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Storytelling, Strategy, and the Smart Use of AI in Nonprofits with Amy Neumann

If you’ve ever wondered how artificial intelligence (AI) could actually work for your nonprofit—in a practical, approachable, and human-centered way—this conversation is for you.

In a recent episode of the Missions to Movements podcast, host Dana Snyder sat down with Amy Neumann, author of Empower Your Nonprofit: Simple Ways to Co-Create with AI for Profound Impact. Amy is a social impact entrepreneur, founder of Resourceful Nonprofit, and a PhD researcher studying how AI can amplify human creativity. She’s also a self-described “AI nerd” who’s constantly testing new tools—including Meta’s AI-powered glasses, which she wore during the interview.

Together, Dana and Amy unpacked how nonprofits can start integrating AI to streamline operations, supercharge storytelling, and ultimately deepen relationships with donors and stakeholders—without losing their human touch.

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It Starts with One Simple Win

One of the biggest barriers to AI adoption in the nonprofit space? Overwhelm.

Amy recommends starting with one pain point—something that’s time-consuming or frustrating—and trying AI to solve it. Once people experience a small win, they often become open to more experimentation.

Dana shared how she’s using AI in her own workflow:

• Before podcast interviews, she inputs guest bios and topics into ChatGPT to generate draft questions.

• After recordings, she uses AI to write episode intros and summaries.

• With a packed schedule of back-to-back interviews, AI has helped her save time while maintaining quality and creativity.

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Content Creation & Brainstorming—Without Burnout

From crafting social media posts to drafting donor emails, AI tools are becoming powerful brainstorming partners. Amy explained how platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini Advanced, and Microsoft Copilot can help nonprofit teams:

• Generate first drafts faster

• Check for tone and clarity

• Repurpose content across platforms

• Experiment with messaging without starting from scratch

One study even showed AI can boost creative idea generation by up to 60%.

And if you’re not already using Canva, it’s a great (and free!) way for 501(c)(3) organizations to access AI-enhanced design tools. Features like Magic Write and Magic Resize make it easy to create beautiful, branded materials quickly and consistently.

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AI for Programming & Research: Your New Graduate Assistant

AI isn’t just for marketing—Amy highlighted how it can support programmatic work too.

For example, Google Gemini Advanced can function like a personal research assistant. You can outline what you’re researching (say, a new youth development initiative) and ask it to pull white papers, summarize studies, and even develop a research plan using reputable sources like UNICEF or the UN. What might have taken 20 hours previously can now take 20 minutes.

Tools like Perplexity.ai and ChatGPT’s “deep research” modes are also excellent for preparing for funder meetings, writing grants, or understanding community needs.

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Practice Makes Progress: Simulating Real Conversations

Another innovative tool Dana brought up is Practivated, an AI-based coaching assistant designed for fundraisers. Its internal AI agent, “Tivi,” helps you simulate tough conversations—like asking a donor for a major gift or navigating a sensitive board meeting. You can input details, and the AI will role-play the other person’s responses so you can practice ahead of time.

This kind of use doesn’t just save time—it builds confidence.

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But What About Data Privacy?

Amy is clear: embracing AI doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind.

Nonprofits need a basic AI use strategy that includes:

• A list of approved tools and platforms

• Guidelines for low-risk vs. high-risk use cases

• Policies around not entering personally identifiable donor information into public tools

• Basic training to help staff prompt inclusively and avoid reinforcing bias

It’s not about being rigid—it’s about empowering your team with clarity, comfort, and confidence as they try new tools.

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AI + Humanity = Your Secret Superpower

Amy emphasized that the ultimate goal of AI is not to replace humans—it’s to amplify what humans do best.

When AI handles the busywork—like drafting emails, transcribing meetings, or summarizing articles—it frees you up to spend more time on what really matters: cultivating donor relationships, telling powerful stories, and building community.

And yes, sometimes it’s also about capturing fun, human moments. Amy shared how she uses her Meta AI glasses to snap natural photos and videos without pulling out a phone, keeping her more present during events or site visits. She’s even used them to capture spontaneous moments with her niece and to gather community input in real time.

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Not Sure Where to Start? Try This Today:

Amy’s advice for any nonprofit leader or team member who feels like they’re still on the sidelines:

• Start with Canva Pro (free for nonprofits!) and explore its AI features.

• Use ChatGPT to brainstorm a campaign name, rewrite a donor appeal, or summarize a grant report.

• Practice one donor conversation using a tool like Practivated or even a simple AI prompt.

• Draft your organization’s “AI use starter policy”—even if it’s just a one-pager.

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Just start somewhere.

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Final Thoughts

The future of AI in the nonprofit world isn’t about becoming robotic—it’s about becoming more human. By thoughtfully embracing AI, organizations can boost creativity, streamline operations, and free up more time to do the work that really moves missions forward.

As Amy says, once someone sees what AI can do for them, you can’t stop them. They become super users—sharing wins, building confidence, and imagining new possibilities.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to dip your toes in, here it is.

Resources & Links

This podcast is brought to you by iDonate. We’re so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here. 

Learn more about Amy on her website, Empower Your Nonprofit and check out her book.

Check out Mallory Erickson’s AI tool, Practivated, to practice donor conversations.

My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.

Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.

Want to make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you.