Join us for the Virtuous User Summit

August 19-21, 2025

📣 Responsive Nonprofit Summit • Free + Virtual 🎉

June 4-5, 2025

Practical Strategies. Real Results. Free to Attend.

The Responsive Nonprofit Summit June 4-5, 2025

Respond ’26 (User Summit) | Dallas, May 27–29. Practical learning, real connections, real results. Save $400 before Jan 16.

Already a Virtuous customer? Our Professional Services help with Data and Report Clean-Up, Custom Training, Consulting and Giving Page Optimization.

Contents

Developing Your 2025 Grant Strategy: How to Win More & Save Time With AI

The nonprofit landscape is evolving rapidly, and the key to staying ahead in 2025 is crafting a strategic, AI-driven approach to grant acquisition. With the help of Virtuous and Instrumentl, this guide provides actionable insights to help nonprofits win more grants while optimizing time and resources. Here’s how to get started:

The Role of AI in Grant Strategy

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a transformative tool already reshaping industries. In grant writing and management, AI simplifies the traditionally complex process through predictive analytics, large language models (LLMs), and automation.

Key benefits of AI in grant management include:

  • Streamlined Prospecting: AI platforms like Instrumentl can uncover best-fit funding opportunities, evaluate funder alignment, and analyze giving histories.
  • Proposal Enhancement: Generative AI tools can identify gaps in proposals, suggest improvements, and repurpose past materials to save time.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Advanced algorithms help nonprofits monitor trends, assess risk, and predict outcomes with greater accuracy.

The Grant Journey: Opportunities for Optimization

Nonprofits typically navigate two phases in their grant journey:

  1. Pre-Award Phase:
    • Researching and identifying funders
    • Cultivating relationships
    • Crafting budgets and proposals
    • Submitting applications
  2. Post-Award Phase:
    • Monitoring spend down
    • Tracking deadlines
    • Supervising compliance
    • Reporting outcomes and nurturing funder relationships

AI-powered solutions like Instrumentl simplify each step, enabling nonprofits to focus on mission-driven initiatives rather than administrative tasks.

Why Switch to Virtuous’ Responsive CRM Platform

Nonprofits that adopt Virtuous’ Responsive CRM gain a competitive edge. Unlike traditional donor management systems, Virtuous offers a holistic, relationship-focused approach to grant and donor management. Here’s why it stands out:

  • Centralized Data Management: Store and track all funder touchpoints, including communication histories, deadlines, and grant statuses.
  • Workflow Automation: Automate routine tasks, such as sending follow-ups or scheduling check-ins, to free up time for strategic priorities.
  • Personalized Engagement: Use AI-driven insights to customize communication with funders and donors, increasing the likelihood of long-term partnerships.
  • Seamless Integration: Sync your grant tracker and other tools directly with Virtuous to ensure a unified workflow.

By consolidating operations within Virtuous, nonprofits can reduce redundancies, improve team collaboration, and maintain better visibility over their funding pipeline.

Actionable Tips for 2025

To maximize your grant success in 2025, consider these AI-powered strategies:

  1. Leverage Data for Funders: Use tools like Instrumentl to analyze funders’ giving patterns and identify opportunities that align with your organization’s mission.
  2. Automate Proposal Drafting: Train AI models like ChatGPT to craft initial drafts, highlight alignment with funder priorities, and identify missing elements.
  3. Optimize Reporting: AI tools can generate data-driven impact reports tailored to funders’ preferences, ensuring transparency and trust.
  4. Create a Shared Calendar: Maintain org-wide visibility by centralizing deadlines and grant activities, allowing better collaboration across teams.

Partner Spotlight: Instrumentl

Instrumentl is a powerful platform designed to streamline the grant lifecycle. Offering access to over 23,000 live grant opportunities simplifies prospecting, proposal crafting, and funder management. Combined with Virtuous, nonprofits can amplify their impact and accelerate growth.

Ready to Transform Your Grant Strategy?

With the combined power of Virtuous’ Responsive CRM and Instrumentl’s grant management platform, nonprofits can save time, win more grants, and build meaningful relationships with funders. Take the next step by:

By integrating AI and adopting innovative tools, 2025 can be the year your nonprofit achieves unparalleled success in securing grants and advancing its mission.

Watch the Webinar

If you missed this webinar, you can watch the full on-demand video here.

author avatar
Abigail Morse

What you should do now

Below are three ways we can help you begin your journey to building more personalized fundraising with responsive technology.

See the Virtuous platform in action.  Schedule a call with our team for personalized answers and expert advice on transforming your nonprofit with donor management software.

Download our free Responsive Maturity Model and learn the 5 steps to more personalized donor experiences.

If you know another nonprofit pro who’d enjoy reading this page, share it with them via Email, Linkedin, Twitter, or Facebook.

The Responsive Maturity Model
5 Steps to More Personalized Donor Experiences
Get Responsive Fundraising Tips
Get updates delivered directly to your inbox.
Building Trust with Donors Through Better Impact Measurement with Sonja Schappert Howden

Building Trust with Donors Through Better Impact Measurement with Sonja Schappert Howden

Learn how fundraisers can move beyond outputs and communicate real, donor-centered impact with Sonja Howden of Seed Impact on The Responsive Lab.
Building a Relationship-First Fundraising Culture with Marc Stein

Building a Relationship-First Fundraising Culture with Marc Stein

How relationship-first fundraising drives trust, retention, and major gift growth at scale… insights from Marc Stein of Jews for Jesus.
Digital Strategies to Drive Sustainable Fundraising Growth with Matt Lombardi

Digital Strategies to Drive Sustainable Fundraising Growth with Matt Lombardi

How smart digital engagement drives donor action, retention, and recurring giving. A practical conversation with Matt Lombardi.

Grow generosity with Virtuous

Virtuous is the responsive fundraising software platform proven to help nonprofit organizations increase generosity by serving all donors personally, no matter their gift size.

“Virtuous truly understands nonprofits and the importance of our mission. And their open access to data and built-in custom reports gave us access to the data we need.”
Todd Shinabarger
Chief Information Officer