Latest / The Nonprofit Podcast / Ep 184| Elevate Your Fundraising Success with These 3 AI Prompts!

Transcript

Ep 184| Elevate Your Fundraising Success with These 3 AI Prompts! · The Nonprofit Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: AI.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_01: It wasn't something most of us asked for.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_01: And yet here we are.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_01: We're heading into one of the busiest moments of the fundraising year with a tool that might actually help us breathe through it if we let it.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_01: The Nonprofit Podcast, powered by DonorBox.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Britton Stockert, fundraiser coach here at DonorBox.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: Each week we share practical insights, real strategies, and honest conversations to help you raise more, reach further, and drive real results for your mission.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: Now let's talk about something that can feel a little loaded.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: AI.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Now I know hot topic, hot take, so many opinions.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_01: Today I want to frame it a little differently because people act like it's been woven into our work forever, like we've been quietly doing machine learning donor letters since 2019, and we just didn't tell anyone.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_01: But come on, most of us really started encountering this in late 2022 when AI suddenly it got real and creative and useful, and everyone went, wait, this can actually do stuff.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I'll be honest, my first reaction, it wasn't excitement.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_01: It was more like a, oh my gosh, I'm still emotionally recovering from learning Zoom.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: Please give me a minute.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_01: Fundraisers, we didn't choose this work for tech revolutions.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_01: We chose it for people, for community, for meaning, for all those moments of generosity that make our chests tighten in the best of ways.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: So if AI feels new to you, if it feels somehow wrong or like one more thing on top of everything else, you're not behind.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: You're human and you're in exactly the right place for an honest chap.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: And here's why this conversation matters.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: Giving season, it's rewarding.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: It's also intense.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: There are letters to write, posts to schedule, donors to think, momentum to maintain, moments to celebrate.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: And let's be real, sometimes that creative spark we so very much rely on, it just doesn't show up on time.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: And not because our care is gone, but because our capacity is stretched.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_01: So what if we reframed AI not as a threat or a chore, but as a true support?
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: Another pair of hands, a partner in clarity on the days when our thoughts feel like a snow globe.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Someone shook too hard.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I can almost hear you saying, okay, Britt, but how do you actually use it without sounding like a robot?
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_01: Good question.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: I asked myself the same thing.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: I still ask myself this question.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_01: And what I learned is this AI, it isn't here to take our voices, it's here to help us start when our voice needs a minute to warm up.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_01: So imagine this moment with me.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, we're sitting at the computer.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: It's late, it's time to write your Giving Tuesday reminder.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Your screen is open, the cursor is blinking right at you like it knows something you don't.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: And your brain quietly whispers, nope, not today.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: Instead of forcing it, I'll type something like help me start a warm, simple Giving Tuesday message, period.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_01: Grateful tone, period, real language, period, one story, period, one clear imitation to give, period.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: And what do you know?
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: What comes back?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: It isn't final, but it's movement.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: And sometimes movement is all we need to find our voice again.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: Our producer here, she refers to this as talking to myself to clear the fog.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: And it's a great way to look at it.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: AI, it isn't sentient, but it does sure as have get to know your writing style and does it well and quickly.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: Now I know the next thought because it was mine too.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_01: But Brit, I don't want to sound like AI.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_01: Agreed.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: I don't either.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_01: And here's the trick: you don't let it finish your thought for you.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: You let it hand you the first thread and then you weave.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: AI drafts, you shape that balance.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: It keeps your message human.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: Because the beauty of using a helper like this is that it can bring clarity.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: It cleans up your grammar, it gives you that smooth flow.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_01: It structures your ideas better.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_01: But if the meat and potatoes of your message, your real insights, your story, your why just aren't there, you'll end up with something polished.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: But come on, let's be real.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_01: Pretty crummy and shallow.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: Not much there.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_01: Only you can give it the depth that it needs.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Let's talk about another thought.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: Britt, what about ethics?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: My donor stories matter.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: We never paste private donor info into a tool.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: You would be amazed at how many people could be doing this.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: We don't upload stories people trusted us with.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: And we sure as heck protect our community like the treasures they are.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: And as Mina Doss often reminds us, ethics isn't just about what we share.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: It is about how we see people when we share it.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: Because if we're not careful, even our good intentions can cause a lot of harm.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: They can flatten a story.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: A quick summary can erase someone's struggle.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: A cheerful thank you can be completely like toxic positivity and tone-deaf if we don't hold the whole truth.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_01: And sometimes what might come out easy, like the easiest words, they're not, they may not be the truest or the most inclusive ones.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: So I double check whose voice might be missing?
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_01: Whose story am I centering?
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_01: That's part of the work too.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_01: We slow down, we check the language, we ask, would this feel respectful if they read it?
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_01: That's how we hold the heart of the story.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: Then when it's time to put the words on the page, I start with the frame, not the details.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: And it might sound like this first time donor, thank you.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: Period.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: Hopefully, period.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Sincere, period, short so that I can personalize it, period.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: And then AI, it gives me structure.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_01: I add the heart.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: Again, it's a fine dance.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_01: We both stay in our lanes.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_01: And then there's a sense of taking the easy way out.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: Is it okay to use this feeling?
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: I get this too.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_01: And the answer is yes.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_01: Easy, it's not cheating.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: Tools don't diminish your dedication, they protect your capacity so you can give your best to the moments that truly require you.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_01: We don't prove our commitment, right, by doing everything the hardest way.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: We prove it by staying present, staying human, thoughtful, and steady.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_01: We gotta be here through the season.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: So try those three.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: And one more thing.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: I hate to say this, but we gotta be transparent.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: If AI it helped you write something, say so.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: Supporters, they deserve your honesty.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_01: Your trust is your currency.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: What that means, I know we're waiting on sector-wide guidance, right?
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: And regulations.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: But while we're waiting, a simple line in your emails to your donors, to your supporters.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: I do this with my coaching clients.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_01: It might sound something like this this message.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: All of the insights, the themes, the schedule are my own.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: But I did use AI assistance to help frame out my ideas.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: That way it keeps everything clear and credible.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: There's no drama.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: It's a just a good practice.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: I will also say this sometimes AI gives you something and you're just blinking at the screen like, oh no, sweetie, no.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_01: Heck no.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: And that's okay too.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_01: What do we do?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: We laugh, we shake our head.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_01: Like, what is AI half asleep today?
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: And then we ask again, try that again, but make it sound like a real person this time.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: You see, light touch, no drama.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: It's a tool, not a threat.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: And hey, we are in charge.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_01: All right, before we close, I want to give you three easy ways to use AI right now, today, to lighten your workload.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_01: And you got to keep your heart where it belongs.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_01: Number one, when the page is blank, the prompt might sound something like this.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: Help me start a warm donor message, period.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: One short idea, period, natural tone, period.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: That is it.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: Goodbye, blinking cursor.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_01: Number two, when you know the emotion, but you don't quite have phrasing.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: The prompt might go like this.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: I'm writing to longtime supporters, period.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_01: Tone, colon, study, comma, grateful, comma, human.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_01: Period.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: Help me express appreciation and invite a year-end gift gently.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_01: Period.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: You see, you set the heart, AI shapes ascendance.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: And finally, the third one.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: When you want to stay personal through all the volume going on, the prop might go something like this.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: Give me three short thank you note starters for first-time donors, period.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: Warm and hopeful, period.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_01: I'll customize each one.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: Period.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_01: You see, still your gratitude.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_01: You just support it.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_01: Try those three.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_01: They make space for clarity, presence, and kindness.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_01: And yes, we believe in this balance so deeply at donor box.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: That is why our AI tools, including JAI, are built right into the workflow.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_01: Not to automate your humanity, but what we're trying to do is we're trying to protect it.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: AI forward, human first, always.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: So here's a reminder for this season.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_01: You do not need a muscle through every task.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_01: Ease is not your enemy.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: Rest and support help you stay generous.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: You are still the storyteller, you are still the connection builder, and you are still the voice donors trust.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: AI, it just helps you keep showing up with care when your days get full.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: As always, thank you for being part of the nonprofit podcast community.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: If you've enjoyed this episode, share it.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_01: Leave us a review or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_01: Until next time, take that first step and stay inspired.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: And quietly remind yourself this week, you don't have to do every part of this alone.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_01: Your work matters and you're doing it beautifully.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: That warm feeling when you help someone, it's not just happiness, it's fulfillment.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: And we believe it should be available to everyone.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: From frontline heroes to first time fundraisers.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: Our tools empower you to help others.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: This is our mission.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: This is DonorBox, helping you help others.