Chat GPT & Fundraising: what's next?

We have a confession to make. The four preceding articles were all written exclusively by Chat GPT. Surprised, concerned, enlightened? Did you guess? Do you feel misled?

These are all questions that we have asked ourselves when testing what a powerful piece of technology for fundraisers but one, which brings with it some ethical questions.

Using one example – bid writing. Is it ethical that fundraisers use such technology such as GPT to craft funding bids, is it cheating?

On one hand, you could argue absolutely. Using it in this manner means that answers are not hand drafted and removes the skill of bid writing – the ability to craft careful, concise, and considered narrative to which to approach funders.

On the other hand, one must ask whether the use of such technology might help to level the playing field – with smaller organisations, without expert fundraisers, having access to a tool which can provide a free resource to draft applications. 

Furthermore, might such technology start to usher in a new era or bid writers who, despite having the necessary strategic thinking and knowledge, struggle to write, for example, those with dyslexia or those with poor literacy skills? Is Chat GPT one answer to increasing social diversity in the sector?

Perhaps we are looking at this in black and white, when perhaps a shade of grey might be more helpful. 

For example, could technology such as GPT act as a mere complement to support fundraisers in their bid writing, in the same way as search engines help fundraisers find research to show a specific need for a project? Might Chat GPT give a starting point, from which to build the nuanced and well-crafted applications needed to solicit funding?

The very thought process above shows that – given the technology is both new and evolving – that we don’t have all the answers, and neither does the sector. So, what is next?

There is no doubt that AI technology, and specifically Chat GPT, can be a powerful and useful tool for fundraising. However, it requires further interrogation and debate across the sector as to its implementation and the ethical concerns. 

We are at the very start of a new technological journey, one in which AI will play the leading role. In a sector which is too often behind the curve, perhaps the time to get ahead of it is now?

This is the final instalmant in our 5 part series on Chat GPT and fundraising – read the first four articles here.