AI for Marketing Fundraising Campaigns: How Nonprofits Can Use AI to Raise More with Less
Chapter Leadership Brief 2.21.25
by Ashley Brannan, Marketing Manager
Community Boost
With limited staff, tight budgets, and increasing demands, nonprofits need smarter ways to fundraise. AI-powered tools can help by automating repetitive tasks, improving donor engagement, and optimizing fundraising strategies, without adding to the workload.
How AI Transforms Fundraising Strategies for Marketers
AI is changing the game for nonprofit fundraisers, making it easier to reach the right people, at the right time, with the right message. Instead of relying on trial and error, AI helps marketers make smarter, data-driven decisions that actually move the needle. It can pinpoint donor trends, predict what strategies will work best, and take the guesswork out of fundraising. Whether it’s crafting personalized outreach, optimizing ad campaigns, or automating content creation, AI gives nonprofits the tools to raise more with less effort. The result? More meaningful donor relationships, higher conversion rates, and a fundraising strategy that works smarter, not harder.
AI can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to be a tech expert or overhaul your entire strategy to start seeing the benefits. A great way to ease in is by using AI tools to handle small but time-consuming tasks. Need a quick donor email? AI can draft it in seconds. Want to know when your supporters are most likely to give? AI can analyze your data and tell you. Even chatbots can help answer donor questions so your team can focus on bigger priorities. Starting small with AI can save time, boost engagement, and make fundraising easier without adding extra stress.
How to Use AI for a Fundraising Campaign
Now that we’ve covered how AI improves fundraising, let’s break down exactly how your nonprofit can start integrating AI into its campaigns.
1. Set Clear Goals with AI
AI takes the guesswork out of setting fundraising goals by analyzing past campaigns, donor behavior, and seasonal giving trends. Instead of making rough estimates, it helps nonprofits set realistic, data-backed targets based on what’s actually worked before. With these insights, organizations can be more strategic about where they put their time and resources, making every fundraising effort more effective.
AI prompt: Analyze our past fundraising data and suggest a realistic goal for our next campaign.
2. Identify and Segment Donors
Understanding donor behavior is crucial for effective fundraising. AI can categorize donors based on donation history, engagement levels, demographics, and even past interactions with email campaigns and social media. By segmenting donors, nonprofits can personalize their outreach, ensuring that messaging resonates with each group, whether it’s first-time donors, recurring givers, or lapsed supporters.
AI prompt: Segment our donor list into groups based on donation frequency and suggest messaging for each.
3. Automate Fundraising Content
AI-powered tools can generate compelling donor appeals, social media content, and ad copy in seconds, allowing nonprofit teams to focus on strategic execution. Instead of starting from scratch, AI can draft engaging messages, incorporating storytelling and emotional triggers that encourage donations. AI can also adjust messaging based on past donor responses, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
AI prompt: Write an emotional donor appeal email for past contributors who haven’t donated this year.
4. Optimize Campaign Outreach
Timing plays a critical role in fundraising success. AI can analyze previous email open rates, donation patterns, and social media engagement to determine the best times to launch campaigns. By optimizing send times and audience targeting, AI ensures that fundraising messages reach donors when they are most likely to give, improving overall conversion rates.
AI prompt: Analyze our past email engagement and suggest the best times to send fundraising emails.
5. Measure and Improve Campaigns
AI can track key fundraising metrics like donor retention, email open rates, conversion rates, and overall return on investment. By identifying what worked and what didn’t, AI provides actionable insights to refine future campaigns. This allows nonprofits to continuously improve their outreach strategies and maximize fundraising potential.
AI prompt: Assess our Giving Tuesday campaign results and identify ways to improve donor retention.
The Future of Marketing with AI
AI is rapidly transforming the nonprofit sector. Organizations that embrace AI today will be ahead of the curve, reaching more donors and raising more funds with less effort. By automating tasks, optimizing outreach, and providing data-driven insights, AI allows nonprofits to focus on what truly matters: building relationships and driving impact.
As donor expectations evolve, nonprofits can embrace new technologies to stay competitive. AI helps organizations personalize donor communication at scale, ensuring that every message feels relevant and meaningful. From crafting compelling fundraising appeals to identifying the most engaged supporters, AI enhances decision-making and enables nonprofits to make smarter, more strategic marketing moves.
Beyond fundraising, AI can also improve operational efficiency, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks like data entry, content creation, and performance analysis. This allows teams to dedicate more time to high-value activities that drive long-term impact.
Want to learn more? Check out the Nonprofit Marketing Summit: EVOLVE on March 4-6 for more content around AI for nonprofit marketing.
Ashley is a marketing manager at Community Boost, where she helps nonprofits amplify their impact through data-driven digital strategies. With a deep passion for mission-driven marketing, she works closely with organizations to optimize fundraising campaigns, improve donor engagement, and leverage AI-powered solutions to drive growth. Specializing in digital advertising, content strategy, and nonprofit branding, Ashley partners with changemakers to develop scalable, results-driven marketing plans that align with their mission. Through her expertise in paid media, conversion optimization, and strategic messaging, she equips nonprofits with the tools they need to maximize reach, increase donations, and build long-term supporter relationships.