How to Save Time, Raise More Money, and Work Smarter with AI

Welcome to the Future: AI is Your New Best Friend

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I had an extra set of hands”—congratulations, AI is here to be your new (virtual) assistant.

For nonprofits and small businesses, AI can handle the repetitive tasks, write your grant proposals, analyze donor data, and even help with marketing—freeing you up to focus on what really matters: making an impact.

But let’s be real—AI can also feel overwhelming. There are so many tools, and it’s hard to know which ones actually help versus the ones that are just hyped-up nonsense.

That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Here’s a breakdown of the best AI tools for nonprofits and entrepreneurs, with real case studies, pricing, and how to use them to make your life easier.

1. The AI Tools You Actually Need (No Fluff, Just the Best)

Here’s a quick snapshot of what each tool does, how much it costs, and how nonprofits & small businesses can use it.

2. How to Use These AI Tools to Supercharge Your Nonprofit or Small Business

🧠 ChatGPT: Your AI Writing Assistant (That Doesn’t Get Tired!)

💡 What It Does:

• Writes grant proposal drafts, blog posts, and donor outreach emails.
• Helps you brainstorm fundraising ideas.
• Generates social media content in seconds.

📌 Real Example: How United Way Uses AI for Donor Engagement

United Way of Connecticut started using AI-powered chatbots to engage with donors and answer common questions. The chatbot reduced staff workload by 30% while improving donor response times.

💰 Cost: Free; ChatGPT Plus ($20/month); Nonprofits get 20%-50% off Enterprise plans.

💬 Claude AI: The AI That Researches Grants So You Don’t Have To

💡 What It Does:

• Reads long, complex grant guidelines and gives you a summary.
• Helps identify the best funding opportunities for your mission.
• Assists in drafting responses tailored to grant requirements.

📌 Real Example: How Save the Children Used AI for Grant Research

Save the Children used Claude AI to analyze hundreds of grant opportunities and prioritize which ones aligned with their programs. This cut down research time by 40%, allowing them to apply for more funding in less time.

💰 Cost: Free; Pro ($20/month); Team Plans ($25-$30/user per month).

🎨 Canva AI: Your Nonprofit’s Free Graphic Designer

💡 What It Does:

• Instantly generates flyers, social media graphics, and presentations.
• Suggests on-brand colors, fonts, and layouts automatically.
• Uses AI to remove backgrounds and create professional visuals.

📌 Real Example: How St. Jude’s Uses AI for Fundraising Campaigns

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital uses Canva AI to quickly design event flyers, donor thank-you cards, and digital ads. By automating graphic design, their team saves 10+ hours per campaign.

💰 Cost: $12.99/month (Pro plan includes AI features).

⚡ Zapier: Your Personal Assistant That Automates Everything

💡 What It Does:

• Saves you hours by automating repetitive tasks.
• Connects your tools (Google Sheets, Mailchimp, Slack, etc.).
• Automates donor follow-ups and campaign tracking.

📌 Real Example: How Feeding America Automates Donor Data with AI

Feeding America, one of the largest hunger relief organizations, uses Zapier to automatically collect and update donor data. Instead of manually entering donations into their system, AI handles it in real time, reducing admin hours by 50%.

💰 Cost: Starts at $19.99/month (Free plan available).

3. Exclusive Nonprofit Discounts & Grants for AI Tools

🔹 ChatGPT offers 20%-50% off for nonprofits (apply through OpenAI’s nonprofit program).
🔹 Google for Nonprofits offers $10,000/month in free Google Ads credits—plus AI-powered ad creation tools.
🔹 Microsoft AI for Good provides funding and AI resources for nonprofits.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re a nonprofit, always ask AI providers about nonprofit pricing. Many offer discounts even if they don’t publicly list them!

4. Final Thoughts: AI is Here to Help—Let It!

You’re already doing incredible work. AI isn’t here to replace you—it’s here to make your job easier so you can focus on what matters.

AI can help you:
✅ Save hours on grant research & donor outreach.
✅ Automate boring, repetitive tasks.
✅ Create beautiful marketing materials in minutes.

If you’re ready to embrace AI, start small. Try one tool at a time and see how much time you save.

💡 Want more AI-powered strategies for your nonprofit or business? Join our email list for exclusive insights, free resources, and AI automation tips.