2,007 donors told us where AI belongs in fundraising, and where it does not
Exclusive research on AI donor perceptions, straight from the people who support nonprofit work. Neon One anonymously surveyed 2,007 donors about their thoughts on AI, how they’ve noticed it being used in the organizations they support, when and how they are comfortable with nonprofits using AI, and which tasks they prefer stay human. They ranked eight of the most common AI-powered tasks from most acceptable to least, and the order is not the one most fundraising teams would predict.
If you’ve held off on adopting AI because you assumed it would cost you donor trust, this data may change your mind. If you’re already using AI-powered tools, read the report to learn the specific places your supporters want a person closely involved, how it impacts their trust and likelihood to give, and more.
Key Findings at a Glance
- 87.6% of surveyed donors are familiar with AI and 19.9% believe they’ve seen the nonprofits they support using it.
- 94% of respondents approve of nonprofits using AI in their day-to-day operations.
- 71.6% of donors say it’s moderately or very important that a human is involved in writing the communications they receive from a nonprofit.
- 57.7% of donors said that a nonprofit using AI to decide when and how to ask for their support wouldn’t impact their likelihood to give one way or another.
Get the Full Report
Your donors are not scared of AI, and they’re not opposed to you using it. Most of the people we surveyed said that they’re comfortable with nonprofits using AI-powered tools, and using those tools thoughtfully doesn’t have to erode the trust your donors have in you.
Download the full thing to see exactly what we asked, exactly how donors answered, and what their feedback means for you and your organization.
About the Research
We surveyed 2,007 people in the United States who gave to a nonprofit in the previous 12 months. Responses were collected anonymously. Giving levels ranged from under $100 to $50,000, with 51.5% giving between $1 and $100 and 33.1% giving between $101 and $500.
This report focused on everyday donors, or those who give under $5,000 in a given year. In fact, more than 84% of respondents gave $500 or less in the last year. These are the supporters who make up the majority of most small and midsize nonprofit donor files.
It does not. It tells you what donors said, and it offers guidance grounded in those answers. The decision about what best fits your organization still lies with you.
No. Respondents were donors to any nonprofit. The findings apply regardless of which technology your organization uses.
Nothing! Just fill out the form, and the report opens immediately.
The AI Xchange by Neon One
A free resource hub that helps you use AI efficiently and safely—showing you exactly what to hand off to AI and what to keep human, so you save time without risking donor trust.
