Yesterday, I used OpenAI’s artificial-intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, for the first time.
I asked ChatGPT the following question: “How can I raise more money as a university development officer?”
Here, in full, is the response I received in less than 10 seconds:
“As a university development officer, your primary responsibility is to raise funds for your university. Here are some strategies that can help you raise more money:
- Build Relationships: Develop relationships with potential donors and alumni by engaging them in meaningful conversations about their interests and values. This helps build trust and encourages people to donate to your university.
- Personalize your approach: Tailor your approach to each individual donor, understanding their unique motivations and interests. This will make your pitch more effective and increase the likelihood of receiving a donation.
- Expand your network: Attend networking events, conferences, and meetings to meet potential donors and expand your network. Networking can also help you establish connections with people who can make large donations.
- Utilize technology: Utilize technology to maximize fundraising efforts. Utilize email marketing, social media, and online platforms to reach out to alumni and other potential donors.
- Host events: Organize events such as fundraising galas, donor appreciation events, and alumni reunions to bring people together and create opportunities for giving.
- Show Impact: Share stories and success stories that demonstrate the impact of donations on the university community. This can help donors feel more connected and motivated to give.
- Create recognition programs: Create recognition programs for donors to acknowledge their contributions and show appreciation. Recognition programs can encourage more donations and increase donor loyalty.
Remember that fundraising is a long-term effort and requires persistence and patience. Building relationships, personalizing your approach and showing the impact of donations can go a long way in raising more funds for your university.”
Not perfect. But awfully good.
The steps, the strategies, the tactics are all “out there” for our use. There really are no hidden secrets. If we are seeking to raise more money, the how-to information is easy to retrieve.
The more interesting question is why aren’t we implementing these well-known strategies more consistently?
This article was originally posted on Jason’s Blog in April 2023. To read more, visit www.jasonmcneal.com.
