Let's Talk Fundraising
Welcome to "Let's Talk Fundraising" with Keith Greer, CFRE! This podcast is your go-to resource for mastering the essentials of fundraising while discovering how innovative tools and technology can supercharge your efforts. Whether you're a new fundraiser looking to level up your skills or a seasoned professional seeking timely reminders and fresh insights, each episode is packed with practical advice, creative ideas, and inspiring stories.
Join Keith as he explores the core principles that drive successful fundraising and uncovers the latest strategies to make your job easier, more enjoyable, and incredibly impactful. From relationship-building and storytelling to leveraging the newest tech, "Let's Talk Fundraising" is here to help you transform your approach and achieve remarkable results for your organization.
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Let's Talk Fundraising
From Skepticism to Collaboration: AI in Nonprofits
Unlock the transformative potential of AI in fundraising, as we explore how technology is reshaping the nonprofit landscape. From the initial skepticism and concerns of job security that accompanied the launch of ChatGPT, to the innovative strides made in aligning AI outputs with organizational values, this episode promises a journey through the evolving perceptions and uses of AI in the nonprofit sector. Discover how AI has transitioned from a misunderstood tool to a creative partner, opening new opportunities for fundraisers while enhancing the essential human elements of donor relationships.
We'll journey behind the scenes of crafting authentic nonprofit messages, shedding light on how AI is being integrated into communication strategies. By examining the parallels between human collaboration and AI assistance, we highlight the ethical considerations and transparency needed when scaling content across platforms. Learn about the concept of "hero content" and how AI plays a vital role in transforming these narratives into diverse formats, maintaining trust and alignment with organizational values.
The conversation also delves into the ethical use of AI chatbots and the importance of maintaining personal connections with donors. As AI becomes a thought partner in the fundraising world, this episode emphasizes the need for ethical integration and transparency in utilizing AI. Whether you're looking to brainstorm, draft, or engage in mass communications, we encourage listeners to share their experiences and foster a community of innovation, ensuring AI is used responsibly to enhance mission-driven relationships.
Ready to transform your nonprofit’s content creation? AI Powered Copywriter is your answer! Discover how to build a custom GPT that reflects your nonprofit’s unique voice—no more generic, uninspired AI copy. Imagine saving hours each week with a tool that drafts heartfelt donor letters, compelling social posts, and consistent, mission-driven messaging in seconds.
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Hey there, hi, and welcome back. Ambitious fundraisers. I am so glad you're here. Today. We're diving into a topic that has sparked some of the most interesting debates and exciting breakthroughs in our field over the past couple of years AI and fundraising.
Speaker 1:When ChatGPT first launched just two years ago, it seemed like everyone in the nonprofit world had an opinion. Some were intrigued by its possibilities, but, let's be real, many were downright skeptical or even fearful. Would AI take our jobs? Would it replace the human touch that makes donor relationships so special? And what about the role of the fundraiser? Was that at risk of disappearing altogether? Those were big questions and, if I'm honest, some of them felt unsettling. Back then, ai had its fair share of problems, especially when it came to writing quality and tone. The outputs often missed the mark, feeling clunky or off-brand, which only deepened the concerns about whether AI could ever have a place in nonprofit communications. But fast forward to today and wow what a difference two years can make. Not only has the technology improved, but so has the way we interact with it. By using tools like custom GPTs and developing better prompts, many of us have figured out how to harness AI as a tool that enhances our work, rather than replacing it. This evolution has brought up new opportunities and new ethical considerations. It's not just about whether AI can help us write a killer fundraising appeal or a polished blog post. It's also about how we use it responsibly. How do we integrate AI in ways that strengthen relationships with donors and stay true to our values as nonprofits? That's what we're diving into today, from the early fears to the exciting possibilities we're seeing now. We'll explore how sentiments about AI and fundraising have shifted and what that means for the future of our work.
Speaker 1:So grab your coffee or your notebook, because we're about to dig into a conversation that's equal parts practical and thought-provoking. So let's get into it and let's talk fundraising. All right, let's rewind the clock to those early days of AI and fundraising, back when ChatGPT first landed in the spotlight, which was only two years ago. Do you remember the buzz? It was like something out of a sci-fi movie exciting for some, but downright nerve-wracking for many others. A lot of nonprofit communication professionals felt like their jobs were on the line and, honestly, I get it. Felt like their jobs were on the line and, honestly, I get it. When you hear about a tool that can write emails, social media posts, even donor appeals. It's natural to wonder where does that leave me? This wasn't just a tool that could help Some, worried, it might replace them entirely. And then there was this other fear, one that ran deeper the worry that AI would strip away the heart of what we do.
Speaker 1:Fundraising is all about connection. It's about conversations, relationships, trust. How do you build that with a piece of software? Could donors tell if a thank you email or an appeal came from a computer instead of a person? Would that even matter to them? These were questions that kept people up at night. Beyond that, there was another looming question If AI could do some of the work, where did that leave the fundraiser in the bigger picture?
Speaker 1:Was our role becoming obsolete? Was the human element, the creativity, the empathy, the storytelling about to get phased out in favor of automation? Now let's add to the mix the actual performance of AI in those early days, and let's just say it wasn't polished. Sure, jet Cheap, bt could string words together and it was impressive for the time, but when it came to crafting nuanced, mission-driven messages that truly reflected a non-profit's voice, that was a stretch. If you tried using AI back then, you probably saw how clunky the outputs could be. The tone was often generic and the messaging felt hollow. It wasn't just about writing poorly. It was about not being able to capture what made your organization's story special, and when you're asking someone to invest their time, their energy or their money into a cause, that's not something we can afford to miss.
Speaker 1:Another big hurdle was alignment. Nonprofits have such unique ways of communicating right. Every word we put out there needs to reflect our values, our mission and our voice. Early, ai tools struggled to align with that. It felt like trying to teach a robot to speak a language it didn't really understand, and sometimes it felt like the robot wasn't even listening. So if you were hesitant back then, you weren't alone. Many fundraisers decided it just wasn't worth the risk or the frustration. The stakes were too high and the technology wasn't there yet. But here's the thing those challenges were the starting point, not the end story, and people are saying the worst AI you'll ever use is the AI of today, because it's getting better every day.
Speaker 1:While some people wrote off AI, others started to dig deeper, asking okay, this isn't perfect, but what can it do? And that's when things began to change. One of the biggest aha moments came when people started using AI for brainstorming and idea generation. You know how it goes. Sometimes, no matter how creative you are, you hit a wall. You're staring at a blank page and you're trying to come up with a fresh angle for your next campaign, and nothing's clicking. This is where AI really started to shine.
Speaker 1:Fundraisers began to see it as a sounding board, a tool to bounce ideas off of. You could ask it what are some creative ways to frame a year-end giving campaign? Or maybe what are some overlooked benefits of our programs that we haven't highlighted yet? And while the ideas weren't always perfect, they often sparked new directions or highlighted gaps you might not have seen otherwise. For example, let's say you're planning a gala. You ask AI to suggest unique themes and it spits out something that, on the surface, feels a little offbeat, like a future of philanthropy theme focused on technology and innovation. At first you might think that's not us, but then you realize wait, this actually ties in with our mission to equip the next generation of leaders. Suddenly, you've got a fresh idea that's perfectly aligned with your goals.
Speaker 1:Then there's drafting. If you've ever spent hours agonizing over the first draft of an appeal letter, you know how time-consuming it can be. Ai changed the game here. Instead of starting from scratch, you could give AI a prompt, something like write a donor appeal letter for a shelter that provides meals for the homeless. In minutes you'd have a draft that might not be perfect, but it gives you a solid foundation to build on. And here's the magic Because you're not stuck in first draft territory. You can focus your energy on tweaking, refining and infusing the piece with that emotional resonance that connects with donors. It's like having a really speedy assistant who does the heavy lifting, so you can spend more time on the creative, relationship-driven aspects of your work.
Speaker 1:And let's not forget about editing. Ai isn't just good for drafting, it's also an excellent editor. Maybe you've written a blog post or a case study and you need a second set of eyes to clean it up. Ai can help polish the language, catch grammatical errors or even suggest ways to make your message more clear or concise. For instance, imagine you're writing a newsletter about a recent program success. You upload the text into an AI tool and ask it to make this more compelling. In seconds, it highlights where your tone could be stronger or suggest ways to tighten the narrative. Does it replace a human editor? No, but it's like having an extra layer of quality control, and that's a huge win when you're juggling the million deadlines all of us in nonprofits are.
Speaker 1:The key takeaway here is that AI isn't just a tool. It's a collaborator. It doesn't replace the creativity and the empathy that fundraisers bring to the table, but it enhances what we can do. It gives us the space to think bigger, act faster and stay focused on what really matters building relationships and making that impact. Okay, okay, okay, let's shift gears and talk about how far AI has come in just two years. It's honestly kind of mind-blowing to think about the advancements we've seen since tools like ChatGPT first hit the scene in November of 2022. When it launched, we were dealing with a tool that was exciting. Well, let's face it, pretty rough around the edges. Now the capabilities have grown exponentially, and it's not just the technology that's improved, it's how we have learned to work with it. First, let's talk about the improvements in AI itself.
Speaker 1:Early AI tools were impressive for their time, but they had serious limitations. The language models often missed the nuances that make nonprofit communications effective, things like emotional resonance, mission-driven language and aligning with an organization's specific voice. Fast forward just 24 months and today's AI is not just better at understanding language, it's better at understanding context, for example. Newer models are much more adept at interpreting complex prompts and producing outputs that are coherent, relevant and creative. They've been trained on larger data sets, so their grasp of language and storytelling has become sharper, and that's been a game changer for fundraisers, who need tools that can meet their standards of quality and authenticity. But here's the thing Even as the models themselves got better, we had to get better too at prompting.
Speaker 1:If you've used AI, you know that the output is only as good as the input. Early on, we'd type in something like write a fundraising appeal and get back a generic, cookie-cutter letter that didn't feel remotely connected to our cause. Now we know better. The key to unlocking AI's potential is crafting detailed, specific prompts. Instead of write a fundraising appeal today, we might say something like write a heartfelt donor appeal for an organization that provides meals to the homeless, focusing on the impact of a $50 donation and including a personal story about a family who benefited. Hear the difference.
Speaker 1:And here's where it gets even more exciting. Tools like custom GPTs have taken this to the next level. With a custom GPT, you're not just giving better prompts, you're actually training the AI to understand your organization's history, its values, services, tone and style. Think of it as building a specialized version of the AI that knows your organization inside and out. Let's say your nonprofit has a unique way of talking about its mission. Maybe you emphasize empowerment over charity or collaboration over competition? A custom GPT can learn that language and produce content that feels like it came straight from your team. The result Outputs that are far more aligned with your voice and require way less rewriting than those generated by a generic AI model, and this has led to a huge shift in confidence when it comes to AI-generated content.
Speaker 1:Two years ago, a lot of us were hesitant to let AI-created pieces see the light of day. Today, with the right tools and techniques, many fundraisers are comfortable using AI to produce mass communications like newsletters, blog posts and campaign updates, provided there's still human oversight and approval, of course. That growing trust has made AI feel less like a gamble and more like a strategic advantage. It's not that AI is going to replace fundraisers, but fundraisers who use AI are going to replace fundraisers who don't. It's not about blindly letting the technology take over. It's about using it thoughtfully to save time, to increase efficiency and to elevate the quality of what we're putting out into the world.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about one of the big elephants in the room when it comes to AI, and that's authorship. This is where things can get a little personal for some folks. Even with all the advancements we've talked about, there's still a lingering question If it wasn't written by us, should we really be sending it out? And that's a valid concern. Authenticity is at the heart of what we do in fundraising. Donors trust us because they believe in our mission and the people behind it. So the idea of handing over the reins to AI can feel a bit off-brand. Right, it can raise fears that the messages we're sending out might lack that human touch, the sincerity and the connection that are so critical to those donor relationships. But here's the thing, when you really start to break it down, the idea of using AI to draft content isn't all that different from what many nonprofits have been doing for decades. So let me explain.
Speaker 1:Think about the CEO's message in your newsletter. How many times is that actually written by the CEO? If you've been in this field for a while, you know the answer Not very often. Most of the time, that heartfelt message is drafted by someone in the communications team. Maybe it gets a quick tweak or a signature from the CEO, but the heavy lifting is done by a specialist who knows how to craft that message or take fundraising appeals. How often does the author of those letters, the person whose name is printed at the bottom, actually sit down and write them? In many cases, those appeals are created by a team of people who know how to weave a compelling narrative and speak directly to the donor's heart.
Speaker 1:This isn't about cutting corners. It's about tapping into expertise. We rely on professionals who understand storytelling, donor psychology and strategic messaging to get the job done. The end result isn't any less authentic. It's just the product of collaboration. But let's bring this back to AI. If we're comfortable ghostwriting for our leadership or crafting appeals on behalf of others, why should it be any different when AI plays a role in that process? The key is that, just like with human ghostwriters, there's still a final step review and approval by the credited author or organization. That approval process is critical. It's where we, as fundraisers, ensure that the content reflects the voice, the values and the mission of our organization.
Speaker 1:Whether a piece is written by a communications professional or generated with the help of AI, it needs to pass through those same filters. Is it aligned with our messaging? Does it convey the emotion and urgency we're aiming for? Would the credited author or organization feel proud to stand behind it? In this way, ai becomes less of a mysterious force and more like any other tool we use to support our work. The key is transparency and accountability. The organization's leaders, whether that's the CEO, executive director or the fundraising team, still have the final say in what goes out into the world.
Speaker 1:And here's the bottom line. Authenticity doesn't come from who physically wrote the words. It comes from the intention behind them and the care we take in ensuring they align with our mission and our values. If AI helps us get there faster or more efficiently, great, but the responsibility for what we send out always rests with us. Let's talk about the power of human creativity and how it serves the foundation for everything AI can do, and I want to talk a little bit about this concept of hero content. So let's be clear it's not about superheroes swooping in to save the day.
Speaker 1:Hero content is the primary story or the narrative that an organization crafts. It's the deep, well-thought-out piece that captures the full scope of a story, complete with its emotional arc, key details and transformative impact. Think of it as the cornerstone of your communication strategy. It could be a blog post that tells the story of a family whose lives were transformed by your programs, or maybe it's a case study about a major project that brought incredible results to the community. Whatever it is, this hero content is where the magic starts. It's the comprehensive, human-driven narrative that sets the tone for everything else. And why should humans take the lead in creating hero content? Simple Stories aren't just a collection of facts. They are an art form. They require nuance, emotion and connection. As much as AI has advanced, those qualities still come most naturally from people who are passionate about the mission and deeply understand the audience. But once that hero content is created, ai can step in to help with what comes next, turning that primary story into derivative content.
Speaker 1:And here's where it gets really exciting. Let's say you've written a blog post that dives deep into a donor's journey, why they gave the impact of their gift and the lives that were changed as a result. That story has so much potential beyond the blog itself. With AI, you can repurpose that content into all kinds of formats. For example, ai can condense the blog post into a shorter piece for your print newsletter. It can generate highlight summaries for your digital newsletter, including a call-to-action link that brings readers back to the full story on your website. Ai can also help draft a series of social media posts that tease key elements of the story, driving traffic and engagement.
Speaker 1:And what about fundraising letters? Ai can take that same narrative and reframe it into a donor appeal, keeping the core of the story while adapting it to the specific tone and structure that works best for an appeal. The beauty of this process is that it creates consistency in your messaging. By starting with one well-crafted piece, you ensure that every derivative version reflects the same values, tone and core message. Your audience sees a cohesive story across all of your channels, which reinforces your brand and your mission. This approach is also incredibly efficient. Instead of starting from scratch for each platform or format, you're building on something you've already created. Ai can handle much of the heavy lifting, freeing up your team to focus on strategy, donor relationships and other high-impact activities. But let me emphasize one thing this does not mean you're handing over full control to AI. It's still essential to have human oversight at every stage in the process. You're not just looking for grammatical errors. You're ensuring that each piece stays true to your mission, resonates with your audience and aligns with your goals. So here's the takeaway all right, humans bring the heart, the vision and the creativity to craft that hero content. Ai helps us scale that vision, turning a single story into a multi-channel campaign that's consistent, efficient and impactful. It's a partnership that plays to the strengths of both.
Speaker 1:And let's dig into the ethics of using AI in non-profit communications, a topic that feels more important than ever as AI becomes a bigger part of our work. Technology. It's evolving fast and while it brings incredible opportunities, it also comes with deep responsibilities. How we choose to use AI can either strengthen our relationships with donors or, if we're not careful, damage the trust we've worked so hard to build. I want to first talk about mass communications things like newsletters, blog posts and appeals. Personally, I'm comfortable with AI playing a significant role here, as long as there's human oversight. With the tools and techniques we've discussed, ai can help us create polished, professional content that saves time and resources. But and this is a big key piece no piece of AI-generated content should go out without a careful human review, and that's not just about catching typos. It's about ensuring that the messaging aligns with your organization's voice, values, goals and that the story is true. This balance letting AI do the heavy lifting while humans guide and approve can be a real game-changer. It allows your team to focus on strategy and relationship building while still delivering high quality content.
Speaker 1:But let's also shift gears to talk about AI chatbots. These have become increasingly popular on for-profit websites, and for good reason. Chatbots can handle FAQs quickly and efficiently, things like what's your mailing address or how do I make a purchase. They're especially helpful for organizations that don't have the capacity to answer every inquiry in real time. But here's where we need to be cautious. Chatbots should complement human interactions and not replace them.
Speaker 1:If a visitor's question becomes more nuanced or emotionally sensitive, like asking for help accessing services or wanting to share a personal story, there should always be a clear pathway to a human connection, and this brings us to an absolutely non-negotiable point transparency. Anytime someone interacts with AI, especially in a one-on-one context, they should know they're talking to a chatbot or an AI agent. There's nothing wrong with using AIs in these scenarios, but honesty is critical. If people find out after the fact that they've been engaging with AI, it can feel like a breach of trust, and let's address a more controversial application reach of trust. And let's address a more controversial application AI making sales or fundraising calls.
Speaker 1:On one hand, ai agents have been shown to have high success rates in closing sales and that can be tempting to test it out on securing donations, but on the other hand, this raises serious ethical questions when it comes to donor relations. Coercion even unintentional coercion is a huge red flag. Donors give because they feel connected to your mission and values, not because they were cleverly persuaded by an algorithm. The risk with AI making these calls is that it could cross ethical lines, pushing people to give in ways that feel transactional or manipulative. To me, this is where we need to draw a hard line. Ai might be able to assist with donor data and outreach strategies, but when it comes to building personal relationships, that work is best left to humans.
Speaker 1:So how do we approach AI use ethically? Start by embracing it where it enhances relationships rather than replacing them. Mass communications, great Chatbots for FAQs Absolutely, but when it comes to anything that could feel manipulative or coercive, it's time for us to hit pause. It's also helpful to have organizational principles around AI use. This could be as simple as a checklist you run through before implementing any new AI tool. Does this align with our mission? Are we being transparent? Could this damage trust with our stakeholders? If the answers raise any red flags, it's worth re-evaluating. And don't forget, if you're ever unsure, there are resources you can turn to, like the AFP's Ethical Code of Conduct and the Donor Bill of Rights. These frameworks can help guide you when you're navigating new territory with AI. At the end of the day, ai is a tool. It's up to us to use it in ways that uphold the integrity of our work and strengthen the relationships that drive our mission forward.
Speaker 1:Well, we've covered a lot of ground today ambitious fundraisers. Let's take a moment to recap and tie everything together. Over the past few years, we've seen a remarkable shift in how we think about AI in fundraising. It started with skepticism and fear, concerns about job loss, losing the human touch and the role of fundraisers in an AI-driven world. But as the technology has advanced and as we've learned how to work with it, those initial doubts have given way to cautious optimism and for some genuine excitement.
Speaker 1:We've explored how AI can serve as a thought partner, helping with brainstorming, drafting and editing. We've seen how the evolution of AI models and smarter prompting, especially with tools like custom GPTs has made our outputs more aligned with our organizational values and voice, and we've talked about the power of human-crafted hero content as the foundation for consistent, impactful communications. With AI stepping in to scale that work efficiently and effectively. But at every turn, we've come back to one essential theme ethical integration. Whether it's using AI for mass communications, deploying chatbots for FAQs, or deciding where AI shouldn't play a role, the key is being thoughtful, transparent and grounded in trust. Ai is an incredibly powerful tool, but how we use it and where we draw the line is what will determine its impact on our work and our relationships with donors.
Speaker 1:So here's my encouragement to you Don't be afraid to explore AI, experiment, learn and see where it can make your work more efficient, creative and impactful, but do it thoughtfully, make sure it aligns with your organization's values, and don't hesitate to hit pause if something doesn't feel right. And now I want to hear from you how are you using AI in your fundraising work? What challenges or breakthroughs have you experienced? Let's keep this conversation going, reach out, share your stories and let's learn from one another.
Speaker 1:If you found today's episode helpful, don't forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode of let's Talk Fundraising Subscribing ensures that every time we release a new conversation packed with insights, strategies and practical tips, it lands right in your feed, ready to inspire your work, and if today's discussion sparked new ideas or gave you a fresh perspective, I'd love it if you could take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback not only helps us improve and keep delivering content that resonates with you, but it also helps other fundraisers like you discover the podcast. Whether it's a quick rating or a few sentences about what stood out to you, it means the world to me, and it makes a huge difference in spreading the word. Keep up the amazing work you do every day.
