Generative AI is reshaping how nonprofits work:
- 56% use it for workplace productivity like scheduling, project management, and notetaking.
- 53% use it for written content creation including email, social media, and direct mail copy.
- However, adoption drops significantly for graphics (19%) and video (5%). This may reflect that text outputs are easier for most staff to review and edit.
Why it matters
It’s important to understand where AI creates genuine efficiency gains versus where it adds a review burden instead.
Workplace productivity tools like automated meeting summaries and project timelines generate outputs that teams can quickly verify and move forward. These applications succeed because they reduce manual work without requiring extensive quality control on each use.
The same principle explains AI's impact on digital fundraising. The most effective applications operate invisibly during the donation process — analyzing patterns across millions of transactions to optimize conversions without requiring staff review of individual decisions.
Content creation sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. AI-drafted emails and social posts require human review of every output to ensure they match your voice, serve your mission, and connect authentically with supporters. The tool doesn't save time if reviewing takes as long as writing.
Do this
You’ll see your biggest gains if you deploy AI where it works without the need for constant oversight.
For workplace productivity, use AI for:
- Meeting summaries and action items that staff can quickly scan and approve
- Project timeline drafts that provide structure for refinement
- Research and information gathering, then have humans synthesize insights
- Data analysis and initial reports where humans add strategic context
For fundraising, use AI for:
- Smart donation frequency defaults that increase recurring gifts by 27% by analyzing when to suggest one-time versus monthly options
- Suggested donation amounts that increase average gift size by 4.2% through continuous learning from donor behavior
- Pre-conversion upsells that boost revenue per donor by 8.7% by identifying optimal moments to encourage larger gifts
- Processing fee coverage prompts that increase fee coverage rates without reducing conversion
Fundraise Up’s AI optimizations require no manual intervention while continuously learning from millions of transactions. Learn more about how AI optimization can boost your donations.
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