FundraisingAI

Let's have a thoughtful look at how purpose, strategy, and technology can come together to create meaningful global change! Dr. Douglas Jackson, CEO of Project C.U.R.E., talks about the journey of the organization, which began in a small garage in 1987 and has grown into a global charity. He shares that in the early days, they used simple spreadsheets to manage their work, but later moved to Microsoft tools to improve their systems and communication. Doug highlights how strategic partnerships and technology adoption improved efficiency, enabling Project C.U.R.E. to deliver hundreds of medical shipments globally each year. He emphasizes treating nonprofits like businesses, focusing on sustainability, accountability, and maximizing the value of volunteer contributions. The discussion also explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector. From improving data accuracy to enabling localized medical training, AI is helping organizations scale their impact. Doug notes that responsible use of AI can create new opportunities, especially for smaller nonprofits with limited resources. The conversation concludes with practical advice: approach nonprofits like startups, seek expert guidance, and embrace innovation. HIGHLIGHTS [02:29] Doug's Background and Project C.U.R.E.'s Journey [12:59] Business Model and Efficiency [17:23] A 35-Year-Old Startup in a Changing World [20:16] Turning Data into Better Decisions [28:28] Innovation and AI in Nonprofit Operations [40:14] Advice for Small Nonprofits Connect with Doug: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-douglas-jackson/ Website: projectcure.org/

What does it really take to blend human connection with rapidly evolving AI tools? How do you stay grounded when technology is constantly pushing you to do more, faster? In this conversation, Nathan and Scott explore these questions while celebrating a major milestone in their podcast journey, reaching 30,000 downloads and 80 episodes. The discussion explores the transformative impact of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, highlighting how these technologies are reshaping workflows, boosting efficiency, and prompting new ways of thinking. Through personal stories, Nathan and Scott emphasize the importance of experimentation and continuous learning to fully unlock AI's potential. At the same time, they address the risks of overuse, stressing the need for clear boundaries to prevent burnout. The conversation also explores how AI can revolutionize nonprofit fundraising by scaling personalization while preserving authenticity and human connection. Ultimately, Nathan and Scott encourage nonprofits to adopt a bold, innovative mindset, leveraging AI not just to work faster, but to create meaningful, lasting impact. HIGHLIGHTS [00:26] Celebrating Podcast Milestones [01:34] Impact of AI Tools: CoPilot and ChatGPT [08:35] Personal Experiences with AI Tools [11:35] Balancing AI Use with Personal Boundaries [28:55] The Future of AI in Nonprofit Work Resources: Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/ LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans Website: fundraising.ai/

In this episode, Nathan and Scott explore the growing intersection of artificial intelligence, politics, and organizational values. The conversation begins with the Pentagon's request to use Anthropic's AI model without certain safeguards, a request the company declined. This decision sparks a discussion of the political pressure on AI companies, including potential government responses and the broader implications of corporate independence. Nathan and Scott also examine how other companies responded to the situation, highlighting the fast-moving and sometimes contradictory dynamics within the AI industry. Beyond the immediate controversy, Nathan and Scott reflect on the deeper role that values play in decision-making. They discuss how both nonprofit and for-profit organizations must establish clear guardrails to avoid ethical compromises. The discussion then shifts to practical experiences with AI tools, including evolving platform preferences and growing concerns about data transparency. Nathan and Scott introduce concepts such as model routing and personalized AI workflows, emphasizing the importance of experimentation with emerging technologies. Finally, they talk about how AI is changing jobs and careers. They encourage people to explore AI tools, keep learning, and stay curious so they can remain useful in an increasingly AI-driven world. HIGHLIGHTS [02:31] Pentagon vs. Anthropic: AI's Political Impact [06:37] Values and Organizational Decision-Making [16:22] AI Tools and User Shifts [23:56] Model Routing and Personalization [37:43] Future-Proofing Careers with AI Resources: Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/ LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans Website: fundraising.ai/

This week on FundraisingAI, Scott sits down with Paul Goldstein, Head of AI Growth at Blackbaud, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the non-profit sector. Paul reflects on his journey from leading tech roles at Amazon and Glassdoor to joining Blackbaud, a mission-driven organization focused on impact and responsibility. He shares what inspired the move and highlights the passion, thoughtfulness, and deep commitment to privacy he has encountered in the non-profit world. The discussion dives into Blackbaud's "Intelligence for Good" strategy, an approach centered on building AI tools that are responsible, convenient, and genuinely helpful for non-profits. Paul explains the concept of agentic AI and how it goes beyond advice to actively help organizations accomplish tasks, from data cleanup to personalized outreach. Together, Scott and Paul examine the importance of trust, strong data foundations, and user-friendly design in driving AI adoption. Paul also shares personal insights on using AI to enhance productivity and encourages listeners to remain curious and open to experimentation. The episode closes with an optimistic look at how ethical, collaborative AI innovation can empower non-profits to strengthen relationships, increase efficiency, and amplify their mission-driven impact. HIGHLIGHTS [01:37] Paul's Transition to Blackbaud [05:39] Blackbaud's Intelligence for Good Strategy [10:52] Agentic AI and Its Impact on Non-profits [24:22] Adoption and Future of AI in Non-profits [28:13] Paul's Personal Experience with AI [30:38] Blackbaud's Support for Fundraising AI [31:34] Final Thoughts Connect with Paul: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-goldstein/ Website: blackbaud.com/ Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundraising.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The future belongs to those who are willing to see past what worked before and design for what comes next. With intelligence becoming abundant, organizations are forced to face a new challenge: turning powerful tools into meaningful, ethical impact. Responsible AI use has come to depend more on culture, operations, and leadership mindset than on technology. In order for this to work, curiosity must be expected, experimentation must be safe, and systems must translate insight into action. With a combination of people, processes, and purpose, AI becomes a force multiplier rather than a checkbox. Those who are willing to rethink talent, reward better questions, and build operational guardrails that allow innovation without chaos have the real advantage of becoming successful in AI implementation. Join Nathan and Scott on this live conversation to discover why AI is a cultural shift, not a technology purchase, the reasons for organizations to be successful in AI implementation when they prioritize psychological safety and learning, build systems to support action, and only invest in tools, how adaptability can be an advantage when intelligence has become a commodity, how learning scales through transparency and safe failure builds confidence and accelerates responsible adoption across an organization, and also the importance of addressing AI fatigue through manageable experimentation and visible learning. HIGHLIGHTS [00.55] The origin story and initial success of Fundraising.ai. [03.46] The challenges of AI adoption in nonprofits. [07.10] The importance of using AI as a thought partner. [11.00] Cultural readiness, operational structure, and technical solutions. [15.38] Cultural & talent adaptation in the AI era. [18.44] Building a culture of curiosity that rewards experimentation, questioning, and learning. [25.26] The need for acceptable use policies to ensure safe and effective AI adoption. [32.02] Highlighting iteration, mistakes, and learning. [36.23] The importance of addressing AI fatigue. Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundraising.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The future we’ve imagined is arriving at a pace we never expected. And AI is leading the charge with the ability to code, plan autonomously, and act independently. Showing the gaps in ethics, privacy, and long-term accountability, these technologies amplify both human potential and risk. The stakes range from sensitive data collection to the responsibility of choosing when to use or refuse. It is essential that organizations, leaders, and individuals understand how speed, incentives, and values can shape a future where AI mirrors both our intelligence and our humanity. In this week’s episode, Nathan and Scott bring you the latest developments in the field of artificial intelligence and the growing concerns regarding its rapidly advancing technologies. They start the conversation by discussing the release of Claude Cowork by Anthropic, which is a multi-step agentic AI, showing us how fast things are moving. Then Nathan and Scott exchange thoughts on the importance of AI regulations and the need for having a global kill switch for all the AI around the world in the wake of superintelligence. Further down in the conversation, they explore the topics of what you should be concerned with regarding the acceleration of AI, data privacy and social media, the future of humanity and the role of AI in it, and at last the delicate balance between using AI and maintaining trust in the nonprofit sector. HIGHLIGHTS [02.32] The creation of Claude Bot. [04.00] Claude Cowork - A multi-step work AI agent designed by Anthropic. [07.52] The importance of AI regulation. [10.40] The global kill-switch. [13.38] The absence of a second chance. [20.20] AI acceleration and what to look out for. [26.47] Tiktok ownership change in the USA and data privacy. [31.34] The future of humanity and AI. [33.53] AI, nonprofit, and trust. Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠fundraising.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠