124. AI-Powered Prep: Human-Centered Conversations
About this episode
If you feel pressure to “keep up” with AI and still stay true to your values, you are not alone. Donors are living in an on-demand world, and they notice when your outreach feels generic or underprepared.
In my experience, the answer is not to avoid AI, but to use it carefully so your work becomes more thoughtful, not less human.
Here’s one simple way to think about it: Use AI for speed, not for soul.
Where AI Helps, and Where It Doesn’t
Use AI on the “Public Side” of Donor Research
AI is excellent at summarizing public information, organizing notes, and drafting simple outlines.
It’s not good at reading the room, sensing hesitation, or knowing your donor the way you do.
Use AI only with information anyone could find online: company news, public interviews, LinkedIn bios, or community projects, not private stories or sensitive CRM details.
Let AI Start the Page, Not Finish It
AI can draft a rough one-page meeting brief, agenda, or conversation openers.
But you still need to edit, correct, and personalize.
Your lived donor experience is what turns a draft into something relational.
Protect Trust with Clear Boundaries
In this AI era, donor trust is more fragile.
You build trust when you:
Keep donor data secure.
Avoid guessing about their personal lives.
Stay transparent inside your team about how these tools are used.
Treat AI as your assistant, not your advisor.
AI can suggest patterns and questions, but you decide what to ask, how to ask, and what to do next.
Try This in the Next 30–60 Minutes
Here are three simple, practical ways to experiment with AI responsibly this week.
1. Prepare One AI-Assisted Call Brief
Pick one upcoming donor meeting that would benefit from better prep.
In a secure AI tool, type:
“Summarize public information about [Donor Name or Company]. Focus on professional background, community involvement, and recent news. Keep it factual and neutral.”
Scan the summary and verify accuracy through one or two article links.
Then ask AI to:
“Draft a one-page donor meeting prep brief with a short background, three possible shared interests with our mission, and three open-ended conversation starters.”
Review and refine:
Remove anything that feels off or assumptive.
Add your personal notes from the CRM (but don’t paste those back into AI).
Write your meeting objective and two possible next steps in your own words.
You’ll prepare a call brief in 30–40 minutes instead of an hour, while staying ethical and relational.
2. Run a 30-Minute “Guardrails Huddle” with Your Team
Gather your development team or a few key colleagues. This brief conversation often brings clarity and relief.
Ask three questions:
What will we never put into AI tools? (e.g. health details, family conflict, legal issues, internal staff opinions)
Where are we comfortable using AI as an assistant? (e.g. public research summaries, formatting notes, drafting agendas)
What is one use case we want to pilot in the next month?
Document your answers, and you’ve started building an AI policy that protects donors and encourages smart experimentation.
3. Do a 20-Minute “Role Play” to Calm Your Nerves
If you feel anxious before a donor visit, let AI serve as a practice partner.
Ask the tool:
“Play the role of [Donor Name]. Based on this public information, ask me five questions you might have about our organization and this project.”
Respond aloud. Notice where you feel confident and where you need backup.
Make note of follow-ups to gather from your CEO or program team.
This simple exercise can lower anxiety and raise clarity, especially for newer major gift officers.
When to Say “No” to AI
Even with all these benefits, there are clear times to set AI aside.
Avoid using AI to:
Set ask amounts or gift structures. Those belong in team discussions informed by your relationship with the donor.
Interpret a donor’s behavior or emotional state. AI doesn’t know why someone went quiet or delayed a decision—pick up the phone and ask.
Store or process sensitive donor stories. Health, family, or internal conflicts belong in secure systems, not public tools.
When you hold that line, donors see you as attentive and modern—not invasive or mechanical.
I’d Love to Hear from You
Are you already experimenting with AI in your donor research or call prep?
Connect with me on LinkedIn and share:
One thing that feels helpful.
One thing that worries you.
You carry a lot on your shoulders as you grow major gifts in this complex season.
I see how hard you work to stay donor-centered, ethical, and effective.
With thoughtful use of AI and a clear commitment to human relationships, you are building a major gift program your donors can trust, and your community can count on.
“The key is not to avoid AI entirely, the key is to decide where it belongs and where it does not.”
Tammy Zonker, Author, Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker
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