AI offers charities a practical way to amplify their impact by automating processes, connecting fragmented systems, and uncovering insights from unstructured data. It’s not about replacing your current systems but making them smarter and more efficient.
AI empowers charities to focus on what truly matters: creating positive change. Start small, connect the dots, and let AI help you do more with less.
Beyond automation: how charities can maximise AI
Charities and non-profits face ongoing challenges: limited resources, understaffed teams, and fragmented systems. Add to that the common concern of not having perfect or clean data, and it’s easy to feel that leveraging AI is out of reach.
But here’s the good news: AI doesn’t require perfection. By focusing on key processes and integrating AI tools into your existing systems, charities can streamline operations, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes.
Here’s how AI agents and intelligent document processing can make your charity leaner, more effective, and more efficient –
1. Automating key processes with AI agents
AI agents are powerful tools that can connect existing systems and automate repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing manual errors.
Donation and payment workflows
- End-to-end donation management: AI agents can process donations, update donor records in CRMs, and send personalized thank-you messages—all automatically.
- Recurring donations: Automate reminders for payment updates and streamline subscription-based donations.
Volunteer and staff coordination
- Use AI agents to manage volunteer schedules, coordinate shifts, and send reminders via existing calendar systems or communication tools.
Gift aid compliance
- Automate the validation and reconciliation of Gift Aid declarations against donations, ensuring submissions meet regulatory requirements.
2. Extracting insights from unstructured data
Charities often have valuable data stored in unstructured formats like PDFs, emails, images, or even voice recordings. AI tools can unlock these data sources and provide actionable insights.
Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)
- Data extraction: AI can pull information from donation forms, contracts, and scanned Gift Aid declarations.
- Data validation: Validate extracted data against existing records to ensure accuracy.
- System integration: Feed processed data directly into CRMs or accounting systems, eliminating manual entry.
Analysing unstructured sources
- Emails and support tickets: Classify, prioritize, and summarize donor or beneficiary inquiries.
- Voice-to-text: Convert voice messages or call recordings into text to analyse trends or extract key information.
- Pattern identification: Use AI to uncover recurring themes in historical documents or feedback to guide strategic planning.
3. Connecting existing systems for seamless integration
AI doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your systems. Instead, it can connect the tools you already use to create smooth, automated workflows.
Examples of system integration
- CRMs and payment gateways: Sync platforms like Salesforce or Blackbaud with payment tools such as Stripe or PayPal to automate donation tracking.
- Document management systems: Link AI-powered document processing tools with SharePoint, Google Drive, or Dropbox for efficient document handling.
- Email and communication tools: Automate donor outreach campaigns using integrations with tools like Mailchimp or Outlook.
Streamlined workflows
- Example: An AI agent can automatically extract data from a scanned Gift Aid form, update donor records in your CRM, and trigger a thank-you email in one seamless process.
4. Generating insights for better decision-making
AI is not just about automation—it also helps leaders make smarter decisions by uncovering insights from existing data.
Donor engagement
- Personalized outreach: Analyse donor history to recommend tailored communication strategies.
- Segmentation: Group donors based on preferences or behaviours to improve campaign effectiveness.
Program impact
- Analyse results: Use AI to assess program outcomes by reviewing data from reports, surveys, and support tickets.
- Optimise resources: Predict where resources will have the most significant impact or where campaigns are likely to succeed.
5. AI tools in action
Here are practical ways to use AI in your current operations:
Document processing
- Extract and process information from scanned Gift Aid forms or invoices.
- Automate data validation and integration with existing systems.
Support management
- Summarize and classify donor emails or support tickets for faster resolution.
- Convert call recordings into actionable insights using speech-to-text tools.
Donor engagement and reporting
- Automate recurring donation reminders and personalized donor follow-ups.
- Generate real-time reports to track the performance of fundraising campaigns.
Volunteer onboarding, training and communication
- Automate volunteer onboarding and communication
- Predict volunteer need and mapping volunteers for events and activities
6. Getting started with AI in charities
You don’t need perfect data or expensive new systems to benefit from AI. Here’s how to start:
- Identify repetitive processes: Focus on tasks like donation management, Gift Aid compliance, or volunteer scheduling.
- Leverage existing systems: Integrate AI tools with CRMs, payment platforms, or document management systems.
- Start small: Begin with a pilot project, such as automating a single workflow, and expand as you see success.
Free esynergy GenAI Strategy & Solution Workshop for Charities
Learn how Generative AI can help your charity streamline operations, boost fundraising, and enhance service delivery. This practical session will equip you with tailored AI strategies to maximize impact while staying mission focused. Book your free workshop now: Gen AI workshop – esynergy