Exploring the potential of AI technology for non-profit fundraising.

Writing grants can be one of the most time-consuming tasks out there, and let's face it - it's ongoing. Grant writing is an essential but time-consuming task for any nonprofit, big or small. As someone who has been writing grants for years, I know that it takes a lot of time and effort to write a successful grant. Even the "small" ones can take up to 4-6 hours to complete.

(If you know what I’m talking about and want a free grant writing template to - grab yours here)

The collective time spent writing a grant is something that grant-makers should consider, especially when they receive thousands of applications. Many nonprofit organizations apply for multiple grants every month, and frequently these applications are not successful.

So, how can we cut down on the time it takes to write successful grants? One solution is to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Using AI Technology in Grant Writing

In my linked video below, I give a demo on what ChatGPT looks like and use a grant application from a credit union as an example of how it might be used by a non-profit. Some key takeaways from this demo are:

🌈 Bots scan through existing sources on the internet. If the project you’re working on isn’t online, the bot won’t be able to find specific information, and it will make up stuff on its own.

🌈 It's essential to be careful that the facts we’re presenting are correct and the application is a true representation of what we want to do and what our teams are reasonably capable of.

🌈 Having a detailed summary of your project or organization can really help to make the AI-generated text more specific and detailed.

🌈 You want the reader to hear your expertise and your unique approach to an issue – this is something that will be communicated best through your own words.

Overcoming Challenges with the Help of AI

From this demo, it’s clear that although AI-generated text can be useful, it's still best to use it alongside human expertise. It’s not going to let you write an 8-hour grant in 1-hour, but maybe you could in 3 hours instead. That’s still a huge time saver, and helpful especially for small teams that don’t have a lot of extra time. So what can we use AI technology for?

🌈 Coming up with answers to “unique” questions that you don’t have on your template

🌈 Finicky character or word count requirements

🌈 Writing cover letters/emails

🌈 Reporting!!!

🌈 Coming up with a workflow or process for writing grants at your organization including document management

🌈 Researching the funder if they are especially prominent to understand their priorities

At the end of the day, the bot will never be able replace one VERY important element to grant writing: building relationships with the funder.

For some freebie resources, click here and I’ll send you “The Mother of all Grant Templates” as well as a short loom video I made with the process we discussed today.

Thanks for reading…

My name is Kim Peterson and I am a fundraising consultant. I help non-profits establish and scale-up individual giving programs, by building fundraising strategies and systems for growth and long-term stability.

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