How To Use ChatGPT For Nonprofits

Last week we chatted about how AI will affect nonprofits. Our opinion is mostly positive: while AI tools need to be used responsibly, there is also a ton of opportunity in them.

That’s why in this post, we wanted to give you more actionable advice on how to use AI tools to their full potential. Our first topic? ChatGPT for nonprofits. 

Check out our post below for seven ways you can use ChatGPT at your nonprofit to get more (and better) work done faster.

ChatGPT For Nonprofits: 7 Ways To Use It

1) Writing First Drafts

Content marketing is essential. This is true for both businesses and nonprofits. But the biggest bottleneck in creating good content consistently? The dreaded “blank page”. If you haven’t even started with a new piece of content, it can feel overwhelming to get that momentum.

This is where ChatGPT for nonprofits is super useful. Give it some background on the piece of content you are trying to create, and it will get started for you. Whether you’re drafting a fundraising appeal, a new blog post, or an email you’re sending to past donors, ChatGPT can give you a solid starting point in seconds. Say goodbye to writer’s block.

Here’s a pro tip: be sure to train ChatGPT on how you write. Give the tool a few past samples of what you have written. This allows it to understand your writing style. Do this and your first result is likely much better. 

2) Repurposing Content

Taking content you have already created and using it again (in a slightly different way) can be powerful. This is called “repurposing content” and it’s one of the most underutilized content strategies at nonprofits. 

Let’s look at a quick example. Maybe you just wrote a great blog post about your latest community initiative. To get the word out, you want to write a newsletter blurb, a few Instagram captions, and a couple talking points for your executive director to use in their latest video. Instead of starting over, give ChatGPT the text of your post. Tell it how you need to repurpose the content and ask it to get to work.

Repurposing your content can save you a ton of time. Use ChatGPT as your assistant in doing it, and it speeds you up even more. 

3) Summarizing And Explaining

The nonprofit field involves quite a few dense documents: strategic plans, evaluation reports, policy memos, and grant guidelines. These are just a few examples. Truthfully, it can be difficult for even the most involved team member to wrap their heads around these kinds of documents. And even more important than that, actually understanding them takes time.

This is where ChatGPT shines. Give it some complicated text and simply ask it for a clearer summary. You can even ask it to explain things at different levels:

• “Explain this document in plain English.”
• “Summarize this for a board member that only has five minutes.”

If you need more people to understand (and act on) complex information, ChatGPT is essential. 

4) Brainstorming Ideas

One of the best ways to use ChatGPT for nonprofits is as a partner in brainstorming. Let’s be honest: sometimes you’re just not feeling creative. While this isn’t always a problem, it can result in a very clear blocker. Campaign names? Email subject lines? Themes for volunteer events? Creativity on demand sometimes just isn’t realistic.

Try ChatGPT if you need help. Ask it to help you brainstorm. Think of it as an infinite whiteboard where you can throw ideas around with zero pressure. The ideas won’t be perfect, but they will definitely get your team unstuck. 

5) Improving Clarity And Tone

Your tone needs to change depending on your audience. Sending out an email to your entire team? A memo to your team of volunteers? An appeal to your biggest donor? These are all different messages – and they need different styles. 

ChatGPT can help you rework messages if you want to change the tone, clarity, or brevity. Use it right, and you have a high quality editor waiting to help you out. 

Here are a few things to ask ChatGPT when working to change your writing style:

• “Make this email sound warmer.”
• “Rewrite this blog post so it’s easier to understand.”
• “Cut this appeal letter by 50 words but keep the most important points.”

 The feedback is usually instant. Even if it’s not perfect, you’re closer to your end goal in less time.

6) Filling Out Grant Proposals

As we recently wrote, ChatGPT is also a great tool for nonprofits looking to speed up grant proposals. Every funder wants things stated slightly differently. While this is understandable, it usually means that you have to rework the same ideas over and over. 

But with ChatGPT? Use it correctly, and it becomes much easier to rephrase your standard language to match different proposal requirements. It’s important to understand that this is not a shortcut to funding. Still, it is a way to reduce burnout and speed up repetitive grant tasks.

7) Answering “What If” Questions

Nonprofit leaders have to think through new challenges constantly. One recent example? The loss of federal funding. Not only can it be difficult to navigate the immediate effects, but looking forward to the future can be tricky. This is where asking ChatGPT “What if…” questions can be immensely valuable. Give it the information it needs, and then ask away. 

Here are some examples:

• Should we hire a consultant?
• Is it too late for us to launch a podcast?
• What are the pro’s and con’s of a monthly giving program? 

ChatGPT won’t make the decision for you. Still, it will help you think through key considerations, and your final decision will likely be better because of it.

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