Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the biggest buzzword in technology, and the hype can be overwhelming. Vendors are promising that AI will revolutionize fundraising, automate operations, and solve all your problems. But for a small nonprofit with a tight budget, what’s actually practical and useful right now?
Let’s ignore the “enterprise AI solutions” (the new trailer trucks) and focus on the simple, often free, tools you can start using today.
Think of AI as a Smart, Tireless Assistant
Modern AI tools, like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, are excellent at handling tasks that involve language and summarizing information. Here are a few ways your nonprofit can leverage them:
- Drafting Content: Stuck on a social media post, a thank-you letter to a donor, or an email to volunteers? Ask an AI to create a first draft. You’ll still need to edit it to match your voice, but it’s a great way to beat writer’s block.
- Summarizing Research: Need to understand a long grant application or a dense community needs report? Copy and paste the text into an AI and ask for a summary of the key points. This can save hours of reading time.
- Brainstorming Ideas: Ask for ideas for your next fundraiser, blog post topics, or taglines for a campaign. Use the AI as a creative partner to get your own ideas flowing.
The best use of AI for most nonprofits isn’t a massive, expensive platform. It’s a simple tool that saves your team time, allowing them to focus on the human-to-human work that AI can’t do.
Maxsys International
A Word of Caution
Always be careful with sensitive information. Never input personal data about your donors, volunteers, or clients into a public AI tool. Use these tools for general tasks, not for handling confidential records. The goal is to be more efficient, not to create a new security risk.
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s just that—a tool. With a common-sense approach, it can be an incredible asset for your mission.
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