at Avalon for your incredible work on today’s campaigns. Giving Tuesday continues to be a critical kickoff to year-end, and I’m proud of our teams for consistently presenting a strong case for support and effectively integrating Giving Tuesday into the rest of the year-end strategy. We will keep you posted as results come into focus. For now, good luck and stay strong!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you feel rested and ready for the weeks ahead. I hosted family and friends in Annapolis, and I loved having our kids and their friends filling the house with wonderful chaos.

Thanksgiving for Thousands

I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but I was awed by the effort put into the Pine Street Inn (PSI) Thanksgiving feast. They fed a Thanksgiving meal to 2700 guests, put together by over 50 people. In case you’re wondering, that translates to 250 pounds of cranberry sauce and 1000 pounds of mashed potatoes! Congratulations and well done to executive chef Frank van Overbeeke, PSI staff, and volunteers on this incredible event.

Town Hall Recap

Thank you to COO Kerri Kerr and to everyone in attendance at last month’s client town hall. Avalon clients should have received a copy of our slide deck by email—and we are here to help you present the information to your leadership. Intentional communication around strategy is a key ingredient of fundraising success, especially in challenging or uncertain times. Please lean on us if you would like additional support.

Legislative Outlook

The Nonprofit Alliance’s latest legislative update outlined what nonprofits can expect from a Republican-controlled Congress. They note the increased likelihood of a national data privacy law, and they anticipate bipartisan support in both chambers for the universal charitable deduction. AI regulation also has momentum, particularly in the Senate.

Also of note, the House just passed a bill that empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status. Fortunately, the bill is not expected to pass the Senate as-is, but it does highlight the threat of federal targeting. This is a sobering reminder as we prepare for a second Trump administration.

How Brands Can Promote Unity

I was inspired by this Ad Age article on how brands can promote unity and help rebuild trust in a nation divided. This will be especially important for nonpartisan organizations, who will find strength and purpose in unity-focused messages. The article considers the importance of using tools like micro-targeting and social media algorithms responsibly, to support unity rather than division. Author Jerry Wind proposes 5 practical steps for brands:

• Audit and adjust marketing messages
• Reshape digital engagement
• Transform measurement and metrics
• Reimagine media strategy
• Build community connections

“Let us move beyond the narrow definition of marketing as merely driving sales or winning votes. In today’s fractured landscape, every form of public communication must embrace a broader mission: strengthening the social fabric of all stakeholders that makes democracy possible.”

– Jerry Wind, professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Is Bluesky the New Twitter?

Avalon is beginning to receive more questions about whether nonprofits should build a presence on Bluesky. The platform, which was once invite-only but is now open to the public, has been gaining traction as a Twitter/X alternative:

A celebratory post and thread of Bluesky trivia from Bluesky CEO Jay Graber.

If your organization has the capacity to manage a new platform, we say go for it. However, smaller nonprofits may need to focus on other priorities—and that’s fine. Bluesky doesn’t offer ads yet, but Avalon is tracking features closely and will continue providing recommendations as the platform evolves. As our friends at M+R point out, there are other good reasons to take the leap.

Best of Direct

I am headed into DC on Wednesday to reprise my role as co-host of DMAW’s Best of Direct with my good friend Tiffany Neill of Lautman Maska Neill & Co. The event starts at 5:30pm at the National Housing Center, and it is always a special night for our industry. I’m looking forward to catching up with colleagues and honoring our awardees. Let me know if you’ll be there!

Puppy Therapy

Finally, please enjoy a bit of puppy therapy, courtesy of finance VP Kristina Deutsch and her foster puppies, Pee Wee and Dottie. Avalon merch has never been cuter.