Could AI Be Hurting Your Fundraising? 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Joanne Toller, CFRE (Ret.)
Sharing 30 years of nonprofit expertise as a fundraising coach, consultant, and educator - empowering those who empower others ??
AI can be life-changing for us nonprofit pros: it’s faster, it’s smarter (sometimes), and it can handle routine tasks that free you up to do the real mission work. But if you’re not using it the right way, AI can actually slow you down—or worse, compromise your credibility.
Below are the top AI mistakes I see nonprofits making (some of which I’ve made myself!) and how to avoid them, so you can harness AI to supercharge your fundraising, deepen donor relationships, and keep that human touch alive in everything you do.
Mistake 1??: Over-Reliance on AI Tools
AI can draft donor emails, whip up grant proposals, and even help plan fundraising campaigns in seconds. It’s great—until it’s not. Over-relying on AI often leads to polished but generic content that lacks real heart.
My Confession: I’ve caught myself skipping the thinking part and trusting AI too much. Sometimes it missed details I would have caught if I’d written the piece myself. Other times, I asked AI to make my text more “emotional,” only for it to remove crucial information.
Fix It
??Use AI for a first draft, not the final: Let AI handle the heavy lifting, but do the final editing yourself.
??Stay involved: Add your stories, your insights, and your organization’s unique voice.
??Ask “Does this sound like us?”: If the answer’s no, tweak it until it feels authentic.
Mistake 2??: Giving the AI Vague Prompts
AI is only as good as the instructions you give it. If your prompt is “Write a fundraising email,” don’t expect a magic masterpiece.
Example: Telling AI “Make food” will get you something, but probably not the gourmet meal you wanted. Instead, say:
“Here’s info on our Raise the Shelter Roof campaign. Write a heartfelt fundraising email that thanks donors for their past support, mentions how their contributions helped 100 rescue animals and includes a monthly giving call to action. Keep the tone warm and inspiring.”
Fix It:
??Be specific: Provide context, goals, tone, and any vital details.
??Tweak & refine: Experiment with prompts to find the sweet spot.
??Save your best prompts: Reuse and adjust them for new campaigns rather than starting from scratch.
Mistake 3??: Failing to Fact-Check
AI is confident—it can generate entire narratives filled with “facts.” But confidence doesn’t equal accuracy. If you rely on AI-generated data for grants or donor reports without verifying, you risk losing credibility (and funding).
Fix It:
??Always verify sources: Double-check any numbers or claims.
??Treat AI outputs as a rough draft: Proofread for clarity and alignment with your nonprofit’s actual impact.
??Use your expertise: If something looks off, trust your instincts (or do some quick research).
Mistake 4??: Neglecting Human Connection
Over-automation can make your nonprofit feel cold and transactional, and donors notice. As Julie Cooper on LinkedIn pointed out, AI often strips away vivid details in storytelling. That leaves you with writing that’s correct but forgettable.
Fix It:
??Keep it real: A genuine, heartfelt story—imperfections and all—usually resonates more than a “perfect” AI-crafted statement.
??Add personal touches: Mention how you felt meeting beneficiaries, share challenges your team overcame, or describe the passion behind your mission.
??Ask for feedback: If your donors or volunteers say an email felt impersonal, adjust your process.
Mistake 5??: Ignoring Ethical Concerns
AI thrives on data, but with that data comes responsibility. Misusing donor information—even unintentionally—can break trust faster than you can say “unsubscribe.” Plus, you could violate privacy laws (CCPA, GDPR, PIPEDA) if you’re careless.
Fix It:
??Know the rules: Make sure any AI tool you use meets privacy standards.
??Never share sensitive donor info in open-source AI systems like ChatGPT.
??Create an AI use policy: Outline what data you collect and how you’ll protect it. Share it with your team—and, if appropriate, your donors. <- We did an article on this!
Final Thoughts & Quick Tips
Have your own AI success stories (or horror stories)? Let me know in the comments—I love hearing how other nonprofits are navigating this new frontier. And if you’re ready to build your own AI policy, I’ve got a free downloadable template for you. Ping me if you want the link.
Here’s to using AI the right way—supercharging your mission while keeping that genuine human touch front and center!
Slay the day!
Joanne Toller, CFRE (Ret.) ??
Grant Writing, Fundraising, Story Telling, Social Enterprise Development, Artist
1 天前Thanks Joanne, thinking of my CoPilot as my intern is spot on!
Director at DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
3 天前Very good article, thank you. If you want to learn how to use AI for nonprofits, I recommend this site https://nfps.ai/
Former Manager of Hostel at Doxa Deo Edendale School
3 天前I have never used AI but from what you have shared, it's worth trying
Former Manager of Hostel at Doxa Deo Edendale School
3 天前Very informative, thanks
15 Second Access to your 'Need to Know" information. Are you using your time wisely? Developer of @EASE & author of From Chaos to Control Build a High Performance Team Using Knowledge Management 877 489 9911
3 天前A good article Joanne. The idea that AI can do all the work may appeal to those who have left thinking and learning to anyone else. With sophisticated bots ... maybe the role fundraiser will become obsolete.