Jacques Swart | Operations Co-ordinator, Inyathelo

Hey there! Grab a seat and let me tell you about this wild journey I’ve been on with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the nonprofit world. It’s been quite a ride, and I’m bursting to share what I’ve learned.

So picture this: I’m sitting at my desk at Inyathelo, drowning in paperwork and thinking, “There’s got to be a better way.” That’s when I stumbled upon this AI thing everyone’s been talking about. At first, I was sceptical – I mean, robots doing our job? Come on! But then I started playing around with it, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.

Now, I’m no tech wizard, but I’ve always had a thing for gadgets that make life easier. When ChatGPT hit the scene in late 2022, it was like Christmas came early. Suddenly, all those tedious tasks that used to eat up my day? Zap! AI could handle them in no time. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

As I dug deeper, I realised AI could be our secret weapon in the constant battle for resources. You know how it is in nonprofits – we’re always trying to do more with less. Well, AI is like having a super-smart intern who never sleeps. It helps brainstorm ideas, whips up project plans, and even lends a hand with fundraising. It’s like having an extra brain to bounce ideas off.

But here’s the kicker – it’s not perfect. Sometimes it’ll spout nonsense or get facts mixed up. That’s when I knew I had to up my game. I dove headfirst into the world of AI, gobbling up every podcast and newsletter I could find. I even took an online course in prompt engineering – fancy talk for “how to talk to AI so it doesn’t give you garbage.”

Through all this, I’ve found my go-to AI buddies. ChatGPT is my project management pal, breaking down big ideas into bite-sized steps. Claude AI? That’s my writing wizard – give it a topic, and it’ll whip up anything from a quick email to a full-blown report. And when I need to do some serious digging? Perplexity.ai is my research sidekick.

But hey, it’s not all about words. There’s cool stuff happening with images and videos too. Ever heard of Midjourney or Runway? They’re like having a graphic designer and video editor on speed dial.

Oh, and let me tell you about this other cool thing I’ve discovered – AI data analytics. It’s like having a super-smart assistant who can make sense of all the information we’ve collected over the years. You know how in nonprofits, we’re always sitting on mountains of data but never quite sure what to do with it all? Well, this is where AI really shines.

So picture this: We’ve got years of donor information, project outcomes, and impact reports just gathering digital dust on our servers. Enter AI data analytics. It’s like giving all that info to a master detective who can spot patterns and connections we’d never see on our own.

But it’s not just about looking backward. This AI stuff is pretty good at predicting trends too. We can use it to analyse donor behavior, and it can help tailor your fundraising strategies.

The best part? You don’t need to be a data scientist to use this stuff. I’m certainly not! But with a bit
of training and the right tools, anyone can start unlocking the stories hidden in their organisation’s data. It’s like having a crystal ball, except it’s based on actual facts and figures.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “This sounds great, but where do I even start?” Well, let me spill the beans on my not-so-secret formula:

1.  Hit the books (or, you know, YouTube). There’s a ton of free training out there.
   
   
2.  Spread the love. Get your whole team in on the AI action. Trust me, it’s a blast.
   
   
3.  Start small. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your AI strategy.
   
   
4.  Most importantly? Play around and team up. The magic happens when you experiment and bounce ideas off each other.

But listen, here’s the real talk – AI isn’t going to do your job for you. It’s a tool, not a magic wand. You’ve still got to bring your A-game and double-check everything. At the end of the day, it’s your name on the work, AI or no AI.

Of course, like everything with AI, you’ve got to use your noggin. The insights are only as good as the data you feed it, and you still need that human touch to decide what to do with the information. But man, when you get it right, it’s like switching on a light in a room where you’ve been fumbling around in the dark for years.

So yeah, if you’re not leveraging AI in your nonprofit, you’re missing out on a financial opportunity. It’s a proven strategy to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and achieve greater impact.

So there you have it – my whirlwind romance with AI in the nonprofit world. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m still learning every day. Who knows what’s next? But one thing’s for sure – the future’s looking pretty exciting from where I’m sitting.

This article was first published in the 2024 Inyathelo Annual Report.