Ethical Guidelines for Nonprofits Using Language AI Tools

To stay on pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape, nonprofits constantly explore innovative ways to engage their audiences while amplifying their fundraising and marketing efforts.

In recent months, language-based artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), have gained momentum as an efficient way to elevate these efforts within the nonprofit sector.

AI provides nonprofits with new opportunities for greater efficiency, heightened donor engagement, and increased conversions. However, such technology presents ethical considerations and system disclaimers that nonprofits must carefully navigate to ensure responsible and effective use.

In this blog post, we delve into how nonprofits leverage AI tools, the ethical considerations and system disclaimers, and how your nonprofit can implement this technology responsibly to provide the most impactful result.

How Nonprofits Leverage Language AI Tools Today

While nonprofits can leverage AI in seemingly endless ways, here are three of the most common implementations of the language-generating technology.

1. Campaign Materials

With the help of language-based AI tools, nonprofits can generate persuasive text that resonates with potential donors and inspires them to take action.

You need only to provide the tool with a set of detailed prompts, such as your mission statement, target audience, and fundraising goals, to start. The AI tools then use this information to generate text for various campaign materials, including donation landing pages, sponsorship letters, email appeals, and more.

Using AI, nonprofits save time and resources on campaign materials while ensuring the messaging is consistent and impactful across all channels.

2. Marketing Content

With its natural language-generation capabilities, AI helps nonprofit teams create compelling and relevant content for their marketing efforts. A few examples include:

• Blog posts
• Social media posts
• Elevator pitches
• Annual reports
• Vision statements
• Speeches

5 Ways to Leverage ChatGPT for Your Nonprofit Blog

3. Data Analysis

AI can also help nonprofits analyze data and deliver strategic recommendations based on its findings.

Nonprofit teams appreciate this additional support in organizing and analyzing their organization’s donor information and fundraising metrics because it not only leads to more informed decision-making but also allows staff and volunteers to dedicate time to the thing that matters most—donor relationships.

Here are three ways AI can help with data analysis:

• Data visualization: Generate visual representations of data, such as charts, graphs, and infographics, from raw data sets
• Data interpretation: Identify patterns, trends, and correlations in data, uncovering insights that can inform programmatic strategies, fundraising efforts, and organizational goals
• Predictive analytics: Analyze historical data to make predictions and forecasts about future outcomes

3 Steps to Make Your Nonprofit More Data-Driven

Ethical Reflections for Responsible AI Engagement

Like any new technology, it’s critical to learn how to use AI responsibly before investing resources into an implementation strategy. We’ve provided five guidelines about how to use AI tools to benefit your nonprofit community and drive the largest impact.

1. Data privacy and security: Nonprofits must ensure the collection, storage, and use of donor data through language AI tools comply with relevant data privacy laws and regulations. This includes handling donors’ personal information responsibly and securely and communicating how the data will be used and protected.

2. Bias and fairness: Language AI tools handle large amounts of data, which may include biases. As such, nonprofits should verify all text AI provides is free of biases and inaccurate information. In simpler terms, always review what you publish.

3. Human connection: AI tools may provide answers and create content quickly but lack the personal touch and empathy that human interactions can offer. Nonprofits should strive to balance using AI for efficiency and maintaining genuine human connections within the team and community.

4. Accuracy and reliability: Nonprofits should review the responses generated by AI systems thoroughly to ensure they are factual and aligned with the organization’s mission and values.

5. Impact on staff: AI can automate tasks and increase efficiency but may also affect jobs and responsibilities. Nonprofit teams should be transparent with staff about introducing this new technology and provide appropriate training and support to adapt to the changes.

Unpacking the Benefits and Challenges of AI for Nonprofit Organizations

AI can be a powerful tool for nonprofit teams to enhance their reach, fundraising efforts, and donor communications. It has the potential to streamline operations, engage donors, and personalize interactions.

However, nonprofits must use AI tools responsibly, in alignment with ethics, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations to ensure the technology is used for good. In doing so, nonprofits can harness its benefits while mitigating potential risks, ensuring it contributes positively to the mission and impact of the communities served.

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien