Harnessing AI for Smarter Moves Management Strategies
Scaling Major Gifts. Strategies, action steps, and ideas for scaling major gifts by Tammy Zonker, Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker.
Over nearly three decades in nonprofit fundraising, I’ve seen countless innovations reshape how we engage major donors. But few have been as transformative as artificial intelligence (AI). AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a transformative tool that empowers fundraisers to personalize communication at scale, anticipate donor needs, and optimize outreach in ways we couldn’t have imagined even a decade ago. Beyond that, AI also helps streamline time-consuming tasks, freeing up valuable hours for what matters most: building authentic relationships with major donors.
In this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, I’ll share how AI can enhance your moves management strategies at every stage, helping you build stronger donor relationships and elevate your major gift efforts.
The Challenge: Personalization Meets Complexity
One of the toughest challenges in moves management is delivering personalized communication across all stages while managing a large portfolio of donors. Many nonprofits face limited resources, inconsistent messaging, and difficulty analyzing donor data effectively.
In my early years, I relied on manual processes that were time-consuming and prone to error. It was frustrating to know that some donors weren’t receiving the attention they deserved simply because we lacked the tools or resources to manage it all. AI changes this dynamic by automating repetitive tasks and providing predictive insights that make personalization scalable and impactful—all while freeing up your time for meaningful donor engagement.
How AI Enhances Moves Management
Here’s how AI can revolutionize your communication strategies at each stage of moves management:
1. Identification Stage: Pinpointing High-Potential Donors
AI-powered tools like DonorSearch or Kindsight use predictive analytics to identify donors with the greatest capacity and likelihood to give. By analyzing historical giving patterns, demographic data, and engagement behaviors, these tools allow you to focus your energy on prospects who are most aligned with your mission.
2. Cultivation Stage: Building Relationships Through Personalization
AI excels at crafting tailored messages that resonate with individual donors. For example:
Natural Language Processing (NLP) analyzes donor communications to uncover preferences and sentiment, helping you refine tone and content for greater impact.
Platforms like Givebutter automate personalized outreach via SMS and email while tracking donor interactions for consistency, ensuring no touchpoint is missed.
3. Solicitation Stage: Optimizing the Ask
AI tools such as Classy dynamically suggest donation amounts based on donor behavior, timing, and platform usage. This ensures your ask feels thoughtful and compelling for each individual donor. Additionally, AI can predict the best times to send solicitations, maximizing response rates by reaching donors when they’re most likely to engage.
4. Stewardship Stage: Deepening Engagement Post-Gift
Stewardship is where relationships are solidified—and AI can help you maintain those connections with ease. From automated follow-ups to personalized thank-you notes and impact updates tailored to donor interests, AI ensures your gratitude feels genuine and specific. For instance, charity: water used AI to predict donor attrition and proactively intervene with customized communications, significantly improving retention rates.
How AI Saves Time for Major Gift Officers
AI doesn’t just enhance donor communication—it transforms how you manage your time and tasks:
Automating Administrative Work: Tools like GiveCampus GC Gift Officer compile detailed donor bios from CRM data in seconds, eliminating hours of manual research.
Streamlining Task Management: Platforms like ClickUp AI generate automated task lists, track project progress, and schedule follow-ups so you can focus on high-priority relationships.
Drafting Communications: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT draft personalized outreach emails or meeting summaries based on voice-to-text notes or CRM data.
Real-World Success Stories
The results speak for themselves:
The National Kidney Foundation doubled its email campaign open rates by using AI-driven personalization based on donor interests and giving history.
The American Cancer Society saw a 400% increase in donation conversion rates by leveraging machine learning to optimize communication channels.
These examples highlight how major gift officers can achieve measurable success when AI is thoughtfully integrated into moves management strategies.
Recommended Tools for AI-Powered Moves Management
If you’re ready to explore how AI can enhance your fundraising efforts, here are some tools worth considering:
DonorSearch & Kindsight: Advanced AI insights for donor segmentation and relationship management.
Givebutter: Automates personalized outreach through email prompts, SMS messaging, and CRM integration for seamless tracking of donor interactions.
Classy: Optimizes donation pages with real-time suggestions for tailored asks based on donor behavior.
Actionable Takeaways
Here’s how you can begin leveraging AI in your moves management strategy today:
Invest in an AI-Powered CRM: Choose a platform that integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow to simplify data tracking and outreach automation.
Analyze Donor Data Regularly: Use predictive analytics tools to identify trends and refine your strategies over time.
Automate Personalized Messaging: Implement AI solutions that craft tailored messages for each stage of moves management—saving time while deepening relationships.
Focus on Relationships: Redirect saved time toward cultivating authentic connections with major donors—the cornerstone of successful fundraising.
Embracing Innovation to Building Genuine Connections
In my experience, successful fundraising always comes back to authentic relationships. When donors feel seen, valued, and understood—not just as sources of funding but as true partners in your mission—they’re far more likely to stay engaged long-term.
AI won’t replace human empathy or intuition—but it will amplify your ability to connect meaningfully with donors while freeing up time for what matters most: building genuine relationships.
I encourage you to explore these tools and strategies today—start small if needed—and see how they can transform your approach over time. Innovation is a journey that requires patience and refinement, but the results are worth it.
What challenges have you faced in tailoring donor communications for moves management? What strategies have worked well for you? Let's connect on LinkedIn and share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you! Together, we can continue learning and growing as we inspire change in the world. And if this edition resonates with you, please share it with others who might benefit from these insights.
Keep transforming,
Tammy Zonker
Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker
Fundraising Transformed
ps – If you're thinking about a capital campaign, let's explore your vision together. Schedule a complimentary strategy session with me to discuss your campaign goals and how we can help bring them to fruition.
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