5 essential ChatGPT use cases to elevate your donor connections

Hannah Davis
08/16/2023

In the fast-paced realm of advancement and fundraising, having a virtual assistant like ChatGPT at your disposal can be a game-changer. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, here are five use cases for harnessing the power of ChatGPT in your day-to-day fundraising work.

1. Create a Donor Survey

Understanding donor preferences and feedback is vital for shaping your fundraising strategies. Leverage ChatGPT’s expertise to create a donor survey that gathers valuable insights. Explore question types, topics, and approaches that can provide you with actionable data to tailor your approaches and initiatives more effectively.

ChatGPT Prompt:

“Assist me in generating a comprehensive and effective donor survey that gathers valuable insights and feedback to inform our fundraising strategies.”

2. Brainstorm Virtual Fundraising Event Ideas

Virtual events have become a staple in the fundraising world. ChatGPT can be your creative partner in brainstorming ideas to take your virtual events to the next level. Ask ChatGPT to help you brainstorm innovative virtual event concepts that captivate donors and encourage participation. Explore interactive activities, engaging themes, and unique formats that not only captivate donors but also align with your organization’s mission.

ChatGPT Prompt:

"Generate five ideas for a virtual fundraising event at [UNIVERSITY NAME]. Our top fundraising priorities are: [LIST FUNDRAISING PRIORITIES]"

3. Create Impactful Social Media Campaigns

Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with donors. Provide ChatGPT with details about your latest projects and achievements, and ask it to generate engaging social media posts. Whether it’s a heartfelt story, a campaign announcement, or a call to action, ChatGPT can help you create content that resonates with your audience.

ChatGPT Prompt:

"Generate a one month-long social media campaign focused around [INSERT THEME/INITIATIVE]. The target audience is [UNIVERSITY NAME] alumni, and should focus on these three main topics: [TOPICS]"

4. Tailor Donor Thank You Notes

At EverTrue, we know how important it is to say “thanks”. Keeping the donor’s name anonymous, share their gift designation details with ChatGPT, add insight about fund impact, and request assistance in crafting heartfelt thank-you notes. ChatGPT can help you strike the right balance between personalization and efficiency, ensuring the donor feels valued and appreciated.

Important note: Do not input the donors’ name or share any sensitive information! ChatGPT is a public AI model and cannot guarantee data security or confidentiality. Instead, use a placeholder and add the name in after.

ChatGPT Prompt:

"Generate copy for a thank you email for a donor who recently contributed to the [FUND NAME] at [UNIVERSITY NAME]. The impact of the fund includes [add notes about fund impact]."

5. Generate Donor Engagement Ideas

It’s easy to stick to “what’s always been done”. But, staying creative with donor engagement keeps people coming back for more. Collaborate with ChatGPT to brainstorm unique ideas for donor interactions. Whether it’s personalized video messages from fund beneficiaries, virtual behind-the-scenes tours, or exclusive webinars, ChatGPT can help you develop strategies that foster deeper connections with your top supporters.

ChatGPT Prompt:

“Assist me in generating a comprehensive and effective donor survey that gathers valuable insights and feedback to inform our fundraising strategies.”

Advancement professionals are pulled in so many different directions, and time is a limited resource.. Incorporating ChatGPT into your daily work can save you hours of brainstorming, bring a fresh flair to your donor relationships, and free you up to focus on fundraising. By using these prompts, you’ll tap into ChatGPT’s capabilities to streamline tasks, spark creativity, and optimize your donor engagement strategies.