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The Framework

Fundraising.AI

Episode 32

THE PODCAST

Episode 32 - AI's Impact on Nonprofit Strategy: Balancing Innovation and Humanity with Brittany Shaff

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OVERVIEW

In a landscape where AI revolutionizes nonprofit fundraising, this episode highlights its role as a game changer, blending advanced technology with the human touch!

Meet Brittany Shaff, the Founder and CEO of Shaff Fundraising Group, a consultancy specializing in strategic philanthropy and engagement management. With twenty years of experience across nonprofit and corporate sectors, Brittany excels in fundraising, marketing, and analytics. Her firm partners with nonprofits, independent schools, higher education institutions, and healthcare organizations to provide personalized consulting that drives successful fundraising and engagement.

During today’s conversation, Brittany explores how AI, particularly generative and predictive models, transforms how nonprofits engage with donors, personalize content, and optimize their strategies. She discusses the balance between leveraging AI and maintaining the human touch in nonprofit communications, emphasizing that AI should enhance, not replace, organizations’ core mission and vision.

Brittany also addresses the importance of content marketing, differentiating it from brand and product marketing, and highlights how AI can be a powerful tool for creating impactful, personalized messaging at scale. She shares insights on the need for nonprofits to adapt and embrace AI tools while maintaining a genuine connection with their audience.

Throughout the conversation, Brittany underscores that success in the nonprofit sector isn’t about outdoing others but advancing your mission and achieving meaningful growth. She also reflects on her fascination with new AI platforms and tools, sharing how staying informed about technological advancements fuels her passion for innovation in the sector.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

  • [04:50] AI as a Game Changer
  • [08:06] The Future of Content Marketing and Nonprofit Engagement
  • [16:19] Essential Steps for Leveraging AI in Nonprofit Engagement
  • [21:20] Defining and Elevating Content Marketing with AI
  • [23:21] Balancing AI with Humanity
  • [24:42] Generative AI as the New Heartbeat of Engagement and Innovation
  • [26:38] Collaboration Over Competition in Nonprofit AI Integration
  • [28:00] Harnessing AI Tools

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

  • Begin integrating AI tools in your nonprofit operations to stay competitive.
  • If needed, consult with AI and marketing experts to maximize effectiveness.
  • Evaluate current content to understand what resonates with your audience.
  • Use AI to create personalized messaging at scale for greater impact.
  • Ensure AI enhances but doesn't replace personal engagement.
  • Optimize content for both search engines and AI-driven platforms.
  • Regularly research emerging AI tools for potential benefits.
  • Use AI for improved data analysis and understanding of donor behavior.
  • Align AI strategies with your nonprofit's core mission and vision.
  • Track the effectiveness of AI tools and adjust strategies based on results.

FAVORITE QUOTES

  • "AI isn't just a tool; it's actually a game changer for sustainable growth in our sector." - Brittany Shaff
  • "Content marketing is different than product marketing, which is different than brand marketing. A lot of times, we get confusing brand and content, but they're vastly different." - Brittany Shaff
  • "Content marketing and nonprofits are crucial, but the heart and soul of your outreach." - Brittany Shaff
  • "Generative AI is set to become the heartbeat of nonprofits, transforming how we engage and craft our personalized content." - Brittany Shaff
  • "Over-reliance on AI can enable us to sound robotic." - Brittany Shaff
  • "We need to keep the human element at the core of everything we do." - Brittany Shaff
  • "The ability for consulting partners and tech providers to adopt AI in a safe, privacy-specific format is also at an all-time high." - Brittany Shaff
  • "Generative AI in content marketing makes us able to create personalized messaging per audience, per donor, at scale. " - Brittany Shaff
  • "Get started with AI, look stuff up, and reach out to people if you need help" - Brittany Shaff
  • "AI has enabled nonprofits to do more with less, enhancing their impact without stretching their resources. "- Brittany Shaff

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MEET YOUR HOSTS

Nathan Chappell

As a thought leader, public speaker, author and inventor, Nathan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. Nathan serves as Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, where he leads AI deployments for some of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations. Nathan’s subject matter expertise has been featured in several publications, including Fast Company, University of Notre Dame and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. In 2021, Nathan founded Fundraising.Ai as a member-centric collaboration of nonprofit professionals with a focus on data ethics, data equality, privacy and security, sustainability. Nathan presented the first TEDx on the topic of artificial intelligence and the future of generosity in 2018. Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.

Scott Rosenkrans

Scott Rosenkrans is the Assistant Vice President of DonorSearch Ai and has been with the organization for three years. He began his journey in the nonprofit sector twelve years ago as a prospect researcher. He quickly became fascinated with data as he noticed the organization that he previously worked for was amassing a wealth of information but was unsure how to efficiently use the data and resources to its full potential. This led him to become interested in predictive modeling and data analytics. During this time, he began to create an immense commitment to delivering tailor-made machine learning models to nonprofits.

The thing that Scott loves most about working for DonorSearch is the ability to prioritize what is best for the client and nonprofit sector above all else. He believes that growth is our most important core value because the DSAi team continuously evolves and brings a unique perspective that provides value to our clients. He stays ahead of industry trends because of his insatiable drive to constantly try out new things.

Favorite nonprofit: Shriner’s Children Hospital because of their extreme commitment to providing exceptional medical care, while also alleviating the financial burdens on families.