Fundraising.AI
Episode 9
Episode 9: Tech-Driven Philanthropy: Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising with Kelley Hecht
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OVERVIEW
Today’s guest is Kelley Hecht, Team Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Industry Advisors for Nonprofits. She is dedicated to empowering organizations to leverage technology for impactful change. With a passion for driving innovation, Kelly guides customers in maximizing mission impact through strategic use of cloud computing and cutting-edge solutions. In this episode, let’s learn from Kelley’s wealth of experience and discover how nonprofits can harness the power of technology to achieve their goals and create lasting change in the world.
Starting the conversation, Kelley shares her unique journey from working at the American Cancer Society to her current role at a leading tech giant, AWS. Kelley candidly discusses her experiences and insights, highlighting the pivotal role of technology, particularly cloud computing, in reshaping the nonprofit landscape. She shares anecdotes about her initial skepticism and subsequent immersion in the world of technology, emphasizing the importance of embracing discomfort and curiosity to drive meaningful change.
Kelley’s role involves bridging the gap between technology and nonprofit organizations, empowering them to leverage cutting-edge tools and strategies for fundraising and mission advancement. She sheds light on the challenges nonprofits face in adopting new technologies, offering practical advice and encouragement for those navigating this evolving landscape.
Kelley explores the potential of AI, data analytics, and other innovative solutions to drive impact and accelerate progress, sharing valuable perspectives on the intersection of nonprofit work and technology. Moreover, her passion for empowering nonprofits shines through as she discusses the urgent need for radical change and each organization’s pivotal role in driving societal transformation.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [04:06] Kelley's Story: Exploring the Nexus of Nonprofits and Technology
- [14:40] Guiding Nonprofits Through the AI Journey: Questions and Curiosity
- [17:16] Demystifying AI: Unveiling Its Presence and Potential for Nonprofits
- [25:58] AI for Impact: Empowering Nonprofits to Navigate Efficiency and Responsibility
- [30:29] Data Strategies for Nonprofits in the Age of AI
TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Familiarize yourself with cloud technology, particularly AWS, and its applications beyond traditional IT functions.
- Recognize the democratizing effect of cloud technology, especially for nonprofit organizations, in terms of pricing and accessibility.
- Embrace leadership principles like "Learn to be curious" to foster innovation and better engagement within your organization or industry.
- Highlight the existing use of AI within your organization to dispel misconceptions and foster a more informed approach to its implementation.
- Before implementing AI, prioritize foundational elements such as data management, disaster recovery plans, and end-to-end data strategies.
- Understand the importance of responsible data usage and its impact on your organization's mission and stakeholders.
- Strive for a balance between efficiency gained from AI and maintaining meaningful human connections with stakeholders.
- Recognize the potential for AI to enhance, rather than replace, human interactions and contributions.
- Recognize the potential of AI to drive operational efficiency and free up human resources for higher-value tasks.
- Focus on targeted AI applications that align with your organization's goals and values rather than simply adopting AI for the sake of it.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- "Learn to embrace the discomfort of not knowing." - Kelley Hecht
- "Using your data isn't a choice; it's a responsibility." - Kelley Hecht
- "Have a little faith in our donors. We're going to make a mistake; it's totally going to happen. And I hope that when it does, we can acknowledge it, address it, and move on." - Kelley Hecht
- "People are more generous and forgiving in their hearts and minds than we worry about." - Kelley Hecht
- "I would say that with AI, I'm seeing a lot of confidence that I wish would be curiosity." - Kelley Hecht
- "When using technology responsibly, some of the responsibility is making sure that we allow the technology to bring efficiencies and protect the space. So that people can go home. So that they can read and exercise and see the other parts of their life as opposed to just filling more." - Kelley Hecht
- "The second area that I've been trying to shift the dialogue around, especially for our industry, is how AI can drive operational efficiency." - Kelley Hecht
- "There's also a lot of debate around the ethics of that in our world with personal connection and donor relationships. But where there's no debate is that we are all doing tasks daily, weekly, and monthly, which, in today's age, can be done faster and more accurately by AI-powered technology. Wouldn't it be great if we could free up our beautiful humans to do the things they're uniquely qualified for?" - Kelley Hecht
- "People don't realize they're already using AI; this is not as new as they think. "- Kelley Hecht
- "There are lots of forms of AI, and the one you're paying attention to might not be the highest and best use of it." - Kelley Hecht
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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.
