5 Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Use AI Today

AI isn’t coming to the nonprofit sector — it’s already here. Organizations that embrace AI thoughtfully are finding new ways to build relationships, increase efficiency, and drive greater impact. If you’re not engaging with AI yet, now is the time to act before you fall behind.

Use tools like ChatGPT or Claude to draft emails, generate meeting agendas, summarize research, or brainstorm content ideas. Start small, focusing on internal tasks that save staff time without risking donor data.

Personalize Donor Engagement

Leverage AI to segment your audience and tailor communications based on giving history, event participation, or volunteer activity. Personalized outreach improves donor retention by up to 35% (Salesforce.org, 2023).

Create internal policies around how AI will be used. Prioritize data privacy, transparency, and bias mitigation. According to Gartner (2023), responsible AI governance is now a must, even for smaller organizations.

Appoint someone on your team to lead AI exploration — ideally someone with both a curiosity for technology and a strong understanding of your mission and audience needs.

Set up a “sandbox” — a low-risk environment where your team can safely test AI tools, share learnings, and build comfort before integrating AI into broader strategies.

AI isn’t about replacing the human side of nonprofit work; it’s about amplifying it. Start small, stay curious, and make AI a trusted ally in your mission-driven efforts.

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