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 episode of The First Day from The Fundraising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. welcomes Dr. Kraig Kinchen, Executive Director of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, for a conversation on how this impactful nonprofit is embracing the power of planned giving. From a career in medicine and corporate America to nonprofit leadership, Dr. Kinchen shares his journey and explains how his organization, rooted in decades of youth mentorship and community empowerment, is now planting seeds for long-term sustainability. With signature programs like summer academies, leadership development, and financial literacy workshops, the 100 has a deep legacy, and now, they're working to ensure their impact extends well into the future through intentional planned giving strategies.
Kinchen explains that a recent consultation with a fundraising agency opened the organization’s eyes to the untapped potential of legacy gifts. While annual giving is essential, he emphasizes that planned gifts; including bequests, IRA distributions, and insurance policies, offer a unique opportunity to deepen donor commitment and maximize tax-friendly contributions. Armed with data showing that 90% of donors who give $500 or more annually have not made a planned gift, Kinchen and his team recognized a golden opportunity: meet supporters where they are today, while helping them plan for how they can support tomorrow.
As Kinchen outlines, one of the biggest hurdles is simply starting the conversation. Many donors assume planned giving is only for the wealthy, or they hesitate to address end-of-life planning. But with support from Endowment Development Services and resources like the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, the 100 is taking an education-first approach, building trust, especially within the Black community where wills and estate plans are less common due to systemic and cultural barriers. Planned giving isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about storytelling, relationship-building, and showing donors they can leave a legacy.
Dr. Kinchen leaves listeners with practical advice: start small, tell your story, and lean on expert partners. Legacy gifts don’t have to be seven-figure estate transfers, sometimes they’re IRAs, insurance policies, or even a car. The point is to open the door to possibility. As he puts it, the motto of the organization, "What they see is what they'll be," applies to donors as much as to youth. When donors see peers giving in meaningful, lasting ways, they’re more likely to follow suit. It’s not just fundraising, it’s future-proofing.
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.
