Why AI Will Expand, Not Erode, Generosity

Every conversation I have with nonprofit leaders lately circles back to the same tension: expectations are rising faster than capacity can keep up.

Donors expect more personalization, more transparency, and more meaningful connection. Meanwhile, fundraising teams are stretched thin, turnover is high, and institutional knowledge walks out the door every time a staff member leaves.

At the same time, the rise of AI has sparked both excitement and hesitation. Fundraising is a deeply human discipline—so the fear is understandable. But from everything I’ve seen inside this sector, and everything we’re building at Bloomerang, I’m convinced of this:

AI will expand, not erode generosity. 

When generosity falters, it’s rarely because people are less inclined to give. It’s because organizations lack the time, insight, or tools to activate that generosity at the right moment, with the right message, in the right way. This is the gap AI is uniquely positioned to close.

The real barrier isn’t desire—it’s the “work around the work”

When generosity falters, it’s rarely because people are less inclined to give. It’s because organizations lack the time or tools to activate that generosity.

Fundraisers know exactly what they want to do: Build relationships. Thank supporters personally. Identify their next major donor.

What gets in the way is the work around the work:

• Pulling dozens of reports
• Sifting through multiple tech stacks and tools
• Guessing which donors to prioritize
• Repeating manual tasks
• Rebuilding institutional knowledge lost to turnover

This isn’t where generosity grows. This is where burnout happens.

AI gives fundraisers the space to focus on what matters most by taking on the analysis, pattern recognition, and administrative lift that slows them down.

Let AI handle the science so you can handle the art

The promise of AI isn’t about replacing the fundraiser; it’s about handling the “science” of fundraising—the data, the patterns, the first drafts—at a speed humans simply can’t match.

When we reduce the administrative burden of fundraising, we clear the path for the “art”—the storytelling, empathy, and human connection our sector is known for.

By connecting directly to unified data—giving, engagement, volunteering, event attendance, communication history—AI can handle the “science” of fundraising at a scale and speed humans simply can’t. It can analyze more in minutes than a person could in a full afternoon, and—crucially—it can provide context, not just numbers.

Here is where I see AI creating immediate, meaningful lift:

1. Pointing fundraisers to the opportunities that matter most

Instead of staring at a spreadsheet wondering who to call, AI can analyze years of history in seconds to tell you: “Who is likely to give before year-end?” or “Who is showing signs that they are ready for an upgrade?” It turns fundraising from reactive to proactive.

2. Making campaign and event evaluation fast and intuitive

Usually, teams only discover what worked after the giving season ends. AI allows you to review campaigns instantly—highlighting which appeals resonated and where messaging fell short—so you can adjust your strategy in real-time, not next year. You can evaluate:

• Which appeals resonated
• Which segments responded
• Where messaging fell short
• How donor behavior changed over time

The result? Walking into 2026 with clarity, not assumptions.

3. Providing a foundation for better content

Writer’s block is a capacity killer. AI can help draft personalized appeal letters, stewardship notes, or board summaries. It doesn’t replace your voice; it gives you a faster, stronger foundation to build from.

4. Preventing supporter lapse before it happens

Imagine an intelligent partner who flags a donor before they lapse, or spots an emerging pattern in volunteer engagement that you might have missed. This kind of ongoing insight AI can provide that will help teams avoid surprises, seize opportunities, and cultivate generosity with greater confidence.

How AI tools support a new fundraising rhythm

For decades, fundraisers have been asked to choose between depth and speed—thorough analysis or timely action.
With strong reliable technology and AI this becomes a false choice. At year-end especially, teams feel the pressure of: data everywhere, time nowhere to be found, high expectations, and the high stakes of December.

AI breaks that tension.  It helps teams move from overwhelmed to overflowing by creating three critical multipliers:

• More Revenue from the right donors at the right moment
• More Clarity to make confident decisions
• More Time to build relationships

AI amplifies what fundraisers already do best—because it shifts their time from the “work around the work” to the art of fundraising.

This is why we built Penny inside the Giving Platform, not around it. Because true clarity comes from complete data, not fragments. Fundraisers need guidance they can trust. Penny is shaped by Bloomerang’s extensive nonprofit consulting experience, rooted in more than 2,000 one-on-one strategy engagements with organizations of every size, mission, and model. That means Penny isn’t drawing from generic internet advice or theoretical best practices; she’s built on real fundraising wins that have driven real growth.

The future of fundraising Is abundant

I’ve said many times that our sector is not facing a generosity crisis—it’s facing an infrastructure gap. People still care deeply. They want to support the missions they believe in. 

Generosity expands when nonprofits have the capacity to connect, understand, and act with purpose.

AI is the key to unlocking that capacity. It allows us to move from overwhelmed to overflowing—giving fundraisers the one thing they need most: the time to be human.