Fundraising.AI

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Fundraising.AI

Episode 33

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Episode 33 - AI in Action: How AI is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Strategies and Success

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OVERVIEW

Today’s episode dives into the evolving landscape of AI adoption within the nonprofit sector, revealing how AI is revolutionizing fundraising by turning data into actionable insights. 

Nathan and Scott kick off today’s conversation by discussing the growing presence of AI at industry conferences, such as APRA-PD 2024, where the conversation has shifted from theory to practical applications and success stories. They underscore the significance of AI in prospect development while highlighting a noticeable reduction in hesitancy towards predictive AI—though concerns about generative AI persist. 

The duo also tackles barriers to AI adoption, such as fears of job replacement and skepticism about AI’s accuracy. Through real-world examples, they illustrate how AI can streamline tasks like prospect research, freeing up valuable time for strategic initiatives. 

Scott and Nathan emphasize the importance of starting with clear AI use cases sharing case studies that showcase the tangible benefits of AI in the sector. They also discuss the impact of tools like xAI and Grok AI, balancing the potential for innovation with the need for transparency and accountability in AI-generated content. 

Practical tips abound in this episode, from creating content folders to training AI tools to developing style guides that ensure consistency. The conversation concludes with a call to action for nonprofits to adopt AI proactively and responsibly, setting the stage for transformative change in the sector. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

  • [01:18] AI Adoption in the Nonprofit Sector
  • [04:48] Barriers to AI Adoption in Prospect Development
  • [09:12] Case Studies and Practical AI Applications
  • [14:19] AI Tools and Their Impact on Nonprofits
  • [22:28] Practical Tips for AI Adoption in Nonprofits

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

  • Review AI case studies relevant to your nonprofit's mission to identify successful strategies.
  • Identify specific challenges in your organization where AI can provide solutions.
  • Use AI to handle repetitive tasks, freeing up time for strategic decision-making.
  • Implement AI tools to enhance research and fundraising efforts.
  • Build a folder of written content to train AI models in your nonprofit's voice.
  • Craft a style guide to improve the consistency and accuracy of AI-generated content.
  • Use tools that ensure transparency and accountability in AI-generated outputs.
  • Participate in AI-related sessions at conferences to stay updated on best practices.
  • Educate your team on AI's benefits to reduce fears about job replacement and accuracy.
  • Align your AI adoption with specific, measurable goals to maximize ROI.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FAVORITE QUOTES

  • "When we compare and contrast the nonprofit sector to the private sector, we passively use AI. We're picking up tools and trying them out. We figure out which one works for our sector and passively use it. But where we're missing is that we don't have active goals for what we want to achieve with it." - Nathan Chappell
  • "If you don't know if AI can help you with your job, all you have to do is ask it." - Nathan Chappell
  • "We need to better understand the return on investment in AI. It's not about just raising more money. It's about delivering your mission better, but also having a happier workforce at the end."- Nathan Chappell
  • "I think the reasons why people are not using AI are quite similar. I think one is there's fear that it's going to change or replace their job." - Nathan Chappell
  • "Offloading routine or mundane things gives you the dividend of time, like a massive dividend. I'd say prospect researchers could easily be on the top end of efficiency." - Nathan Chappell
  • "I still firmly believe that prospect research is uniquely positioned to benefit from responsible and beneficial AI to double down on it." - Nathan Chappell
  • "Generative AI is getting thrown over predictive AI, and it's all getting conflated and confused by people that it's all one of the same." - Scott Rosenkrans
  • "I can't tell you how many times I heard examples of generative AI image creation and how you might have six fingers on a hand, so you shouldn't use AI altogether. That's a bit extreme, and as we know, predictive is not the same as gen." - Scott Rosenkrans
  • "We're seeing more and more success in predictive AI. I think there's still a lot of hesitancy on generative in this space." - Scott Rosenkrans
  • "I'm still seeing a lot of organizations that their challenge is that they don't have AI, and they're trying to just get a tool to check that box." - Scott Rosenkrans

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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.