AI for Fundraising: 10 easy ways to raise more with AI

Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, presenting exciting opportunities for those who embrace and learn from it, including nonprofits. For many organizations, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their fundraising efforts is top of mind.

According to data provided by the 2025 Fundraising Outlook Report, 28% of nonprofits expressed that they aren’t sure how to use AI in their fundraising efforts. If you’re curious about AI but are unsure where to start, you aren’t alone. And you’re in the right place!

This blog is designed to help you cut through the noise and confidently step into the world of AI for fundraising.

We’ll cover:

Let’s dive in and explore how you can use AI to unlock new levels of impact!

What is AI in fundraising?

AI continues to transform various aspects of our lives – how we work, interact, and now, how we fundraise.

Artificial Intelligence in fundraising refers to using advanced algorithms and machine learning tools to analyze data, predict behavior, and automate processes. But here’s the key: it’s not about replacing people — it’s about supercharging your team’s potential.

  • AI helps nonprofits:
  • Streamline operations
  • Personalize donor communications
  • Predict giving patterns
  • Free up staff time to focus on relationship-building and mission-critical work

From suggesting personalized donation amounts to generating instant reports, AI is becoming a trusted digital teammate for mission-driven organizations.

The benefits of AI in fundraising

AI is rapidly changing the way organizations approach fundraising, empowering teams to work smarter. By streamlining planning, uncovering donor insights, and offering real-time support, AI tools enable fundraisers to work faster and more strategically in the following ways:

  • Enhanced efficiency by quickly analyzing data and uncovering insights to guide future fundraising strategies.
  • Automates tasks like, email segmentation, donor outreach, or data entry.
  • Saves time, up to 8 hours of auction planning with the best-in-class auction software – giving your team more time to focus on strategy.
  • Provides assistance with AI-powered tools like chatbots and automated support messaging.

At its core, AI frees up your team to do what they do best: build meaningful relationships and drive your mission forward. By saving time and offering reliable support, AI is changing the fundraising landscape in practical and impactful ways.

10 ways you can use AI for Fundraising

1. Predictive Insights

You may be surprised by how much more you can raise just by knowing when to ask. Predictive insights powered by AI help nonprofits identify patterns in donor behavior and can help optimize campaign timing.

For example, if your audience is more generous during the spring or fall months, you may want to schedule your signature event, giving day, or annual gala around that high-interest period to maximize engagement.

2. Segmentation based on donor data

Sifting through your donor data to organize your campaigns tends to take precious time away from your team. That’s where using AI in fundraising makes a difference. With smart segmentation based on location, age, and giving history, AI helps tailor your messaging to the right audience at the right time.

Platforms like Virtuous use responsive fundraising tools to automate segmentation and personalize donor journeys in real time. This is important for effective messaging because an email that resonates well with a loyal monthly donor will be different than the one for your annual donors.

3. Personalization at scale

Every donor wants to feel as though their time and money are valued, and that their efforts are helping accomplish something good. Showing your appreciation for your donors is especially important, as donors who are recognized for their contributions are more likely to return to give in the future.

Reaching every individual donor with a personal touch can be challenging, especially when your team is faced with limited resources. Using AI for fundraising means personalizing messages at scale to save time. By customizing outreach based on donor segments, your team can strengthen connections between you and your supporters without the manual workload from your team.

4. Appealing graphic or logo generation

Designing the perfect logo or graphic for your upcoming fundraiser can feel overwhelming without a dedicated designer on your team. Instead of outsourcing the work or putting the burden of design on a member of your staff, consider using Canva or Stockimg.AI with AI-powered tools to help you build out your images.

These platforms make it easy to generate eye-catching visuals in seconds. It’s as simple as uploading your existing organization’s logo and brand colors so the AI tool has something to go off of, editing the generated design until you find one that’s ready to use, and then you’re all set!

5. Time-saving text generation

Crafting dynamic and engaging messaging for every piece of content can be difficult. This is where utilizing AI for fundraising is a game-changer. Through text-generating AI tools, it’s easy to quickly create valuable messaging in no time.

Innovative software will have built-in AI fundraising tools, for example, the OneCause Fundraising Platform equips nonprofits with Auction AI® to make item procurement easier than ever before with auction item description generators. With any AI-generated content, be sure to review the copy before sending it out to ensure that it matches your organization’s voice and tone!

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6. Enhanced donor understanding

The better you understand your donors, the easier it is to design events and campaigns they’ll be most likely to get excited about. AI can help analyze the data you collect to provide deeper insights into donor motivations and engagement patterns, letting you make more informed decisions around your fundraising appeals.

For example, if your audience tends to give online during the winter but donates in person over the summer, you now have a basic understanding of how to build and shape your yearly fundraising calendar. By using AI, creating an effective and impactful fundraising campaign calendar is easy.

7. Effective social media

Staying active and responsive on social media is important for nonprofits when it comes to fundraising, as it can be the first time a potential donor learns about your mission. However, creating fun, engaging posts can be challenging, especially when it comes to posting consistently to maintain an active profile.

With AI, your organization can quickly generate and schedule exciting and relevant content to reach your donors. Through the combination of text generation and a post scheduler tool, keeping supporters engaged in your efforts doesn’t have to take hours of your day anymore.

8. Editing existing content

Using AI for fundraising can take many forms, including editing your content! After all, who wouldn’t want a professional editor to review their writing? Utilizing AI to edit the content that you create can help you save time in the production process while also helping you catch mistakes that may have been passed over.

For example, after gathering the materials for a grant and drafting a proposal, have an AI editor like Grammarly check for any errors you may have missed and potentially offer areas where your copy can be stronger to stand out. With a professional editor in your corner, you can make your grant proposals soar and get funded in no time!

9. Streamlined volunteer management

AI in fundraising goes beyond data insights and assistance generating content; it also impacts your volunteers’ experience. Volunteers are the lifeblood of your mission, but have you ever had trouble matching the skillset of one of your volunteers with an appropriate task?

With the help of AI, streamline your volunteer intake forms and filter for specific tasks, then match volunteers with projects that are naturally suitable to them. This not only saves you the time of going through forms by hand, but it also gives your volunteers the perk of working on a project that matches their interests. It’s a win-win!

10. Brainstorm fundraising ideas

Even if you aren’t quite comfortable using AI for content creation or donor data insights, leveraging it as an additional brainstorming partner is a great place to start. If you’re stuck on how to shake up this year’s fundraising schedule, AI is an excellent tool to help you brainstorm new fundraising ideas, campaign names, and workshop initiatives to keep your community engaged with your mission.

It’s as simple as entering your campaign calendar into an AI tool and asking it to help you spice them up or share additional ways to raise funds throughout the year that you have not considered to help reach your annual goal.

Here’s how to get started with AI for fundraising

Maximizing AI in your fundraising efforts can help give you time back toward your mission, and in a sector where every minute and interaction counts, that time saved is invaluable.

By understanding how AI can be utilized in fundraising, you can boost awareness and engage donors on a whole new level. To make things even easier, all-in-one fundraising platforms like OneCause already have built-in AI-powered tools to help you do more and raise more with less effort.

Finding robust fundraising software that has AI woven in throughout helps you adapt to the latest technology to do more for your mission.

Check out more resources about AI in fundraising:

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