What AI Looks Like in the Future of Fundraising
Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, but it’s not here to replace fundraisers (not for a while at least). It’s a tool like any other that can help us spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on what actually matters: building relationships, telling stories, and connecting people to causes they care about.
Used well, AI can make fundraising more efficient and more personal. Used poorly, it can make it cold and transactional. The difference comes down to how we choose to use it.
Using Data Without Crossing Lines
AI can help nonprofits analyze giving trends and scan large amounts of data very quickly. Far more quickly than any person could. You can see who’s most likely to renew their gift, who tends to lapse, or what kinds of appeals perform best.
The key to this as we move further into the future is protecting privacy. AI tools should be treated only as ethical as the data you give them. That means stripping out names, emails, and anything identifiable for someone’s identity before running analysis. Focusing on patterns by replacing names with numbers (Donor #1, Donor #2, etc.) will give you accurate information without compromising anyone’s privacy.
Writing Faster, Not Colder
AI can also support the writing process, especially for fundraisers who wear a dozen hats and spend a decent chunk of their days writing. It can help with outlines, editing, and repurposing existing content into new formats. The message though still needs to ultimately be your words. Anything that AI touches needs to be edited and reviewed by a human 100% of the time. It can help generate ideas and text quickly, making it a useful and time-saving tool. However, writing and publishing AI generated content without reviewing it can be one of the fastest ways to lose trust.
A thank-you note or appeal written entirely by a machine will always feel like it. AI can help you get started, but the message ultimately has to come from the person writing it.
Turning Data into Stories
One of the most promising uses of AI is helping nonprofits translate impact data into something meaningful. Uploading a year’s worth of outcomes or service numbers can be overwhelming. AI can summarize and organize that information so you can spend your energy shaping it into a story that donors actually want to hear.
This gets you to the starting line faster and allows you to be more accurate with your reporting when you are talking to donors.
Practicing Real Conversations
This one is a little more controversial, but some organizations are using AI to train fundraisers. It can simulate common donor interactions and conversations so staff can practice before a real meeting to make sure they are comfortable talking through the mission and asking for money. It’s not perfect, but it can be more useful than you might think. For smaller teams, it can be a way to build confidence and consistency when coaching time is limited. The quality of this w
The future of fundraising will still rely on human connection. AI can’t replace any of that. What it can do is take some of the busywork off your plate so you can focus on people instead of simple task-based work.The fundraisers who will thrive in the next decade are the ones who use technology without losing the human touch.
Need help raising money for your nonprofit? We have helped hundreds of nonprofits scale up their fundraising revenue. Reach out to us and we would love to learn more about your nonprofit!
