How Are Nonprofits Actually Using Artificial Intelligence?
There is plenty of content on artificial intelligence (AI), such as webinars, conference sessions, articles, or perspectives from experts in the field. We've heard dozens of ways that AI can be implemented, and by this point, your organization is behind the curve if you aren't using it in some way.
So, how are nonprofits actually using AI in practice?
From marketing and fundraising to education and operations, nonprofits are embracing AI in every department. Whether you're an early adopter or a newbie, here are some ways to implement AI in your organization.
Administrative Tasks
Nonprofits are using AI to ease the burden of everyday administrative tasks. This is a great entry point into AI if it's new to you. AI tools are being used to help with note-taking, creating executive summaries, scheduling meetings among large teams and prioritizing tasks.
Organizations have also enhanced customer service by adding AI chatbots to their websites. These chatbots are manually trained to answer questions specific to an organization, making it easier than ever for website visitors to get accurate information directly from the source.
Copywriting
Every nonprofit department, from marketing to operations to education teams, is using AI to make copywriting more efficient, effective and stress-free.
Fundraising teams find AI's versatility helpful at any stage of the writing process. Some teams use AI to generate solicitation and acknowledgment letters with the right tone or to craft persuasive appeal letters that convey compelling stories. Others use AI to compose silent auction package descriptions, an often overlooked and tedious task. Other fundraisers report using the tool to outline grant application narratives or to overcome general writer's block.
Marketing teams leverage AI as a writing assistant daily, and the applications of AI are just as wide-ranging as their fundraising counterparts. From short-form copywriting, like crafting catchy email subject lines, to longer-form press releases, AI creates a first draft or enhances existing copy and tone.
AI is also used to ease the time-consuming task of writing website copy and creating platform-specific social media content. It is also an effective tool for repurposing content for multiple platforms, saving time by recycling existing copy. Though a common criticism of AI-generated copy is its overuse of superlative phrases, this quality is sometimes helpful for writing persuasive event promotions.
Museum curators use AI assistance to craft concise, high-impact exhibition titles. They're also using AI to create first drafts of descriptions for images and objects to aid the visually impaired. Further, academic museums have reported using AI to ensure their publications properly adhere to the AP style.
Analysis
Though not yet widely adopted, some nonprofits successfully use AI as a research and analysis tool, and many AI experts see huge potential for growth in this area.
A useful way to use AI is to analyze donor activity. Asking AI to consider various metrics, such as the recency of a donor's last visit or the date of their last gift, can generate predictions about future giving behaviors, which can inform stewardship efforts.
AI is also useful for wealth analysis to predict an individual's propensity to give and better inform your ask. Before using AI as an analysis tool in this way, be prepared to invest time and resources to ensure your CRM data is accurate so your AI analysis is based on a reliable data set.
Nonprofit teams are also using AI to review the results of annual visitor surveys and ask more targeted follow-up questions. Some nonprofits even use AI analysis to draft frameworks for setting up endowments or compare CRM software options.
AI provides nonprofits with new ways to work efficiently and gain valuable insights. However you choose to explore AI, remember to ensure you are doing it ethically. Nonprofit leaders are partnering with organizations like NTEN and companies like Microsoft to determine guidelines for using AI in ways that align with their organization's mission and values.
How are you using AI at your nonprofit? Add it to the comments below!
The preceding blog was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.
Rachel Kribbs has more than a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector. As director of new business at FORM, she uses her background to understand the needs and concerns of mission-driven organizations. Combined with her skills in communications, fundraising and program management, Rachel is uniquely adept at identifying ways in which FORM can help nonprofits increase revenue, reach more patrons and amplify their missions.
She holds degrees from the Catholic University of America and Cleveland Institute of Music, and, in 2018, the Cleveland 20/30 Club awarded her the Northeast Ohio Mover & Shaker Award. She is a former member of the NTEN Accessibility Committee, an active volunteer with LakewoodAlive and board president for Documentary Songwriters. She lives in northeast Ohio with her husband and two children.
