Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how nonprofit arts and culture organizations engage with their supporters. While many conversations about AI focus on content creation or automation, opportunities for fundraising lie at the intersection of AI, donor research and personalization. AI can help make donor interactions more personal, efficient, and impactful.
At the 2025 Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, Adage gave a presentation entitled “Innovating Digital Fundraising: AI Strategies for Campaign Success”, which focused on utilizing AI in fundraising strategy. In this blog we share highlights from that presentation.
Fundraising teams often spend valuable time doing extensive research to identify potential donors and flagging which patrons might be ready for a larger ask. AI tools can quickly analyze a wide range of donor databases to expedite pattern detection or changes in a pattern. Below are examples of what AI tools can identify:
Patterns in recurring gifts
Unexpected spikes or drops in giving, which could be tied to a local or global trend
Patterns in how often people typically engage before they donate, such as number of visits or number of years as a member
As recently as a few years ago, donor research required sifting through mountains of data to detect patterns and create a predictive model. Now, AI tools can do the same work in a fraction of the time, with more sources and higher levels of accuracy than manual processes. AI becomes your early warning system in detecting potential donation increases or decreases and gives your team the tools to be responsive and strategic in the moment. Instead of having to spot signals yourself, you can have a real-time feed of what's working, what’s faltering, and where to focus your efforts. Predictive insights allow your fundraising team to better prioritize, making the most of opportunities you may have missed before.
Campaigns are not one size fits all. One of the biggest opportunities in fundraising is using AI to create personalized experiences for each donor. This type of dynamic personalization helps create a stronger emotional connection, increasing the likelihood of success.
AI tools can analyze donor behavior on your website, such as the pages they visit, the campaigns they view, or the tickets they purchase, and dynamically adjust messaging accordingly. AI can also help you personalize messages sent via mail, in the call center, or other communication channels.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire fundraising strategy to benefit from AI. Try one thing at a time:
Using our Digital Workbook, gather all data sources in one place (CRM, marketing platforms, membership lists, etc) in order to identify which areas could most immediately benefit from using AI.
Use predictive AI models to identify your next group of potential donors, based on recent giving trends and analysis.
Personalize communications based on advanced behavior analysis
At Adage, we help organizations design and build digital strategies that integrate seamlessly with existing systems. By combining the power of AI with a strong web presence, your organization can unlock new opportunities to connect with donors in meaningful ways.
Curious about how AI can support your fundraising strategy? Contact us to start the conversation.
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