In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryl Contee, MBA, co-authors of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause, to demystify what artificial intelligence means for the social sector. Spoiler alert: it’s not a robot apocalypse, it’s an efficiency revolution. From donor research to budgeting, from strategic planning to personalized thank-you letters, AI isn’t just the future, it’s already on your desktop. As Darian puts it, AI is “the new electricity,” and when responsibly leveraged, it can energize every part of your mission.
But hold on to your server, there’s some fear in the air. Cheryl addresses common anxieties head-on, including worries about job loss, high costs, or that AI will take over the planet (or at least the inbox). Her response? “Sweetie, honey, baby… AI is already here.” And you’re probably already using it: think email filters, scheduling tools, and CRMs. The goal isn’t to replace humans; it’s to give them more time to do the human stuff, like building relationships and earning trust. With countless low-cost and free tools available, Cheryl argues that AI offers a chance to double your capacity, without doubling your payroll.
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Darian dives into the very real concerns about data privacy, accuracy, and inclusion. Whether it’s protecting donor information or acknowledging AI’s occasional habit of confidently making things up, the solution is human oversight and intentional design. He encourages nonprofits to build custom AI tools trained on their organization’s mission and voice, emphasizing that AI should always serve the people, never replace them. And while the tech is exciting, it’s not the hero of the story. The beneficiaries are. Always.
So what now? Cheryl and Darian offer a roadmap for using AI to raise more money, increase impact, and reconnect with supporters. From segmenting donors to boosting grantwriting, automating admin tasks to predicting major gift readiness, AI can help you do more with less, if you’re willing to learn the tools and keep your mission front and center. Because at the end of the day, AI doesn’t understand hunger or homelessness or the power of live theater. But you do. And now, with a little robot backup, you just might have the time to answer all those emails.
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In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryl Contee, MBA, co-authors of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause, to demystify what artificial intelligence means for the social sector. Spoiler alert: it’s not a robot apocalypse, it’s an efficiency revolution. From donor research to budgeting, from strategic planning to personalized thank-you letters, AI isn’t just the future, it’s already on your desktop. As Darian puts it, AI is “the new electricity,” and when responsibly leveraged, it can energize every part of your mission.
But hold on to your server, there’s some fear in the air. Cheryl addresses common anxieties head-on, including worries about job loss, high costs, or that AI will take over the planet (or at least the inbox). Her response? “Sweetie, honey, baby… AI is already here.” And you’re probably already using it: think email filters, scheduling tools, and CRMs. The goal isn’t to replace humans; it’s to give them more time to do the human stuff, like building relationships and earning trust. With countless low-cost and free tools available, Cheryl argues that AI offers a chance to double your capacity, without doubling your payroll.
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Darian dives into the very real concerns about data privacy, accuracy, and inclusion. Whether it’s protecting donor information or acknowledging AI’s occasional habit of confidently making things up, the solution is human oversight and intentional design. He encourages nonprofits to build custom AI tools trained on their organization’s mission and voice, emphasizing that AI should always serve the people, never replace them. And while the tech is exciting, it’s not the hero of the story. The beneficiaries are. Always.
So what now? Cheryl and Darian offer a roadmap for using AI to raise more money, increase impact, and reconnect with supporters. From segmenting donors to boosting grantwriting, automating admin tasks to predicting major gift readiness, AI can help you do more with less, if you’re willing to learn the tools and keep your mission front and center. Because at the end of the day, AI doesn’t understand hunger or homelessness or the power of live theater. But you do. And now, with a little robot backup, you just might have the time to answer all those emails.
In this wide-ranging episode of The First Day from The Fundraising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., sits down with rural fundraising champion Julie Bianchi, CFRE, Campaign Practice Director at Cloudbreak Collective. With deep roots in small towns and a career spanning both urban and rural philanthropy, Julie brings a fresh and honest perspective on what it really takes to fundraise where the tractors outnumber the Teslas. From the quiet generosity of anonymous donors to the untapped power of community-led campaigns, Julie makes one thing clear: rural fundraising isn’t underdeveloped, it’s under-celebrated.
Julie kicks things off by breaking down the “rural funding divide,” pointing out that while 20% of Americans live in rural areas, only 8% of philanthropic dollars go there. But she doesn’t dwell in scarcity, she flips the narrative. In towns where resources are limited, collaboration is a way of life. From barn-raising mentalities to in-kind giving and deep volunteerism, rural communities are masters of making something from nothing. “We ask, who’s the spark plug?” Julie says. “Who’s the local champion who can rally the neighborhood and light the fire?”
The conversation dives into the nuances of recognition in small communities, where humility often trumps headlines. Julie shares how major donors frequently choose to remain anonymous, not because they don’t care, but because they do. In tight-knit towns, you’re just as likely to bump into a million-dollar donor at the grocery store as you are to share a church pew with them on Sunday. Public recognition, she explains, can feel more like a spotlight than a thank-you, so fundraisers are rethinking how to honor gifts with sensitivity and meaning.
Bill and Julie also explore how digital tools and peer-to-peer fundraising are helping rural nonprofits reach supporters far beyond their borders. And for anyone wondering how to be a better ally to rural organizations, Julie’s advice is simple: show up year-round, not just during tourist season. Whether you’re a local leader or a vacation-home owner, sustainable support means investing in the long-term health of the community. Because at the end of the day, fundraising in small towns isn’t about scarcity, it’s about abundance, creativity, and people showing up for each other when it matters most.
First Day Podcast
In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryl Contee, MBA, co-authors of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause, to demystify what artificial intelligence means for the social sector. Spoiler alert: it’s not a robot apocalypse, it’s an efficiency revolution. From donor research to budgeting, from strategic planning to personalized thank-you letters, AI isn’t just the future, it’s already on your desktop. As Darian puts it, AI is “the new electricity,” and when responsibly leveraged, it can energize every part of your mission.
But hold on to your server, there’s some fear in the air. Cheryl addresses common anxieties head-on, including worries about job loss, high costs, or that AI will take over the planet (or at least the inbox). Her response? “Sweetie, honey, baby… AI is already here.” And you’re probably already using it: think email filters, scheduling tools, and CRMs. The goal isn’t to replace humans; it’s to give them more time to do the human stuff, like building relationships and earning trust. With countless low-cost and free tools available, Cheryl argues that AI offers a chance to double your capacity, without doubling your payroll.
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Darian dives into the very real concerns about data privacy, accuracy, and inclusion. Whether it’s protecting donor information or acknowledging AI’s occasional habit of confidently making things up, the solution is human oversight and intentional design. He encourages nonprofits to build custom AI tools trained on their organization’s mission and voice, emphasizing that AI should always serve the people, never replace them. And while the tech is exciting, it’s not the hero of the story. The beneficiaries are. Always.
So what now? Cheryl and Darian offer a roadmap for using AI to raise more money, increase impact, and reconnect with supporters. From segmenting donors to boosting grantwriting, automating admin tasks to predicting major gift readiness, AI can help you do more with less, if you’re willing to learn the tools and keep your mission front and center. Because at the end of the day, AI doesn’t understand hunger or homelessness or the power of live theater. But you do. And now, with a little robot backup, you just might have the time to answer all those emails.
