Will fundraising managers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Fundraising managers score 48 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 77%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 6% outright, and 17% stays with people.
- 6% AI can do it
- 77% AI helps
- 17% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 70% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 16 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 3 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits, and develop and maintain company internet or intranet Web pages. AI writes press releases and web copy; staff approve publication. | 80% AI can do it |
| 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 searches and summarizes donor research; verification still needed. | 60% AI helps |
| Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations. AI drafts grant narratives and budgets; reviewer checks accuracy. | 55% AI helps |
| Design and edit promotional publications, such as brochures. AI drafts copy and layout options; designers finalize brand work. | 55% AI helps |
| Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs. AI drafts plan options and cost comparisons; manager tailors them. | 50% AI helps |
| Formulate policies and procedures related to fundraising programs. AI drafts policy and procedure documents; board approval needed. | 50% AI helps |
| Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions. AI drafts appeal ideas; leader picks strategy. | 45% AI helps |
| Evaluate advertising and promotion programs for compatibility with fundraising efforts. AI reviews ad copy and compares campaigns; fit judgment remains. | 45% AI helps |
| Manage fundraising budgets. Spreadsheet tracking and variance analysis; approvals stay with managers. | 40% AI helps |
| Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds. AI drafts policy text; custody and oversight stay with people. | 35% AI helps |
Show the other 6 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Produce films and other video products, regulate their distribution, and operate film library. Video editing tools help; filming and distribution logistics need people. | 30% AI helps |
| Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks. Checklists and timelines help; live event execution is in person. | 25% AI helps |
| Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs. Outreach emails drafted by AI; calls and meetings stay human. | 25% AI helps |
| Direct activities of external agencies, establishments, or departments that develop and implement fundraising strategies and programs. Managing external agencies is relationship and oversight work, mostly human. | 20% Needs a person |
| Assign, supervise, and review the activities of fundraising staff. Supervising people and performance reviews need human judgment. | 15% Needs a person |
| Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities. Relationship building depends on trust, in-person contact, and reputation. | 12% Needs a person |
How fundraising managers compare
All occupations (923)
Management (56)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $125,470 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 38,810 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +5.4% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Verify AI-drafted grant budgets in Microsoft Excel
- Manage major donor relationships in Salesforce software
- Run donor research checks in Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Plan special events with Microsoft Project timelines
- Present fundraising plans to boards in Microsoft PowerPoint
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about fundraising managers and AI
Will AI replace fundraising managers?
Partly. About 4 in 10 of a fundraising manager's working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly writing press releases and web copy. Relationship building, staff supervision and in-person solicitation stay with people because they depend on trust and face time.
Which tasks is AI taking over for fundraising managers?
Press releases, media kits and web copy score 80 on exposure, the highest in this job. AI drafts the text and staff approve it before anything goes live. Donor research scores 60, since AI searches and summarizes giving history, but a person still verifies each finding before a solicitation.
Which fundraising manager tasks stay with people?
Relationship building scores 12 on exposure, the lowest in this job, because donor trust depends on in-person contact and reputation. Supervising fundraising staff scores 15 and managing external agencies scores 20, since performance reviews and agency oversight need human judgment.
How can fundraising managers stay valuable?
Spend more hours on donor meetings, event execution and board briefings, and check every AI draft before it leaves the office. Log each donor touchpoint in Salesforce so relationships carry your name. Verify grant budgets against your Microsoft Excel models before submission. Plan events in Microsoft Project and walk the venue yourself.
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Next steps for fundraising managers
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