How to Make the Most of Artificial Intelligence
By Dr. Brent Stevens
In these times of uncertainty, one thing is certain for nonprofits: you need to make the most of your resources. Whether it’s crafting a donor letter, writing grants, or knocking out workaday emails, artificial intelligence can help you save time, money, and energy. But most people don’t use it to its full potential. Here are a few practical strategies to help your organization harness the power of AI writing tools like ChatGPT:
Be Specific
One universal mistake writers make is starting with a general concept and scaling down. In AI prompting, this approach often leads to vague or generic output. Large language models like ChatGPT generate content based on the input you give them—so if your prompt is too broad, the response will be, too. The solution is to provide clear, detailed prompts right from the start. For example, ask for a donor letter that incorporates three specific events, quotes, or achievements. Include direct quotes, if possible, along with your intended audience, tone, purpose, and context. When AI has the details, it can scale up to create a compelling, high-level message. But if you start vague, you’ll likely stay vague.
Use Your Successes
Does someone on your team write great emails or outreach letters? Find 10 strong examples, feed them into AI, and ask it to analyze what makes them effective. What patterns, tones, or structures do they share? AI can highlight things the writer may do instinctively—like a conversational tone, a persuasive call to action, or clear formatting. More importantly, this analysis can help others on your team learn those same strategies, increasing your organization’s overall communication skills.
Learn the Language of Prompting
Getting the most from AI isn’t about one-off questions. Like film or design, prompting is its own language—it takes time and practice to master. Keep track of effective prompts that yield strong results. If you’re unhappy with a response, keep refining your input. You are the editor, and AI is your collaborator. Even when you land on something useful, don’t stop there—ask for a version with a humorous tone or one written for a different audience. These experiments often reveal creative directions you wouldn’t have found on your own.
Conclusion
AI won’t replace your voice or mission—but it can amplify it. For nonprofits juggling tight budgets, limited staff, and pressing deadlines, tools like ChatGPT can act as a writing assistant, brainstorming partner, and communication coach all in one. The key is to treat it not as a magic solution, but as a tool that gets better the more thoughtfully you use it. With a bit of practice, your organization can save time, communicate more clearly, and engage supporters more effectively—leaving you with more energy to focus on the work that really matters.
