The Eighth Day
Posted by [email protected] on Dec. 4, 2023 / Technology / Subscribe 0
by Jim Green, MBA, CFRE
“I wish there were 8 days in a week!”
How many times have I said that? Well, that wish may be coming true!
In smaller fundraising organizations like ours there is just not enough of anything. We have very few staff with too much to do and limited resources to do it.
To make matters worse, through the pandemic years we were forced to make many tough decisions, trying to balance immediate needs with long-term goals. Unfortunately we weren’t always successful. There were moments when our future initiatives took a back seat, overshadowed by the pressure of the moment.
When the mass introduction of generative AI exploded onto the scene, headlined by tools like Chat-GPT, Bard, and Bing, it seemed like the perfect solution to all our problems. Here were tools capable of rapid content creation, brainstorming, planning, and more - all free or at a negligible cost. An MIT study found that access to Chat-GPT could reduce writing time by 40% and increase quality by 18%[i] . Yet, while AI presented an answer, it wasn't the cure-all we'd hoped for. Although it elevated individual productivity and efficiency, it required discernment and oversight. And Generative AI use was not championed at my organization.
This blog post isn’t about the correct format of prompts and prompt engineering (although that is valuable), or about the different ways Generative AI, and the ever improving capabilities, can be used (also valuable).
This is about the immediate challenge of how to adopt these tools, systematically, safely and solidly, into your organization. This challenge isn't unique. According to a Fishbowl survey, 43% of professionals have used AI tools in their work, but with a significant 68% keeping it under wraps from their superiors[ii]. And we all know there is a significant loss of productivity, as well as institutional learning and growth, if individuals adopt generative AI but the organization shuns it.
To more powerfully and permanently integrate AI into your fundraising organization I have tried to fuse foundational change management concepts with some of the same principles we use when communicating our nonprofit’s value to external audiences. AND I’ve put them in an easy to remember acronym for you.
Employ These Change Management Principles:
• Open Dialogue: Recognize and address the hidden use of AI. Initiate open discussions with staff, understanding their experiences and concerns, and building an environment of trust.
• Training and Support: Equip employees with the necessary training to fully harness AI's potential, addressing any skill gaps and instilling confidence.
• Transparent Communication: Clearly communicate the benefits and rationale behind AI adoption to all stakeholders, ensuring everyone's on the same page.
• Feedback Mechanism: Foster a culture of continuous feedback, allowing the AI adoption process to evolve based on real-world experiences and insights.
Keep it S-I-M-P-P-L-E.
1. S-tories: To get your team started, paint a picture of a staff member, previously overwhelmed with complex tasks, now seamlessly handling them with AI's assistance, experiencing newfound job satisfaction and efficiency. Encourage their experimentation! And when they experience a win, tell everyone! Personal tales of transformation resonate deeply.
2. I-mpact: Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be redirected toward your cause. A 66% increase in productivity[iii] isn't just a number. It's a concrete promise to your donors that their contributions are maximized, and to your recipients that you're doing your utmost to reach them.
3. M-ission: Your donors support you because they believe in your powerful mission. Your beneficiaries rely on you. With generative AI there are many different ways to provide new and personalized donor engagement. This isn't about statistics; it's a testament to deeper, more meaningful relationships with those who fuel your mission.
- P-eople: At the heart of your mission are people: donors, staff, and recipients. For people, Generative AI isn't about complex algorithms; it's about enhancing human connections. A study from IBM reveals that using generative AI tools can improve employee engagement. By using AI to transform your business model you can see a 33% increase over more static peers[iv]. It's not just about the tech; it's about empowering your staff.
- P-rivacy: Privacy, Security and Ethics. Pay attention to this one. It is critical that you anonymize any and all personal data of your donors, your beneficiaries and your staff before you or anyone else at your organization inputs sensitive data. AI companies use everything that is uploaded to train their future models, and like any other entity, they are vulnerable to hackers. The safest way to deal with this is to avoid inputting any sensitive data into a generative AI tool. Check out the AI Framework at Fundraising.AI[v] for a more comprehensive view of AI in the nonprofit industry.
- L-egitimacy: With tangible productivity benefits and a widespread, open adoption, the narrative for structured and transparent AI integration becomes undeniable. Your mission isn't about adopting AI; it's about fostering a culture of trust and innovation. It is about using AI to achieve your mission faster and more effectively.
- E-motional: Behind every statistic is a human story. Think of the dedicated staff member covertly leveraging AI to enhance their contributions, but doing so with a mix of pride and apprehension. By openly endorsing AI, you can transform this apprehension into empowerment.
AI adoption is happening now. You can help your organization adopt these powerful tools by using this model and these principles!
[i] From https://news.mit.edu/2023/study-finds-chatgpt-boosts-worker-productivity-writing-0714
[iii] From https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-tools-productivity-gains/
[iv] From https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/augmented-workforce
[v] From https://fundraising.ai/framework/
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