Finding Our Way in the AI Nonprofit Landscape: Tips for Crafting Winning Grants and Anticipating Changes
Intro: Embracing AI in Philanthropy Today
Last Friday, September 20th, I had the privilege of attending the AFP Colorado RMPI Conference, where the thought-provoking theme was "A.I. Doing This Right?!" This question loomed large throughout the day: Are we truly harnessing AI effectively, and do we even understand what “right” looks like in this rapidly evolving landscape?
The conference served as a crucial platform for delving into the opportunities and challenges that arise from integrating AI into our daily operations within the nonprofit sector. We explored both the nitty-gritty details and the broader implications, fostering meaningful discussions that could shape our future practices. It was a timely reminder that as we navigate this complex terrain, the dialogue around AI is not just necessary - it’s essential.
At the conference, we tackled vital topics: ethical considerations of AI in philanthropy, innovative fundraising strategies, and case studies of nonprofits navigating AI implementation.
This event was a WAKE-UP CALL. I had not fully appreciated AI's impact on my professional and personal life over the past two years. We've all witnessed a seismic shift with tools like voice assistants, chatbots, ride-sharing apps, AI-driven social media, and personalized streaming services.
Like our private and public sector counterparts, the nonprofit industry seems to be at a crossroads, evaluating how AI can enhance our work and drive positive change. By leveraging these technologies, we can streamline processes, maximize efficiency, and better serve our communities. Experts emphasized that AI can eliminate mundane tasks rather than replacing jobs, freeing us to focus on strategic thinking and longer, more meaningful human interactions. I am hopeful that will be the case.
So… How Can We Use AI for Grant Writing?
Understanding Grant Success
To start, let’s evaluate why grant applications are successful in the first place, because you wouldn’t want to apply (spending time and maybe money) unless you felt there was a chance of success. Based on my experience, successful grant applications hinge less on the grant writer’s expertise and more on your organization’s impact (you do what you say you want to do) and data collection (you show that you did what you said you were going to do) - in both qualitative and quantitative formats. Anecdotes and passion alone are no longer enough to sway funders. In addition to building narratives, budgets, and new pilot programs, I also frequently work with nonprofits to ensure their documents and information is well-organized and up-to-date, so they can best articulate why their initiatives matter.
Using AI as Your Writing Assistant
How can you use AI or ChatGPT as a grant writing assistant? Here are some strategies …
Identifying Trends & Gaps: Use AI to sift through vast information to find relevant resources and identify trends and service gaps. This positions your organization as the ideal solution to pressing needs.
Demonstrating Impact: Historical data on your organization's past projects and outcomes can be analyzed using AI/ChatGPT to showcase your track record of success - of course this relies on your ability and will to consistently and actively collect relevant data (Please collect more data!). AI can even help you pinpoint your most compelling metrics and visualize them in ways that genuinely resonate with funders and donors, utilizing tools such as DALL·E 3, Midjourney, or Ideaogram - learn more in this article by Zapier HERE.
Predictive Modeling: For larger organizations, advanced AI can create predictive models to illustrate the potential long-term impact of your projects, appealing to funders interested in sustainable change.
Writing Prompts: Some prompts I have used include:
“Please make this more succinct.”
“Please rewrite this to be more compelling.”
“Can you summarize this in under 100 characters?”
“Format this into bullet points.”
Language Optimization: AI-powered writing tools can analyze successful grant proposals in your field, offering suggestions to improve your writing language, tone, and structure.
Customization at Scale: AI allows you to tailor proposals to specific funders efficiently, creating multiple versions without starting from a blank page each time. AI can process large amounts of information far more quickly than I can, enhancing our accuracy, reducing costs, and helping me identify any blind spots I might miss. That said, to create the strongest proposal possible, it's essential to combine these AI tools with multiple reviews and drafts from someone skilled in critical thinking, reading, writing, and project management (*raises hand*).
Compliance Checking: Last, AI can ensure that your grant or sponsorship proposal meets all of the technical requirements set by the funder / grantor, reducing the risk of disqualification due to overlooked details. This can be particularly helpful with extensive federal or state grants.
The Future of Grants / Grant Proposals in an AI-Driven World?
As AI and data analytics continue to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated tools; how about imagining the following?
Automated Grant Matching: AI could streamline the grant application process by automatically matching organizations with relevant funding opportunities based on their mission and past successes. This could save time and increase the chances of securing funding.
Enhanced Data Visualization: Future proposals may leverage advanced data visualization tools to present complex information in easily digestible formats. Funders could engage with interactive infographics and charts that clearly communicate impact and goals.
Integration with Project Management Tools: Seamless integration between grant writing software and project management tools could provide funders with insights into real-time project execution, helping to build trust and transparency.
Impact Simulation Models: Organizations might use AI to create simulations of potential project outcomes based on varying scenarios, helping funders understand the range of impacts their investment could have.
Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain technology could be employed to track funding flows and project outcomes, providing verifiable transparency that reassures funders about how their contributions are being used.
Social Media Integration: Grant proposals may incorporate social media insights and engagement metrics to showcase community support and stakeholder involvement, making a more compelling case for funding.
Virtual Reality (VR) Presentations: For major proposals, VR could be utilized to offer immersive presentations, allowing funders to experience projects firsthand, thereby fostering deeper connections and understanding.
Real-Time Collaboration Platforms: The future may see advanced platforms that facilitate real-time collaboration among multiple stakeholders, allowing for quick input and revisions, enhancing the quality and responsiveness of proposals. Boodlebox is trying to do just that today, they were also a speaker at the AFP CO conference. If you want to check it out, use this link for 20% off the paid plan: Boodlebox Discount.
Conclusion: A New Era of Philanthropy?
Integrating AI into grant writing and other nonprofit processes marks the dawn of a new era in philanthropy. By embracing these tools, nonprofits can craft compelling, evidence-driven proposals that secure funding and strengthen relationships with grant-makers.
Moving forward, the organizations that grow and thrive will be those that successfully blend AI’s analytical capabilities with the irreplaceable human elements of creativity and empathy. Ultimately, those with funding have the greatest potential to create a lasting impact.
Lastly, I encourage you to attend the free, fully remote Fundraising AI Summit on October 1st. The nonprofit sector is striving to lead the conversation on ethics in AI, promising insightful discussions. Register here!
