The Challenge
AVID, a nonprofit helping underrepresented students close the opportunity gap, relied heavily on in-person trainings and its flagship Summer Institute to generate funding and engage educators. When COVID-19 forced global shutdowns, these events were cancelled, putting the organization’s funding model — and impact — at serious risk.
TL;DR: With its primary revenue source cancelled, how could AVID reinvent its programming to survive and continue serving 85,000+ educators and students?
The Solution
To sustain the mission, we designed and launched AVIDCon, the organization’s first virtual conference. Alongside the event, key training programs were reimagined for remote engagement through DigitalXP and ElevateXP platforms. The brand messaging pivoted from product features to mission-driven storytelling, supported by campaigns like the “Close the Gap” pledge and “We Believe” theme, in addition to publication of “The AVID Effect” book. Social media was also leveraged as both an organic channel and paid media to extend reach and foster community.
TL;DR: A digital-first pivot transformed AVID’s trainings and events into virtual experiences that kept educators engaged and the mission alive.
The Results
• Annual fundraising increased by 20% ($15M) during pandemic year.
• Instagram engagement increased by 67%, LinkedIn by 23%, and more than 2.3M daily impressions on Facebook with 34K followers.
• Ensured continuity of AVID’s mission during global shutdown.
TL;DR: AVID not only survived the pandemic disruption but grew funding and reach more audiences by embracing digital transformation.