AI for Nonprofit Teams: Roles, Responsibilities & Practical Use Cases
Development / Fundraising
Director of Development
Leads the organization's fundraising strategy and oversees all development activities to secure financial resources.
Key Responsibilities
Click on any responsibility to learn more about what it involves and how AI can help.
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- •Implement and refine the fundraising strategy for your department/program area
- •Lead and manage the fundraising team
- •Manage and implement diverse fundraising channels within your team's scope
- •Develop and maintain the fundraising calendar
- •Ensure team-level fundraising activities support the organization's mission
- •Analyze fundraising performance
- •Collaborate with executive leadership & board
- •Develop case for support & core fundraising messages
- •Manage and cultivate major donors and institutional relationships in line with overall strategy
- •Ensure ethical & compliant fundraising
Major Gifts
- •Build and Maintain the Major Gifts Pipeline
- •Conduct High-Level Donor Cultivation and Relationship Building
- •Lead Major Gift Solicitation Activities
- •Oversee Stewardship of Major Donors
- •Collaborate Strategically With Executive Leadership on Major Gifts
- •Develop Personalized Major Gift Strategies and Offers
- •Maintain Accurate Major Gift Documentation and Tracking
- •Shape and Refine the Major Gifts Program Itself
- •Ensure Donor-Centric Communication for Major Gifts
Annual Giving / Individual Giving
- •Develop and Oversee the Annual Giving Strategy
- •Manage Multi-Channel Annual Giving Campaigns
- •Implement Donor Segmentation and Personalization Strategies
- •Grow and Steward the Annual Donor Base
- •Lead Mid-Level Giving Program Development
- •Manage Appeals Calendar and Production Workflow
- •Oversee Donor Communications and Impact Storytelling
- •Coordinate Giving Days and Targeted Micro-Campaigns
- •Monitor Donor Analytics, Reporting, and Program Metrics
Grant Funding
- •Develop and Oversee the Organization's Grant Strategy
- •Identify and Research Prospective Grant Funders
- •Lead the Grant Application and Proposal Development Process
- •Ensure Cross-Department Coordination for Grant Content and Data
- •Manage Grant Reporting and Compliance Requirements
- •Steward Relationships With Foundation and Institutional Funders
- •Track Grant Performance, Pipeline Progress, and Funding Outcomes
- •Maintain Grant Records and Documentation Systems
- •Develop Strong Grant Narratives and Case Materials
Coming Soon
Corporate & Community Partnerships
- •Develop and Lead the Corporate & Community Partnership Strategy
- •Identify and Cultivate Corporate and Community Prospects
- •Develop Customized Partnership Proposals and Sponsorship Packages
- •Negotiate Partnership Agreements and Terms
- •Steward and Manage Active Partnerships
- •Coordinate Cross-Functional Collaboration for Partnership Execution
- •Track Partnership Performance and Revenue Outcomes
- •Maintain Accurate Records for Corporate and Community Partners
- •Represent the Organization Within the Business and Community Landscape
Coming Soon
Events & Campaigns
- •Develop the Overall Events & Campaigns Strategy
- •Plan and Oversee All Fundraising Events
- •Create and Manage Event Budgets
- •Oversee Event Concept Development and Program Design
- •Coordinate Cross-Department Execution for Events
- •Secure Event Sponsorships and In-Kind Support
- •Manage Campaign-Based Fundraising Initiatives
- •Lead Event Marketing and Promotion Efforts
- •Oversee Volunteer and Committee Engagement for Events
- •Ensure Donor and Attendee Stewardship Around Events
- •Evaluate Event & Campaign Performance
- •Maintain Accurate Documentation and Tracking
Coming Soon
Data, Systems & Reporting
- •Oversee the Development Database and CRM Infrastructure
- •Ensure Accurate and Consistent Donor Data Entry and Quality Control
- •Develop and Maintain Reporting Dashboards and Performance Metrics
- •Lead Data Analysis to Inform Fundraising Strategy and Forecasting
- •Implement and Document Development Data Policies and Procedures
- •Oversee Gift Processing and Reconciliation Systems
- •Manage Donor Segmentation and Data-Driven Audience Targeting
- •Ensure Data Security, Privacy, and Compliance Standards
- •Train and Support Staff on CRM and Development Systems
Coming Soon
Marketing & Communications Alignment
- •Coordinate Fundraising Messaging With Marketing & Communications
- •Collaborate on Donor-Focused Storytelling and Impact Narratives
- •Align Campaign Branding and Creative Assets
- •Ensure Donor Communications Are Integrated Across All Channels
- •Provide Marketing Teams With Fundraising Priorities and Donor Insights
- •Oversee Fundraising Content Accuracy and Compliance
- •Coordinate Marketing Support for Donor Stewardship Activities
Coming Soon
Board Engagement
- •Support board fundraising efforts and training
- •Provide development updates at board meetings
- •Prepare materials for advancement committees
- •Help recruit and manage board members involved in fundraising
Coming Soon
Stewardship & Donor Relations
- •Build a structured stewardship program
- •Ensure timely thank-yous and gift acknowledgments
- •Create engagement opportunities for donors
- •Manage donor surveys and feedback loops
Coming Soon
Team & Vendor Management
- •Lead development staff, contractors, and consultants
- •Manage budgets for fundraising programs
- •Establish workflows and performance expectations
- •Select and oversee fundraising technology vendors
Coming Soon
Planned Giving
- •Promote bequests and other legacy giving options
- •Manage planned giving pipeline
- •Work with financial/legal advisors as needed
- •Steward legacy donors and prospects
Coming Soon
Capital Campaigns
- •Conduct feasibility studies and prepare campaign case
- •Build campaign committees and volunteer structure
- •Manage quiet-phase and public-phase solicitations
- •Oversee campaign reporting and stewardship