The final stretch: Using AI to maximize year-end fundraising success-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

This document focuses on maximizing year-end fundraising success using AI technologies, addressing both internal and external challenges faced by advancement teams. Internally, lean teams struggle with multiple priorities, compressed timelines, overlapping appeals, overextended staff, and reactive planning. Externally, donors expect personalized engagement aligned with their interests, a seamless and quick giving experience, and they are inundated with competing appeals. Trust and ease of giving are crucial, with 70% of donors citing these as key deciding factors.<br /><br />AI adoption is growing, with 49% of higher education organizations using AI in fundraising. Examples of AI-driven strategies include video engagement—sharing impact stories, sending prompt thank-you videos, recognizing donor milestones, and automating personalized content at scale—and personalized email outreach with dynamic content, timely nudges, and segmentation to target different donor groups like LYBUNTS and first-time donors. AI also helps intelligently segment donors, predict giving potential, time outreach effectively, and avoid donor fatigue.<br /><br />Simplifying giving is emphasized through mobile-friendly donation forms, minimal steps, clear calls to action, and flexible payment options. Success metrics include conversion rates, donor retention, engagement rates, speed of stewardship, and growth in recurring gifts.<br /><br />Institutional case studies show AI’s impact: Salt Lake City Community College doubled alumni donors via branded sites and video thank-yous; Old Dominion University increased giving by 25% using AI-generated emails; UC San Diego tripled participation with embedded giving forms; the Lustgarten Foundation raised $1.27M through AI-driven email outreach.<br /><br />A 90-day roadmap outlines auditing donation flows and segmenting donors, launching personalized campaigns, automating stewardship, and analyzing outcomes to inform 2026 plans. The document also highlights the importance of engaging Millennial and Gen Z donors, who are increasing their giving and value trust and visible impact. Looking ahead, strategies focus on converting first-time donors to long-term supporters, enhancing personalized digital connections, expanding recurring/matching gifts, and coordinating campaigns for a consistent donor experience.

Keywords

AI fundraising

year-end fundraising

donor engagement

personalized outreach

donor segmentation

mobile-friendly donations

donor retention

fundraising metrics

higher education fundraising

donor trust