The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index – which was down in March in anticipation of the sequestration – was up again in April. Says Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board: “Consumer Confidence improved in April, as consumers’ expectations about the short-term economic outlook and their income prospects improved. However, consumers’ confidence has been challenged several times over the past few months by such events as the fiscal cliff, the payroll tax hike and the sequester. Thus, while expectations appear to have bounced back, it is too soon to tell if confidence is actually on the mend.” Not a ringing endorsement for optimism, which signals that although things are improving, there are so many moving parts in the economy and politics that can affect fundraising returns, so keep watching for how changing factors are influencing returns.

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1. 2013 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study
    NTEN and M+R
    http://www.e-benchmarksstudy.com/

2. Index of National Fundraising Performance – Q4 2012
    Blackbaud
    https://www.blackbaud.com/page.aspx?pid=864

3. Mobile in Museums Study – 2012
    A Survey of American Alliance of Museums (US) and Museums Association (UK) Members
    https://aam-us.org/docs/research/mobilemuseums2012-(aam).pdf

4. 2012 Charitable Giving Report

    Blackbaud
    https://www.blackbaud.com/files/resources/downloads/2012.CharitableGivingReport.pdf

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In early 2013, Ann Herzog stepped down as Board Chair and retired from The

Avalon Consulting Group, Inc. She leaves the company she founded in 1997, having fulfilled her vision for a full-service, direct marketing fundraising consulting agency that would connect great causes to great people. Avalon has emerged as a leading agency that has successfully taken dozens of nonprofit direct marketing fundraising and membership programs to new levels of productivity and performance.

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Avalon is pleased to announce that after a collaborative 18-month transition, Avalon’s management transfer is complete. Allison Porter, President, is now the sole owner of Avalon. Co-founder and Board Chair Ann Herzog is stepping down from the Board and retiring from Avalon, after a tremendously successful and pioneering career in direct marketing. Allison assumes full leadership of Avalon, which she co-founded and has managed for the past 19 years. Allison will be assisted by her executive team, headed by Kerri Kerr and Jenny Phillips, along with 25 talented direct marketing fundraising professionals serving the progressive nonprofit and political community.

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Allison Porter and Barb Perell joined change.org for a webinar about how to achieve multichannel success with your organization. We shared real life examples of how to make sure integration across channels is part of the full life cycle of your campaign, from budgeting and planning all the way through to execution and analysis.

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The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which fell sharply in January, recovered in February. According to Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board: “Consumer Confidence rebounded in February as the shock effect caused by the fiscal cliff uncertainty and payroll tax cuts appears to have abated. Consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions is more positive than last month. Looking ahead, consumers are cautiously optimistic about the outlook for business and labor market conditions. Income expectations, which had turned rather negative last month, have improved modestly.” Avalon has seen a corresponding uptick in February returns after a softer January, but we are also cautiously optimistic as the sequester deadline approaches. You can read the full report here.

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We’re thrilled to announce that later this summer, the Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW) will present Avalon with four MAXI Awards (that’s Marketing Award for eXcellence and Innovation) for our work.

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The Consumer Confidence Index dropped further in May, from its slight decline in April. Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, analyzes the situation, and what the new numbers might mean.

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March 6, 2012

Washington, DC — Avalon Consulting Group founders, President Allison Porter and Board Chair Ann Herzog, are pleased to announce the agency is celebrating its 15^th anniversary this year.

“Ann and I had a vision for a progressive agency that would push the boundaries of what direct marketing could be,” said Allison Porter. “I’m thrilled with where Avalon is 15 years later –always innovating to help our progressive nonprofit and political clients raise millions of dollars to achieve their goals for a better world.”

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