Personalizing Donor Engagement at Scale: How AI Expands Fundraising Capacity

How AI Turns Small Teams Into Powerhouses

Fundraising teams are being asked to do more than ever—build authentic relationships, grow mid‑level programs, and identify the next generation of major donors—often without the headcount to match the ambition. In this thought leadership conversation, Blackbaud experts Stephen Churchill and Carol Belair explore how a new generation of agentic AI is reshaping what’s possible for philanthropic organizations.

Drawing on real‑world experience across analytics, fundraising strategy, and emerging AI capabilities, this session reframes personalization not as a manual effort, but as a scalable, outcome‑driven approach. You’ll hear how intelligent systems can act with purpose—supporting staff by identifying opportunities, adapting outreach, and stewarding donors in ways that extend far beyond traditional segmentation—while keeping humans firmly in control.

This is not about replacing fundraisers. It’s about expanding their reach, sharpening their focus, and helping every donor feel known—even when teams are small and missions are big.

In this session, you’ll walk away with:

• A clearer understanding of how agentic AI differs from traditional automation—and why that distinction matters for donor relationships

• Insight into how organizations are identifying and engaging more high‑potential donors without adding staff

• Practical ways AI can support mid‑level and emerging major‑gift strategies with measurable outcomes in mind

• A framework for balancing human judgment, trust, and governance with intelligent systems that take initiative responsibly

Why this conversation matters

Social impact work is serious business—and the stakes are high. When technology is designed to work the way fundraisers do, it can unlock capacity that already exists but has been stretched too thin. This session is an invitation to rethink what your team could achieve with the right kind of intelligence working alongside you.