Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “research donors and prospects before meetings and asks”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

30 min
typically, a few times a week
60%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Use prospect research and AI briefs before donor meetings

Wealth and philanthropy screening tools and your CRM's AI features rank donors by capacity and likelihood, and an AI research mode can draft a one-page brief from public sources.

Typically saves about 45% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1Run a screening of your donor file with your CRM's built-in tools or a service like DonorSearch.
  2. 2Pick the top prospects for personal outreach.
  3. 3Before each meeting, ask an AI research mode for a brief from public sources and check every claim.
  4. 4Record what you learn in the CRM, not in your head.

Tools: DonorSearch · iWave · Your donor CRM (Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Little Green Light, Neon CRM, Virtuous, Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT or Salesforce) · ChatGPT Deep Research or Claude Research

Fix 2 of 2

AI

Use AI research mode and check the sources

Deep Research modes in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity read dozens of pages and give you a cited summary.

Typically saves about 55% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Write the exact question and what you will use the answer for.
  2. 2Run it in a research mode (ChatGPT Deep Research, Claude Research, Gemini Deep Research or Perplexity).
  3. 3Open the two or three key sources it cites and confirm them.
  4. 4Save the summary where your team can find it.
Prompt to copy
Research [QUESTION]. I need this to [DECISION OR USE]. Give me a one-paragraph answer first, then the key facts as bullets with a source link for each, then what is uncertain or disputed.

Tools: ChatGPT Deep Research · Claude Research · Gemini Deep Research · Perplexity

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Fundraiser / development officer

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Other common tasks for Fundraisers / development officers