Using AI to Amplify the Personal Side of Fundraising

Can AI really enhance human connection in fundraising, or is it just a high-tech distraction? Let's tackle this question head-on, revealing how AI can be a transformative force in the nonprofit sector. This episode isn't about replacing the personal touch — it's about using AI to deepen it. As I prepare for my upcoming session at the AFP Icon conference in Seattle, I'll guide you through the ethical integration of AI, showing how it can streamline repetitive tasks and allow us to focus on what truly matters: building genuine relationships and crafting compelling stories that resonate with donors. 

This isn't just tech-talk; it's a hands-on challenge to experiment with AI. Whether you're drafting emails or summarizing reports, I encourage you to explore its potential in your fundraising efforts. And remember, it's not about being perfect — it's about understanding and leveraging AI as a strategic assistant. Together, we'll discuss how AI aligns with organizational values and enhances our capacity to make meaningful impacts. With curiosity and strategic intent, let's embrace AI and transform the way we connect with our communities, making our work smarter and more human than ever before.

Chapters

• 0:05 The Impact of AI in Fundraising
• 9:48 Exploring AI in Fundraising Together

Transcript

Keith Greer, CFRE: 0:05

Hey, there, hi, and welcome back ambitious fundraisers. You're listening to let's Talk Fundraising, the podcast where we dive deep into the ideas, strategies and insights that help you make a bigger impact in the nonprofit world. I'm Keith Greer, your host, and today we're tackling a topic that's stirring up a lot of emotions in the sector AI and fundraising. I know AI brings up a mix of excitement and anxiety. There's the thrill of what's possible, but also the fear that it might change the way we connect with our donors, the way that we build relationships and even the way that we do our jobs and I get it. I've been thinking about this a lot lately as I put the finishing touches on my conference session for AFP, icon, in Seattle this April. I'll be speaking on the last day of the conference and my session is called Ready Set Ethical AI Preparing your Organization for AI and Fundraising. If you're attending Icon, I'd love to see you there. Attending icon, I'd love to see you there.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 1:06

It's going to be a conversation about how to use AI in ways that strengthen, not replace, the relationships that make fundraising so powerful. But if you're not sure about AI yet, or maybe even a little skeptical, then this episode is for you. Today, we're going to unpack the fear surrounding AI in fundraising, talk about why those fears are valid and then shift our perspective on how tools like ChatGPT can actually help you become a stronger, more effective fundraiser. Ai isn't here to take our jobs. It's here to help us work smarter, refine our strategies and free up more time for the deep human connections that matter most. So let's talk fundraising connections that matter most. So let's talk fundraising. Before we dive into the fears and concerns around AI, let's take a step back and look at why this conversation is happening right now. Ai isn't just some futuristic concept. It's already here and it's evolving at really an unbelievable pace. The AI tools we have today are miles ahead of what was possible just a year ago, and they're only going to get better. We're reaching a point where AI isn't just an option for fundraisers. It's setting a new standard for what it means to be a professional in the field the professional in any field, and that's not just my opinion. Nathan Chappell and Scott Rosenkranz, who host the Fundraising AI podcast, put it kind of bluntly Fundraisers who use AI will replace fundraisers who don't. Now, that quote might sound a little intense, but let's be clear about it it's not about AI replacing people. It's about fundraisers who embrace AI gaining a huge advantage over those who don't embrace AI, gaining a huge advantage over those who don't. It's like the shift from handwritten ledgers to databases, or from mass mailings to personalized digital campaigns. Ai is simply the next evolution in how we work, and the fundraisers who learn to use it well are going to be the ones who thrive.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 3:00

Now let's talk about the elephant in the room, the fear around AI and fundraising. Because, let's be real, if you've been feeling uneasy about all of this, you're not alone. There are some big concerns out there. People worry that AI-generated writing will feel robotic and inauthentic, that it'll strip away the personal connection we work so hard to build with our donors. Fundraising is all about relationships, so if AI starts drafting donor emails or writing thank you letters, does that make our communication feel less human? Then there's the job security question. If AI can write appeals, analyze donor data and even suggest fundraising strategies, does that mean fewer fundraisers are going to be needed? Will AI start replacing people are going to be needed? Will AI start replacing people? These are real concerns and I want to take a moment to validate them, because this episode isn't about dismissing those fears. It's about understanding them.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 3:53

Technology always brings change, and change is hard. It's normal to feel some discomfort when we're standing at the edge of something new, but here's the key AI isn't here to take away what makes fundraising special. It's here to help us do what we do best even better. So instead of asking will AI replace fundraisers, maybe the better question is how can fundraisers use AI to strengthen relationships, work smarter and have an even greater impact? Here's the shift in perspective that I want you to consider. Ai isn't here to replace us. It's here to support us. It's a tool, not a threat.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 4:34

Think about all of the repetitive tasks that eat up our time as fundraisers. We're writing the same types of emails over and over again, sorting through donor data, trying to come up with the perfect way to phrase something when we're staring at a blank page. Ai can take those tasks off of our plate so that we can focus on what truly matters Building relationships, having deeper conversations with donors and crafting strategies that drive real impact. If anything, ai has the potential to bring more humanity into our world. And why is that? Because when we are not bogged down by the small, time-consuming tasks, we have more time for personal connections. Imagine being able to spend more time calling donors just to check in, not because we're rushing to hit a fundraising goal, but because we genuinely want to know how they're doing. Ai helps make that possible.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 5:26

So, instead of seeing AI as something that replaces the human touch, let's start seeing it as our superstar sidekicks. It's like having an assistant who can brainstorm with us, draft ideas and give us a starting point so that we can then bring in our expertise, our passion and our unique voices. Then bring in our expertise, our passion and our unique voices. The truth is, ai is really only as good as the person using it. It's a tool that enhances our skills, but it doesn't replace them. We are still the strategists. We are still the relationship builders, the storytellers. Ai just helps us do these things faster, smarter and, ultimately, with a bigger impact. Helps us do these things faster, smarter and, ultimately, with a bigger impact. And all right. Now that we've kind of reframed AI as the superstar sidekick, let's talk about how to actually start using it in a way that feels comfortable, ethical and, most importantly, effective.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 6:23

The key here start small. You don't have to overhaul your entire fundraising strategy overnight. Instead, think of AI as a tool you can gradually integrate into your workflow. Try using it for simple, low-stakes tasks, like brainstorming subject lines for an email campaign and see if open rates perform better. Try drafting a first pass of a donor acknowledgement letter or summarizing donor data to spot trends. This isn't about replacing your voice. It's about giving you a head start so you can focus on refining and personalizing the message. And that brings me to a critical point Strategic oversight. You are in the driver's seat.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 6:59

Ai can generate ideas, but you bring the expertise, the emotion and the human connection that makes fundraising powerful. If you just copy and paste AI-generated text without reviewing it, you will lose the authenticity that makes donor relationships meaningful. That makes donor relationships meaningful. But if you use AI as a thought partner, guiding it with strong prompts and then adding your personal touch, you can create communications that feel both efficient and deeply genuine. And let's talk about ethics.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 7:30

Ai tools are powerful, but they aren't magic. They only know what they've been trained on and they don't understand context, the way that we do. That means we have to be careful, especially when it comes to our donor data. Before you feed any information into an AI tool, ask yourself is this information public or sensitive. Never input private donor details into an AI system unless you're absolutely sure it's secure. Would I be comfortable explaining this to a donor? Transparency matters. If AI is helping craft your messaging, own that. Let it be an enhancement, not a hidden shortcut. At the end of the day, ai isn't here to replace thoughtfulness. It's here to give you more space for thoughtfulness. The more you experiment, the better you'll understand what AI does well, where it needs your expertise and how you can use it to become an even stronger fundraiser. I think it takes really about 20 hours of dedicated time playing with an AI tool to really understand it.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 8:34

Now let's fast forward a bit and imagine what's possible when we fundraisers embrace AI as our superstar sidekicks. Picture this Instead of spending hours drafting the same types of emails, you use AI to generate a strong first draft, giving you more time to pick up the phone and have real conversations with donors, instead of manually combing through spreadsheets to figure out who to reach out to. Ai quickly analyzes your donor data and helps you identify the people most likely to be inspired by your next campaign. Instead of struggling to find the right words, ai helps you craft personalized messages that make each donor feel seen and valued. This isn't about losing human connection. It's about creating more of it. Ai gives you the space to be more thoughtful, to be more strategic and to be more present with your donors. It helps you tell better stories, craft deeper narratives and build relationships that are even more meaningful, because, at the end of the day, fundraising has never been about the transactions. It's about the connections, and when used well, ai doesn't take the humanity out of fundraising. It elevates it.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 9:48

So here's my challenge for you this week Try one small thing with AI. Maybe you use ChatGPT to draft a first-pass thank-you email, brainstorm, social media captions, or maybe you're summarizing a long report. Just dip your toe in and see what it can do. The goal is not perfection, it's exploration. And remember, you're not doing this alone. We are all figuring out how AI fits into fundraising, and the best way to learn is together. There are so many great resources out there to help you get started.

Keith Greer, CFRE: 10:22

And if you want to dive deeper, I'd love for you to join me at AFP Icon in Seattle this April. On the last day of the conference, I'll be leading a session called Ready Set Ethical AI preparing your organization for AI in fundraising. We'll go beyond the buzzwords and talk about how to integrate AI in a way that aligns with your mission, your values and, most importantly, your donors. If you're going to Icon, don't miss it. And at the end of the day, ai isn't here to take over fundraising. It's here to help us do what we do best build relationships, tell powerful stories and make a real impact. And the fundraisers who lean in, who embrace these tools with curiosity and strategy, they're going to be the ones who thrive. Thanks for spending this time with me today on let's Talk Fundraising. I can't wait to hear how you're starting to use AI to elevate your work. Let's keep moving forward together.