Fundraising.AI
Episode 5
Episode 5: Unlocking Major Gift Fundraising with AI: A Blueprint for Success
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OVERVIEW
In this episode of Fundraising.AI Podcast…
Join Nathan and Scott as they delve into the transformative potential of AI in the world of major gift fundraising. In this episode, they explore how AI can revolutionize the major gift fundraising landscape, from enhancing efficiency to deepening personalization in donor interactions.
Drawing on their extensive experience in major gift fundraising and their keen understanding of AI technology, Nathan and Scott discuss practical applications of AI, such as roleplaying scenarios for fundraisers, personalized donor communications, and crafting compelling fundraising appeals. They emphasize the importance of embracing AI as a tool for efficiency and precision, empowering fundraisers to excel in their roles and build stronger donor relationships.
They also highlight the growing imperative for fundraisers to AI-proof their careers, citing recent Social Impact Staff Retention Report statistics. With a staggering 74% of nonprofit professionals considering leaving their jobs due to overwhelming responsibilities, Nathan and Scott underscore the urgent need for AI adoption in the sector.
Throughout the episode, Nathan and Scott share personal anecdotes, expert insights, and practical advice for fundraisers looking to harness the power of AI. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, this episode offers invaluable guidance for navigating the new frontier of major gift fundraising with AI. Tune in to learn how AI can supercharge your fundraising efforts and propel your career to new heights!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [02:05] Revolutionizing Audiovisual Creativity: AI advancements in text-to-video and voice fabrication
- [06:51] AI breakthroughs and their impact on technology
- [12:18] AI Strategies for Major Gift Fundraising: Enhancing Efficiency and Personalization
- [26:15] AI-Proofing Your Career: Navigating the Digital Divide One Step at a Time
- [29:09] Insights from the Social Impact Staff Retention Report
TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Use donor surveys to learn why donors support your organization, considering AI for better analysis.
- Embrace AI in fundraising to work more efficiently and personalize donor interactions.
- Continuously learn about AI's benefits in fundraising and integrate it gradually into your work.
- When faced with challenges or setbacks, especially in major gift asks, reframe challenges to understand why they happened and improve future approaches.
- Recognize AI's potential to ease fundraiser burdens, focusing more on donor relationships.
- Start small with AI in fundraising, gradually expanding knowledge and skills.
- Adapt to technological advancements like AI to enhance fundraising effectiveness.
- Use generative AI to create personalized messages for major donors, showing impact.
- Roleplay with AI to practice fundraising scenarios and improve preparedness.
- Utilize AI to proofread and improve fundraising materials for better quality.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- "AI is an intern willing to review all your stuff to brainstorm with you for free, never gets tired, gives you a side, and never gives you back talk. It is there for the taking." - Scott Rosenkrans
- "It's hard to catch up with AI when they roll out a new text video. And then four days later, text to audio. You'll never be able to catch up. So now is the time to jump in, try what you can start where you can, and pay attention to it." - Scott Rosenkrans
- "AI just encourages you to do your due diligence. " - Scott Rosenkrans
- "If I were in a nonprofit, I would want to know what spurred you to make this gift, and having GPT craft all those different types of questions to help you get to the heart of it." - Scott Rosenkrans
- "I, too, sometimes feel overburdened with the workload and don't have enough time to apply AI." - Scott Rosenkrans
- "We'll end on this idea that AI will not replace fundraisers, but fundraisers that use AI will replace those that don't. That's not a new sentiment. We've been saying that for many years; we've seen that happen." - Nathan Chappell
- "So be on the side of the digital divide that AI is proofing your career. You are going to be sought after by your employers, you're going to be happier, you're going to produce work faster and more efficiently." - Nathan Chappell
- "I'm going to supercharge my career; I'm going to not work less. But I'm going to spend more time with humans because I've got these AI tools doing this stuff, and I'm going to be more accurate with what I'm doing." - Nathan Chappell
- "Where people in major gift fundraising are leapfrogging people, people in fundraising that have been using AI, and were early adopters of AI and we know them have leapfrogged other people, because they produce work better, faster, more accurately, with a higher degree of satisfaction. - Nathan Chappell
- "We can supercharge philanthropy with AI in the right way to use it for precision and personalization. It can give fundraisers wings, and it can reduce burnout. " - Nathan Chappell
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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.
