If you believe in AI for nonprofits, but you’re hitting a wall as you seek to integrate updated technology into your organization, read on to hear about 4 ways to shift the culture of tech adoption at your nonprofit.
Working in a nonprofit, it’s easy to see blind spots in technology, especially now with AI in the picture. Artificial intelligence presents enormous potential for increased capacity to engage your donors and move your mission forward. At the same time, you might find that members of your nonprofit have “tech skepticism” or what might even feel like fear of AI.
If those members happen to be leaders at your organization, this can bring about a sense of feeling stuck and unable to update your fundraising tech to keep up with the times.
You’re not alone if this resonates. Adopting AI for nonprofits and integrating updated technology is a challenge faced by many. Ultimately, this is about far more than simply embracing new technology – it requires transforming organizational culture and shifting behaviors.
Speaking the Language of Nonprofit Leaders
My own journey in nonprofit leadership over the past two decades began with a critical lesson from my first mentor, a board member of a small, community-based nonprofit: learn to see challenges through the eyes of leadership. Understanding the perspectives and pressures leaders face has significantly shaped my approach to technology integration, particularly in advocating for AI.
To effectively influence change, nonprofit professionals must speak the language of leadership. When it comes to tech integration, nonprofit leaders care deeply about these critical areas:
- Mission: How clearly and powerfully does the proposed change align with and support the organization’s core purpose?
- Margin: Does the innovation support financial health by enhancing efficiency, productivity, or revenue?
- Reputation: How will adopting this technology affect the organization’s standing and public perception?
- Risk: How can risks be managed, minimized, or mitigated when adopting new technologies?
Address these areas as you seek to integrate updated tech practices, and it will help speak to your leader’s pain points and concerns while simultaneously encouraging forward movement.
4 Strategies to Encourage Adoption of AI for Nonprofits
Here are 4 easy strategies you can implement starting now, all to help transform culture and shift behavior at your nonprofit.
Use these strategies to help your leaders adopt a positive outlook on AI for nonprofits and technology adoption.
1. Start Small to Address Frustration
For many nonprofit professionals, the desire to integrate AI for nonprofits into their organization’s operations can lead to frustration, especially when leadership is hesitant or skeptical. This hesitation often comes from genuine concerns about risk, complexity, or unfamiliarity with technology.
If you’re feeling frustrated and seeking practical ways to overcome these barriers, one effective strategy is to start small. Identify a clearly defined, manageable problem – a “small fire” – that AI can help solve. Successfully addressing even minor, tangible challenges demonstrates value clearly and quickly, helping to build trust, gain respect, and open doors for broader technological adoption.
2. Empathize With Your Leader’s Pain Points
Understanding your leader’s day-to-day pressures is vital. Peggy Maher from CHSLI and the St. Francis Hospital Foundation offered a relatable perspective during our Fundraising.AI podcast discussion: “It’s not because we don’t want to be thoughtful and creative and open-minded and have these open-ended discussions. We’re curious too, but the job doesn’t allow a lot of time for blue sky thinking.” Leaders often find themselves consumed by urgent, immediate issues.
Peggy adds, “Understand where I’m coming from. Most of the people in my job are just fighting fires all the time. Taking it out of the theoretical and really using it to help me fight the fire… is going to get my attention. Demonstrate the possibility of impact by solving a problem.”
3. Highlight Benefits to Address Skepticism
Effectively addressing skepticism about AI for nonprofits involves clear, practical communication. When advocating for AI, illustrate benefits beyond immediate fiscal outcomes. Highlight improvements in productivity, reductions in employee burnout, increased retention, or enhancements in overall organizational effectiveness. Strategic investments in AI need to emphasize these broader, impactful benefits that resonate deeply with leadership priorities.
4. Cultivate a Culture of Curiosity
Moreover, cultivating curiosity-driven innovation through cross-functional collaboration can significantly enhance your influence. Leadership in this context isn’t confined to formal roles or seniority – it is about the bravery to experiment and the willingness to champion new ideas. Create an environment within your team or department that welcomes testing, validating concepts, and incrementally building trust through visible wins.
To truly drive change from within, focus on empathy, relevance, and persistence:
- Empathy: Connect deeply with your leaders’ priorities, challenges, and pressures. Understand and speak their language.
- Relevance: Clearly demonstrate how AI solutions directly address critical organizational challenges, showing immediate, tangible benefits.
- Persistence: Change often requires repeated advocacy and consistent engagement. Don’t become discouraged by initial resistance – continue communicating clear examples and successes.
Virtuous: An AI-Powered Platform
This shift – from technology viewed merely as operational support to technology embraced as a bold, strategic frontier – is not optional but essential. Nonprofit professionals today stand at an exciting crossroads, uniquely positioned to lead their organizations through transformative change.
By embracing AI for nonprofits proactively, you have the opportunity not only to shape the future but to significantly amplify your organization’s impact, leaving a legacy of innovation and progress.
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Whether you’re exploring AI for the first time or looking to expand your impact as a nonprofit leader, Virtuous is an AI-powered platform that helps you lead the way with smarter, more connected fundraising.
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