AI - how it can help productivity in the face of staff shortages

The Foundationsearch team speaks to more than 10,000 nonprofits and foundations each month and we repeatedly hear that personnel shortages and turnover are a profound challenge being experienced by many non-profits.

Can artificial intelligence help?

AI is feared in some quarters for the possibility it presents in replacing people and jobs.

In this post, we will explore how AI can serve as a technical support tool to help nonprofits achieve their financial goals and operational objectives on a day-to-day basis to alleviate capacity challenges and skill deficits.

We will look at how AI can be utilised to bridge the gap between staff shortages and enhance productivity to provide overall improvement in organizational performance. By the end of this blog, you will have a better understanding of what AI has to offer in attempts to providing realistic solutions to champion employee development and satisfaction.

Introduction to AI and its benefits

What is AI and how AI can help bridge the gap of staff shortages?

AI has been around for many years but has transformed rapidly in the most recent years thanks to advancements in information processing innovations and computing power. AI involves using technology to simulate human-intelligence - this can include problem solving, decision making, strategy and design and data analysis.

AI can be used to automate time-consuming, repetitive tasks, allowing staff to free up time for more creative, human centred and strategic work. AI is also being used for product and service development in some industries with its advancements in using data to make recommendations and forecasting.

AI has proven its abilities in providing data driven decision making, with unbiased recommendations that are fuelled by behavioural and data analysis - helping save money by reducing the need for human labour in certain areas. Innovation, productivity and skill gaps all have the potential of being boosted by AI.

Benefits of AI to Non-profits

AI offers several benefits:

• Donor identification: AI helps NGO’s identify potential donors by analysing data from sources such as social media, email, and web traffic
• Personalization: AI can help NGO’s tailor their fundraising campaigns by analyzing donor data and suggesting how to personalise appeals
• Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots can be extremely beneficial for efficient donor care and improve their experience when answering donor related queries and providing information
• Automation: Donor-centric automations can ensure those donor sweet spots in their journeys are taken care of while freeing up time to work on more engaging tasks
• Closing skills gaps: AI can help organizations train employees in new skills or fill roles that are difficult to staff.

The impact of AI on productivity

In recent years, the impact and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been felt across a number of industries. With the rapid pace of change in technology, AI is poised to have an even greater impact in the coming years. One area where AI is having a significant impact is in the area of productivity.

Here are just a few ways AI is being used to increase efficiency in the midst of staff shortages:

1. Automated task management and allocation - AI is being used to automatically assign tasks to staff within departments based on their job KPI's, skillset, availability and workload. This is a great project management initiative to ensure tasks are being completed in time.
2. Intelligent document processing and integrations - Automations can be used for the automatic movement and processing of files, such as extracting data from forms and emails and performing automatic data entries.
3. Predictive analytics - AI can be used for forecasting and planning initiatives by analyzing data to make predictions for future trends. This can also aid in decision making on how to best allocate initiatives and resources.
4. Personalized donor care/services - AI can be used to provide personalized donor services and support by understanding donor needs and preferences. This can lead to improved donor satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Machine learning - ML models can be used for a vast amount of critical tasks such as fraud detection, data duplication and predictive maintenance using algorithms and statistical models to analyse and extract patterns and trends from data.

There are many Nonprofits already exploring AI tools and offerings.

WWF international

WWF international has used AI to create 2 versions of the future to influence action, this use of AI has been beneficial in brand awareness as well as fundraising initiatives.

The message behind the images depicted the seriousness and urgency needed:

‘These powerful AI images show the dangerous path we are heading down and how urgently we must act to restore nature at home,’ said Lisa Lee, executive director of communications at WWF.

Read full press release here: https://www.wwf.org.uk/press-release/wwf-uses-ai-paint-two-futures-uk-nature

Crohns and Colitis UK

The Public Fundraising team at Crohns and Colitis UK have started testing the use of AI tools in their appeal writing process, eliminating significant time in thedocument creation process.

The Dog’s Trust also utilizes AI in two ways – to explore ideas and write draft copy for an array of marketing communications material. Some of their favourite tools include copywriting chat bot ChatGPT and AI image generator, DallE-2 – both by Open AI.

Kurstin Finch Gnehm the Head of High Value Fundraising Operations says, “As an example, our call center at Dogs Trust is set to reach three million calls in August 2023. It’s a huge milestone, something we want to tell our closest donors about, but I was away at a conference with no time to draft an email for fundraisers to send.

“Instead, I wrote a prompt for ChatGPT to draft the email, did some quick revision, and sent it to fundraisers to personalize, and send to donors as appropriate. And I look like a hero!”

Clearly the AI revolution has just begun and promises to identify and fill the gaps of capacity constraints and staff shortages while increasing productivity. We are moving towards an era of extraordinary technological advances that will present tremendous opportunities in response to challenges faced by non-profits.

Foundationsearch strives to help nonprofits and our clients understand the positive implications of artificial intelligence on their operations, so you can make informed decisions about how best to leverage its potential. While there may be some bumps along the road, one thing is clear: AI has made tremendous strides over recent years and looks set to remain a major force in transforming businesses for years to come.

Did you know that Foundationsearch has integrated ChatGPT in all our foundation funder and charity profiles? If you’re interested in integrating ChatGPT into your non-profit operations, contact us today by sending an email to support@foundationsearch.com for a no obligation chat!