Will AI replace Fundraising Managers?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

43/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Fundraising Managers?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 43% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations. The parts that stay human include: Assign, supervise, and review the activities of fundraising staff.; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.; Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Compile or develop materials to submit to granting or other funding organizations.AI already used 75%

Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions. 62%

Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs. 38%

Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks. 23%

Assign, supervise, and review the activities of fundraising staff. 15%

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities. 15%

+ 10 more tasks (41% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Assign, supervise, and review the activities of fundraising staff.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.
Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for drafts and analysisMicrosoft 365 Copilot or Google Gemini for WorkspaceMeeting assistants (e.g. Otter, Fireflies)

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

AI for the admin load

Meeting notes, summaries and follow-ups with AI.
First drafts of reports, plans and emails.
Spreadsheet analysis with AI (formulas, charts, explanations).

Project

Use AI to draft your next donor-appeal email series, a board fundraising report and notes plus follow-ups from three donor meetings, logging hours saved versus your usual time.

Phase 2

Decisions with better input

Use AI to research options and summarise sources, then check them.
Scenario and risk analysis with AI as a sparring partner.
Set team rules for what may and may not go into AI tools.

Project

Use AI to research and summarise 10 candidate grant funders, verify every eligibility detail against the funders' own sites, and stress-test your top-3 shortlist against three income scenarios.

Phase 3

Lead the change

Map which team tasks AI can take over or speed up.
Run a small pilot and measure time and quality.
Plan training and new roles for your team.

Project

Map your fundraising team's recurring tasks, pilot AI on one (e.g. grant-report first drafts) for two weeks, and report time saved per report plus a quality score from reviewers.

Take the free 11-question test