Practical AI: Handy Tools for Every Day
Olivia Hairfield
Published: 01/21/2025
Artificial Intelligence
(AI) is changing the game across industries, and healthcare philanthropy is no exception. If you’re looking to strengthen your donor relationships, streamline your campaigns, and boost your foundation’s impact, AI can be a powerful ally. Of
course, adopting AI comes with its own set of challenges. You deal with deeply personal donor motivations and sensitive patient data every day, so it’s essential to approach this technology with care and thoughtfulness. In this post, we’ll
walk you through how you can tap into AI’s potential while keeping the human touch at the heart of your mission.
AI as a Team Member
AI is most effective when used as a complementary tool to human efforts, rather than a replacement. Many day-to-day administrative and operational tasks in philanthropic work—such as donor segmentation, process documentation, and reporting—can
be significantly optimized through AI. This allows staff to focus their energy on more strategic and relational aspects of their roles, like cultivating major gifts and fostering meaningful connections with donors.
For instance, ChatGPT can create donor personas and write in your foundation's brand voice for basic donor communications and impact reports. Tools like Pecan and Fireflies are invaluable for data analysis and trend identification. They provide actionable
insights into donor behaviors and preferences, enabling foundations to tailor their appeals and fundraising strategies more effectively. Platforms like Durable can even simplify technical
processes, such as creating a campaign website, freeing staff to focus on messaging, and donor stewardship. Use a tool like Synthesia to create custom videos showcasing the impact
of donor contributions. Consider your most basic tasks, and there may be a tool to streamline your work.
However, the adoption of these tools requires caution, particularly when it comes to data privacy. Free AI tools may monetize user data, posing risks to donor trust and compliance with regulations like HIPAA. Healthcare foundations should prioritize paid or transparent AI solutions that align with their ethical standards and commitment to donor confidentiality.
Furthermore, AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is essential to evaluate where AI can truly enhance operations without compromising the personal touch that is vital in philanthropy. By treating AI as an enabler, rather than an end in itself, healthcare fundraisers can create systems that enhance both efficiency and authenticity.
Addressing Challenges
While AI offers transformative benefits, its integration into healthcare philanthropy is not without challenges. One of the most significant hurdles is maintaining donor trust. Healthcare donors are often deeply invested in the causes they support,
and any hint of inauthenticity or misuse of their data could jeopardize these relationships. AI-generated communications, no matter how efficient, must be reviewed and tailored to ensure they align with the foundation’s voice and values.
As mentioned, data privacy is another critical consideration. Compliance with regulations like HIPAA and adherence to best practices in data security should guide every decision, from selecting a vendor to designing workflows. This is particularly
important when using AI tools that analyze donor data, as even inadvertent breaches could have far-reaching consequences for the foundation’s reputation.
Additionally, AI’s limitations in replicating human empathy and emotional intelligence must be acknowledged. While AI can handle repetitive tasks and provide data-driven insights, it cannot replace the warmth and sincerity that define effective
donor relationships. Healthcare philanthropy is deeply personal, and high-touch engagements—such as in-person meetings, heartfelt phone calls, and handwritten notes—remain irreplaceable. The key is to balance AI’s efficiencies
with human connection, ensuring that technology enhances rather than diminishes the relational aspects of fundraising.
Preparing for the Future
As AI continues to evolve, healthcare philanthropy must adapt to stay ahead of the curve. The foundations that thrive will be those that approach AI with curiosity, flexibility, and a commitment to ethical practices. Staff training and professional development
will be critical to ensuring that teams understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI tools. Investing in these areas will help organizations use AI strategically while preserving the personal connections at the heart of healthcare fundraising.
Equally important is the need to prioritize human strengths. AI cannot replicate qualities like empathy, creativity, and ethical reasoning. Foundations should design their workflows to amplify these uniquely human skills, using AI to handle tasks that
do not require emotional intelligence. By doing so, healthcare philanthropy can achieve the best of both worlds—leveraging technology to enhance efficiency while preserving the relational aspects that inspire generosity and loyalty.
Bringing AI into healthcare philanthropy opens up exciting opportunities for you to work smarter, connect more personally with your donors, and make an even bigger impact. When you approach AI thoughtfully, it can become a powerful tool that enhances
everything you do—helping you build stronger relationships and deliver greater value to your community. As AI continues to evolve, its true success will be measured by how well it supports the human connections that make your work so meaningful.