“Small Nonprofit, Big Impact: 5 Ways AI Can Save You Time & Money”

“78% of nonprofit leaders say they’re interested in using AI, but only 15% feel confident in how to start.” — Salesforce Nonprofit Trends Report

Running a small nonprofit often feels like doing 10 jobs at once with little time and even less budget. The good news? Artificial intelligence (AI) can help. You don’t need to be a tech expert or have a big budget to take advantage of AI tools that make your work easier, faster, and more impactful.

Here are five practical ways nonprofits can use AI right now:

1. Automate Administrative Tasks

Scheduling volunteers, sending reminder emails, or drafting thank-you notes can eat up hours. Tools like ChatGPT or Google Duet can draft professional emails in seconds, while scheduling assistants like Calendly handle meeting coordination automatically.

2. Create Better Marketing Content

Struggling with social media posts or newsletters? AI design platforms like Canva’s AI tools or Lumen5 can turn your updates into eye-catching graphics and videos. This helps your nonprofit look polished without paying a full design team.

3. Simplify Grant Writing and Reporting

AI won’t replace grant writers, but it can cut down the workload. Draft grant proposals with ChatGPT, then refine and add the human touch. You can also use AI to summarize program data into clear reports for funders.

4. Translate Content to Reach More People

If your nonprofit serves a multilingual community, tools like DeepL or Google Translate can quickly translate newsletters, flyers, or outreach materials — helping you reach more families without hiring multiple translators.

5. Save Time on Research

Need to identify potential funders, pull community stats, or scan long reports? AI research assistants can do in minutes what might take staff hours. That means more time focused on programs and people.

Bottom line: You don’t need a big budget to make AI work for you. Start small, try free tools, and see where AI saves you the most time.

👉🏽 Call to Action: At NextPhase, we help nonprofits integrate AI tools in practical ways that fit their mission and budget. Contact us today to explore how AI can help your team do more with less.