Will fundraisers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Fundraisers score 50 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 63%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 22% outright, and 15% stays with people.
- 22% AI can do it
- 63% AI helps
- 15% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 75% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 28 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 6 of them today, speeds up 17 and leaves 5 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Create or update donor databases. Database entry and cleanup is routine data work AI handles well. | 82% AI can do it |
| Write and send letters of thanks to donors. Drafting thank you letters is routine writing AI handles well. | 78% AI can do it |
| Write reports or prepare presentations to communicate fundraising program data. AI drafts reports and slides from campaign data quickly. | 75% AI can do it |
| Write speeches, press releases, or other promotional materials to increase awareness of the causes, missions, or goals of organizations seeking funds. Drafting speeches and press releases is core LLM writing. | 72% AI can do it |
| Develop and maintain media contact lists. Contact lists are database work AI can build and update. | 70% AI can do it |
| Monitor progress of fundraising drives. Dashboards and automated alerts track totals against goals. | 65% AI can do it |
| Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations. AI drafts grant narratives and budgets; staff verify and submit. | 60% AI helps |
| Design or produce materials such as posters, Web sites, or newsletters to promote, market, or advertise fundraising events. AI generates draft designs and copy; designers refine brand fit. | 60% AI helps |
| Conduct research to identify the goals, net worth, charitable donation history, or other data related to potential donors, potential investors, or general donor markets. AI can scan public records and filings; verification still needed. | 58% AI helps |
| Explain the tax advantages of contributions to potential donors. AI explains general tax rules; donors should confirm with advisors. | 55% AI helps |
Show the other 18 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Monitor budgets, expense reports, or other financial data for fundraising organizations. AI flags anomalies and reconciles expenses; finance staff approve. | 55% AI helps |
| Direct or coordinate Web-based fundraising activities, such as online auctions or donation Web sites. Donation pages and auction tools are mostly software configuration. | 55% AI helps |
| Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions. AI can brainstorm and analyze giving data; strategy needs judgment. | 45% AI helps |
| Develop or implement fundraising activities, such as annual giving campaigns or direct mail programs. AI drafts campaign content and segments lists; staff run execution. | 45% AI helps |
| Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs. AI models options and costs; leaders choose the plan. | 45% AI helps |
| Recruit sponsors, participants, or volunteers for fundraising events. AI drafts outreach messages; personal recruiting remains human work. | 40% AI helps |
| Develop corporate fundraising programs, such as employer gift-matching. AI researches match policies and drafts program designs. | 40% AI helps |
| Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors. AI drafts appeals and prospect lists; the ask stays personal. | 35% AI helps |
| Establish fundraising or participation goals for special events or specified time periods. AI can project targets from past data; leaders set goals. | 35% AI helps |
| Secure speakers for charitable events, community meetings, or conferences to increase awareness of charitable, nonprofit, or political causes. AI drafts invitations and shortlists speakers; securing commitments is personal. | 35% AI helps |
| Identify and build relationships with potential donors. Relationship building needs people; AI helps target prospects. | 30% AI helps |
| Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs. AI preps contact lists and talking points; outreach stays personal. | 30% AI helps |
| Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks. AI drafts event plans; live execution needs people. | 28% AI helps |
| Prepare materials such as fundraising envelopes, bid sheets, or gift bags for charitable events. Physical assembly dominates; AI only helps draft bid sheet text. | 18% Needs a person |
| Direct or supervise fundraising staff, including volunteer staff members. Managing people relies on leadership, trust, and accountability. | 15% Needs a person |
| Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors. Asking for commitments is live persuasion requiring trust and presence. | 12% Needs a person |
| Coordinate transportation or delivery of materials, supplies, or donations for fundraising events. Physical pickup and delivery of goods needs people and vehicles. | 12% Needs a person |
| Attend community events, meetings, or conferences to promote organizational goals or solicit donations or sponsorships. Attending events and networking requires being physically present. | 8% Needs a person |
How fundraisers compare
All occupations (923)
Business and financial operations (48)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $72,550 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 111,040 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +5.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Hold the CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential
- Secure gift commitments through in-person and phone donor asks
- Plan and run special events such as silent auctions and walks
- Review and rewrite AI-drafted donor thank-you letters before sending
- Write SQL queries to segment donors for appeals
- Direct fundraising staff and volunteers through each campaign
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about fundraisers and AI
Will AI replace fundraisers?
Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly donor database upkeep and thank-you letters. What stays with people is the live ask, the event on the day, and the relationships that keep donors giving.
Which fundraising tasks is AI taking over?
Donor database upkeep has the highest exposure score at 82, because entry and cleanup are routine record work. Thank-you letters follow at 78, since drafting them is standard writing. Campaign reports and slides built from giving data score 75, because AI assembles them from the same numbers quickly.
Which fundraising tasks stay with people?
Attending events and conferences to meet prospects scores lowest on AI exposure, because it requires being physically present. Securing gift commitments comes next, since the ask is live persuasion built on trust. Directing staff and volunteers also stays human, because leadership and accountability rest with a person.
How can fundraisers stay valuable as AI spreads?
Keep the in-person ask as your core work, since securing commitments is where AI exposure is lowest. Use AI to draft thank-you letters and reports, then edit them in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint before they go out. Learn SQL queries so you can check the donor segments that Salesforce or Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge produces, and run special events on the day yourself.
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Next steps for fundraisers
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
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