What Avalon Consulting Group does

Avalon Consulting Group is a US-based, woman-owned professional services agency founded in 1997 that exclusively serves nonprofit organizations with integrated direct-response fundraising programs across four core channels: Direct Mail, Digital, Analytics, and Creative. The firm differentiates on a donor-centric (rather than channel-centric) methodology codified through its Fundraising Choice Points initiative and a proprietary analytics ecosystem spanning the Merlin® reporting platform (35+ reports, 50+ views), the VitalStats™ KPI dashboard, Inquire™ donor file analysis, Foresight™ multi-year revenue forecasting (which integrates macroeconomic indicators), and Sustainer Dashboards. Core technical differentiators include an exclusive co-op data benchmarking program that has tracked GROI across five years and lifted client co-op usage from 55% to 75-80% of acquisition volume, supported by in-house creative, digital printing, postal optimization, and advanced segmentation capabilities.

The company operates as a full-service consulting agency on a quote-based, customized engagement model, delivering retainer and project work through consultative sales, RFP responses, and conference-sourced referrals to a US-only client base. It serves multiple nonprofit verticals — Arts & Culture (Smithsonian affiliates, National Air and Space Museum), Environmental Conservation (National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Galapagos Conservancy), Animal Welfare (Humane Rescue Alliance), and Advocacy (Drug Policy Alliance) — with documented outcomes including a 206% gross-revenue lift at NMAI through no-premium membership campaigns and a 225% upgrade-conversion increase at the Friends of the Smithsonian. The firm is remote-first with a mailing address in Annapolis, Maryland, leadership operates from Denver, and headcount is reported in the 51-100 range.

In April 2026, Avalon merged with VeraData Holdings, becoming a partner agency within the VeraData Group enterprise alongside Faircom New York and Teal Media. The combined enterprise integrates Avalon's fundraising strategy with VeraData's Donor Science™ (AI/ML and behavioral data), Creative Science, and Media Science capabilities, while Avalon retains its brand identity, leadership under sole owner Allison Porter, and operational autonomy as "Avalon remains Avalon."

Name

Avalon Consulting Group

Legal name

Avalon Consulting Group

Website

https://avalonconsulting.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Avalon Consulting Group is a woman-owned, US-based full-service nonprofit fundraising agency (founded 1997) that delivers integrated direct-response programs across direct mail, digital, analytics, and creative channels to nonprofit organizations, with proprietary Merlin®, VitalStats™, Inquire™, and Foresight™ analytics tools. As of April 2026, Avalon is a partner agency within the VeraData Group enterprise alongside Faircom New York and Teal Media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fundraising Consulting and Agency Services: Avalon generates revenue by providing comprehensive nonprofit fundraising services including strategy consulting, direct mail campaigns, digital fundraising, analytics, and creative services. As a full-service agency, they work exclusively with nonprofit clients on retainer and project basis, offering integrated omnichannel fundraising programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Avalon Consulting Group is a full-service nonprofit fundraising agency that provides strategy, direct mail, digital, analytics, and creative services to nonprofit organizations across the United States. The firm combines data-driven analytics (via its proprietary Merlin® reporting platform, VitalStats™, Inquire™, and Foresight™ tools) with omnichannel campaign execution across direct mail, email, paid media, texting, and web to drive donor acquisition, retention, and revenue growth for nonprofit clients.

Product overview

Avalon Consulting Group is a woman-owned nonprofit fundraising agency (founded 1997) offering integrated direct response services across four core channels: Direct Mail, Digital, Analytics, and Creative. The company's proprietary analytics ecosystem includes Merlin® (reporting platform), VitalStats™ (KPI dashboard), Inquire™ (donor analysis), Foresight™ (forecasting), and Sustainer Dashboards. Following its April 2026 merger with VeraData Holdings, the company expanded into the VeraData Group enterprise alongside Faircom New York and Teal Media, gaining access to VeraData's Donor Science™ (AI/machine learning), Creative Science, and Media Science capabilities for integrated omnichannel nonprofit fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avalon Analytics™: Data analytics services including proprietary Merlin® platform for campaign reporting and donor insights.
• Avalon Digital®
• VitalStats™
• Inquire™
• Foresight™
• Merlin®

Products and services

• Avalon Analytics™ Data-driven analytics service providing campaign reporting, donor file analysis, long-range forecasting, and sustainer dashboards for nonprofit fundraising programs. Consolidates cross-channel data into executive-ready dashboards via the proprietary Merlin® platform.
• Merlin® Reporting Platform Exclusive proprietary reporting platform providing 360-degree campaign views across all channels with 35+ reports and 50+ data views, including executive dashboards, testing dashboards, and segment-level performance data.
• Direct Mail Campaigns Strategic direct mail fundraising campaigns for nonprofit clients with in-house production capabilities, digital printing, postal optimization, and advanced segmentation to elevate direct mail into a donor-centric fundraising channel.
• Avalon Digital® Digital fundraising services encompassing paid media, email marketing, website optimization, and texting with an omnichannel approach and real-time optimization for nonprofit clients.
• Creative Services In-house creative team providing storytelling, messaging, branding, digital campaigns, and motivation-driven communications designed to connect emotionally with donors and inspire giving.
• Sustainer Dashboards Dashboard compiling sustainer metrics including monthly donor counts, revenue trends, retention analysis, and conversion paths for monthly recurring giving programs.
• Inquire™ Major Donor Analysis In-depth donor file analysis that examines historical giving patterns across channels, retention trends, acquisition ROI, and upgrade/downgrade behavior to uncover forces driving or dragging down fundraising programs.
• Foresight™ Long-Range Forecast Multi-year revenue forecasting tool that integrates organizational data with macroeconomic indicators and fundraising trends, producing customizable investment scenarios aligned with revenue goals and risk tolerance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Co-op list GROI: 63% over 5 years vs 53% for non-co-op lists
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VeraData HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026VeraData Holdings, originator of Donor Science™, merged with Avalon Consulting in April 2026. The partnership combines Avalon's strategic fundraising expertise with VeraData's AI, machine learning, and behavioral data capabilities. Avalon joins VeraData as a partner agency alongside Faircom New York and Teal Media, creating an integrated omnichannel fundraising platform spanning donor science, creative, and media execution.
• Faircom New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Existing VeraData Group partner agency alongside Avalon and Teal Media, part of the integrated enterprise serving nonprofits as a connected system for predictable fundraising growth.
• Teal MediaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Existing VeraData Group partner agency specializing in creative and digital storytelling, part of the integrated enterprise alongside Avalon and Faircom New York.
• DMAW (Direct Marketing Association of Washington)minorOthersActive member and contributor within the direct marketing fundraising community through DMAW membership and participation.
• American Museum Membership ConferenceminorOthersActive member of American Museum Membership Conference, contributing to the museum fundraising and membership community.
• The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA)minorOthersActive member and contributor to The Nonprofit Alliance, engaging in nonprofit sector advocacy and policy initiatives.
• DMFAminorOthersMember of DMFA (Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association) for nonprofit fundraising industry engagement.
• Marketing EdgeminorOthersMember of Marketing Edge, engaging with direct marketing fundraising industry resources and professional development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• True North Custom: Healthcare and nonprofit-focused custom content and direct marketing agency with comparable direct mail and digital fundraising capabilities.
• Campbell & Company: Consulting firm serving nonprofits on fundraising strategy, campaign planning, and analytics—comparable to Avalon's strategy and analytics services for nonprofit clients.
• Pursuant: Full-service fundraising and agency services firm focused on nonprofits, offering direct mail, digital, and analytics comparable to Avalon's omnichannel stack.
• West, Lane & Schlager (now Westcott): Direct response agency for nonprofits offering fundraising strategy, direct mail, and digital services with similar client profiles to Avalon.
• The Lukaszewski Group: Boutique nonprofit fundraising and direct marketing agency providing strategy, creative, and analytics services to nonprofit clients—comparable mid-size peer to Avalon.
• Russ Reid (now DDC Group): Long-established direct response fundraising agency for nonprofits; merged into DDC Group. Directly competes with Avalon across direct mail, digital, and analytics for major nonprofit accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Epsilon (Publicis): Global data-driven marketing agency offering direct mail, analytics, and digital services. Competes with Avalon on enterprise nonprofit accounts but operates across many verticals.
• Merkle (Dentsu): Large-scale CRM and direct marketing firm with a nonprofit practice offering analytics, direct mail, and digital—overlaps with Avalon but at much broader scale across industries.

Emerging players

• Faircom New York: VeraData Group partner agency focused on nonprofit direct response; now a sister agency to Avalon post-merger with overlapping client base and capabilities.
• Teal Media: VeraData Group partner agency specializing in nonprofit creative and digital storytelling; sister agency to Avalon within the VeraData Group enterprise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Avalon-Consulting-Group-180595198653516
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avalon-consulting-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/avalonfyi
• Xx.com/avalonfyi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avalon Consulting Group