by james dungate
Let's talk about AI - it's happening whether we like it or not. Yes, there are big worries about where AI might lead us, including some scary scenarios. We will leave talking about that to another day! This article is focused on how AI can help you be more efficient and effective today.
While concerns about AI's future impact are valid (like Microsoft's chatbot experiment going wrong), it pays to focus on what we can control.
And within the world of fundraising, a lot is within our control.
What Do We Mean by AI?
AI is a broad term, so let's narrow it down to what matters for fundraising.
Think of AI as a smart helper that can tackle repetitive tasks and spot patterns in data. It's not about replacing humans - but helping us work better.
How Can AI Help Today? Here's what AI can do for your fundraising efforts:
Sense Checking
AI tools act as a powerful proofreading partner. When you run your content through systems like Copilot, it flags potential issues that humans often miss:
Inconsistencies in donor names or program descriptions
Missing information in appeal letters
Gaps in campaign messaging
Tone mismatches across different sections
Statistical errors in impact reports
If you're writing a year-end appeal, AI can check if you've included all the key elements: the donor's giving history, specific impact statements, and proper call-to-action phrases.
Prospecting
AI tools can sift through large data sets more easily than people (How to Automate Prospect Research With AI)– meaning you might be able to identify potential supporters who look like your existing supporters more quickly. AI brings a new approach to donor prospecting by:
Analysing patterns in your current donor base
Identifying common traits among your most loyal supporters
Finding similar profiles in broader databases
Spotting giving patterns tied to specific events or seasons
Predicting which prospects might respond to particular campaigns
For instance, if your data shows that small business owners in suburban areas tend to become monthly donors, AI can search for more prospects fitting this profile.
It can also identify which current donors might be ready to increase their giving based on their engagement patterns and assumed wealth.
Chatbot Supporter Care
It won’t be able to solve all questions, but AI could triage and resolve lots of your team’s FAQs, freeing the team up to focus on questions that need that extra human investment. These chatbots can even be part of your CRM, drawing on existing knowledge of the supporter. More common in the for profit sector at the moment, Hubspot is a prominent example, chatbots can manage many routine supporter interaction.
AI chatbots can support with many routine supporter interactions, including:
Providing tax receipt copies
Explaining donation processes
Sharing event registration details
Updating contact information
Offering basic program information
The result? Automation means your team can spend more time on meaningful conversations with major donors, complex support requests or planning strategic campaigns. This means more supporters get a better experience.
Content Generation
Yes, you can use this to generate a starting point for your supporter communications – although we’d always recommend having a “human stage” before letting your AI generated content out the door! Why not give it a try – just ask ChatGPT to write a Christmas fundraising letter for a cause of your choice! AI can create initial drafts for various communications (although you’ll probably want to apply quality control as you would to any other copywriter’s work!).
Communications where AI could help include: thank you letters customised to giving levels, monthly newsletter updates, social media posts about campaign progress and basic grant application sections.
The key is using AI to create the framework, and then adding your organisation's unique voice and specific details.
Personalisation
Multilingual AI tools offer new ways to reach global audiences while keeping it personal. You can really get creative with apps like HeyGen.
Examples of personalisation include:
Create one video message and present it in multiple languages
Adapt campaign messages for different regions
Provide real-time translation in virtual meetings
Create region-specific social media content
Bottom Line
AI isn't magic - it won't fix everything.
Like any emerging technology, AI is navigating what experts call the Gartner Hype Cycle - a pattern where initial excitement is followed by disillusionment before finding practical applications.
The smart approach? Finding the best way to get it to handle repetitive tasks so you can spend more time on work that needs a human touch.
AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it wisely, and it'll help make your fundraising more effective.
