The Future of Fundraising
This week, Illinois Institute of Technology introduced its Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO), Scarlet , to its entire donor population and positioned Scarlet like any other new hire, including Scarlet on its “Meet Our Team ” page and on social media .
My team and I were struck with the fundamental difference between assistive technology and the approach our Innovation Partners like Illinois Tech are taking with autonomous fundraising. The distinction begins with the introduction.?
In general, when we talk about technology, we launch it to users. But what Scarlet demonstrated so beautifully is that autonomous fundraisers aren’t launched—they’re introduced to donors and supporters, just like any other valued member of the team. Scarlet's rollout wasn’t about deploying a tool; it was about building trust from day one in a transparent and proud way.
This intentional framing sent a clear message to donors: Scarlet may be powered by AI, but the VEO is designed to engage with the same care and responsiveness expected of traditional fundraisers. Scarlet is not an automated or segmented marketing campaign, but rather autonomous relationship building that adapts in real time making donors feel heard and understood.
Following Scarlet’s introduction, it engaged a portfolio of 698 donors for Illinois Tech’s Giving Day. By introducing the VEO rather than launching it, Scarlet closed 8 gifts, had a nearly non-existent opt-out rate, and the response rate mirrored that of a seasoned human fundraiser that was just hired beginning outreach to a new portfolio.
Scarlet tailored and prioritized its outreach based on numerous data points centering on past support, available communication methods, and recent activity. By day’s end, it identified over 20 unique segments within the 698 donor portfolio and crafted unique and individualized messages for every donor, each designed to optimize engagement while testing different approaches to elicit responses, drive traffic to its video, and encourage gifts.
Watching Scarlet in action was nothing short of remarkable. It sent personalized, individual communications as any skilled fundraiser would, but to more individual donors than any one fundraiser ever could.
Our team was thrilled to see the gifts come in, but like any experienced fundraiser, Scarlet isn’t measured by immediate response or reply rates. It is evaluated based on the relationships she builds and the long-term outcomes that come from those connections—outcomes that extend beyond a single solicitation, event, or appeal.?
Illinois Tech’s bold approach to introducing Scarlet as an integral part of its advancement team is a model for how autonomous fundraisers can be seamlessly integrated into donor engagement strategies. By trusting in AI to create organic conversations and carefully framing the language and presentation, institutions can unlock a new level of engagement that feels personal, meaningful, and human.
Next week is a big one for the Givzey and Version2.ai team in the acceleration of autonomous fundraisers, and we’ll continue to share the stories, data, and insights we are learning together with our partners.
[LIVE] Discussion: The Unique Opportunity with the 80% of Donors You Can’t Manage
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16 AT 2:00 PM ET
For all the attention that we put into building unique relationships with donors, it’s humbling to realize that 75-80% of a nonprofit’s donor base is never directly managed by a fundraiser. This leaves a significant untapped opportunity, especially for organizations seeking to engage more donors meaningfully.
Where mass marketing, direct mail, and other broad-based appeals were once the norm, the rise of fully autonomous fundraising is transforming this reality. By leveraging advanced AI technologies, including Virtual Engagement Officers (VEOs), nonprofits can now build unique relationships that lead to increased giving from previously unmanaged donors.
We'll also examine why nonprofits of all sizes are recognizing the unprecedented opportunity to move the needle on donor engagement and revenue through autonomous fundraising, closing the gap between fundraising capacity and donor potential.
[WORKSHOP]: How to Convert Serial Event Attendees Into Multi-Year Donors
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 AT 2PM ET
You know you’ve captured a donor’s attention when they repeatedly attend your events—but how do you turn that enthusiasm into a commitment that lasts years beyond?
In this workshop, Givzey’s Renee Quinn, a former fundraiser herself, outlines the practical strategies for converting event attendees into loyal, long-term supporters of your mission.
Learn how to build on their existing engagement, create personalized touchpoints, and develop a consistent donor journey that fosters deeper connections. By understanding donor motivations and refining your approach, you can turn one-off participants into valuable multi-year donors who contribute to your organization's sustainability.
[Free Download] Donor Retention: The Power of Multi-Year Pledges
Ever wish you could get into the mind of a LYBUNT or SYBUNT? In hundreds of conversations with annual and leadership giving officers, common challenges repeatedly emerge:
These challenges highlight the need for a more efficient and effective approach to donor retention.
But not every fundraiser has experience and comfort making a multi-year ask and the vast majority of donors have never been approached beyond a single annual gift.
This free guide is written from the perspective of a lapsed donor – a SYBUNT who understands why his annual gift isn't automatic every year. It offers both analysis of the donor retention challenge and donor-centric suggestions to change the dynamic.
(DOWNLOAD NOW )
Fundraising Jobs
Our featured jobs always come from our amazing subscribers. If you have jobs you would like posted in the Future of Fundraising newsletter, please email [email protected] with your requests.