Created By: Terry CangelosiFebruary 13, 2024 As Orr Group continues to explore the benefits and risks of using AI to enhance work and reduce administrative burden for the nonprofit sector, a recent tool that we’ve been excited to test out is Microsoft’s Copilot for Microsoft 365. While the tool has been available for preview since the fall, it only became available to business customers with fewer than 300 users on January 16th. Since then, our AI Taskforce has dug in to see what value it could bring to an organization. In this post, I’ll provide an overview of Copilot, some highlights and lowlights of its features, and generally share my experiences and recommendations. A few things to keep in mind before we get started. This post is based off my experience as of February 13th, 2024. As with all things AI, these products evolve quickly. Microsoft’s roadmap identifies some exciting releases ahead. Orr Group is a Microsoft 365 house, meaning we can use Copilot for our email in addition to our document creation. While this tool could add value to Google Workspace users too, I’m looking at it through the lens of using Microsoft products internally. Microsoft Copilot has 3 different tiers, a “free” version, a “Pro” version, available for personal or family accounts only, and the business/enterprise-tier version. This post will focus on the features in the business/enterprise version. It’s important to consider your organization’s data security and access policies and practices before considering a rollout. While Copilot usage and data are secured within your environment (i.e. usage does not get used to train public-facing data), it’s only as secure as your organization’s governance. Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 Copilot for Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s new AI-powered assistant that is integrated in many of the tools we use daily: Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Unlike ChatGPT or other tools, which require going to a separate site or app to access, Copilot is built into the Microsoft 365 apps directly, like a better version of Clippy. Using natural language to complete tasks, draft responses, or search your files, it is designed to cut down on the clicks and expedite your work. Based on my own usage, here are some of my highlights and lowlights: Outlook 👍 Without a doubt, the ability to quickly summarize long email chains with succinct, high-level summaries has been a game changer. While cross-checking the content within the threads is still needed at times, getting the context of an email thread can be done with a click. 👎 While it can draft emails for you, I found that Copilot in Outlook struggles to capture my voice. I spent more time entering the prompt and revising the outcome than it would have taken to write the email. Word 👍 Using Copilot in Word, you can quickly get a document drafted and formatted with a few clicks. With long documents, you can summarize text blocks or ask questions directly in the document, like a living FAQ. Finally, you can reference previously created documents and have a new document created using “your voice.” 👎 “Something went wrong. Please try again in a moment.” Copilot provides me with this answer too often, especially on things I know it’s capable of handling. Its reliability is not quite there. Excel 👍 If you’re looking to format data in a table, Copilot in Excel can handle that with ease, and can handle some data analysis. 👎 Personally, I’m not always working from a table, so the above highlight has limited added value. It doesn’t currently work with Pivot Tables, and I can’t prompt it to “create me a formula to do this,” or “fix this formula to accomplish that,” something I do often in ChatGPT. I find the Copilot features in Excel among the weakest, however, it should be noted that Microsoft still considers Copilot in Excel in “preview.” PowerPoint 👍 Copilot does a decent job at turning your documents into a simple presentation if you’re looking for something to get started. It aptly separates sections into appropriately formatted slides and cuts out fluff from bullet points. Visually, it can add stock images and backgrounds. 👎 Many of the formatting features that Microsoft claims Copilot in PowerPoint can do are still in the beta stage. I was unable to get the tool to overlay organization branding (templates, fonts, colors) into the slides it generated, without doing it manually. There is a lot of opportunity here in the future, but in my opinion, Beautiful.ai is currently a stronger presentation creation tool. Copilot for Microsoft 365 has some worthwhile features, and this post only scratches the surface (it is also integrated into Teams and OneNote, and has its own standalone chatbot). At $30 per user per month, there is a steep cost for these AI features, and it’s up to each organization (again, with consideration to data security practices) to determine if it’s worth it or not. At this stage, with what Copilot currently has to offer, I’m not convinced it has the ROI yet for a full-staff rollout. However, this will very likely change in the coming months as Microsoft continues to invest in the product, and our Taskforce is excited to continue to test out the new features in an effort to maximize its potential! Author’s Note: If you’ve gotten this far, you’ve long passed the absurd title for this post. It’s so ridiculous, I love it and I can’t blame AI for coming up with it! Seamlessly Integrate AI Into Your Nonprofit With Orr Group At Orr Group, we’re enthusiastic about the future of AI and hope to share that enthusiasm with our nonprofit partners. We are ready to assist your organization in brainstorming ways to seamlessly and safely integrate AI into your fundraising and other operational efforts. Contact us to learn more about how we can help elevate your organization to new heights. Contact Us Terry Cangelosi is a Senior Director and Head of Operations at Orr Group. Terry brings 10+ years of nonprofit operations experience to ensure the most efficient operations in Orr Group’s workflows, technology, and infrastructure. Terry is a member of Orr Group’s AI Taskforce.
AI for Nonprofits: Tools and Tactics to Scale Your Impact Published Date 2026 AI for Nonprofits: Tools and Tactics to Scale Your Impact Created by: Terry Cangelosi Updated: January 5, 2026 In today’s technologically driven world, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed various industries, including fundraising for nonprofit organizations. AI tools have proven to be significant game-changers, enhancing efficiency, creativity, and personalization in donor engagement. To capitalize on these opportunities, over 60% of nonprofits have started embracing AI in their operations. However, despite these high adoption rates, 92% of nonprofits feel unprepared for AI implementation. To prepare your team to fully leverage AI, let’s explore the landscape and discuss strategies for using popular AI-powered tools in nonprofit work. AI for Nonprofits: FAQ Leveraging AI: Best Practices for Nonprofits Top AI Tools for Nonprofits Orr Group’s AI Services for Nonprofits AI for Nonprofits: FAQ What is AI? AI is advanced technology that can perform intricate tasks and mimic human intelligence. While AI has become a hot topic in recent years, it’s been around for a while, performing simpler duties like sorting emails or scheduling appointments. However, recent advancements in AI have allowed machines to better understand language, process more complex tasks, and generate original content. Nonprofits can use AI to enhance: Prospecting and fundraising by analyzing existing donor data for trends and identifying new prospects with high potential to give Donor communication by analyzing donors based on shared characteristics and tailoring outreach to them for increased engagement Grant writing by quickly reading applications and generating proposal drafts based on previous applications and organizational materials Human resources by automating interview scheduling, onboarding, training, performance management, and other employee-focused functions Graphic design by creating visually appealing infographics or mockups Administrative functions by automating repetitive tasks like data entry, timekeeping, and record maintenance Data insights and reporting by analyzing large datasets to forecast trends and enable better decision-making What types of AI do nonprofits usually use? The available selection of AI tools is vast and ever-growing. While each organization may have its own needs and goals that AI can support, below are several common types of AI tools you may encounter: Generative AI: machines that create new content based on user prompts and training data. Nonprofit applications: Content creation for grant proposals, social media posts, and impact reports. Large Language Models (LLMs): systems designed to understand and generate human language by learning from vast datasets. LLMs are a subset of generative AI focused primarily on creating and understanding text. Nonprofit applications: Automatically answering routine questions via chatbots or summarizing content. Predictive AI: systems that use statistical models and machine learning to identify patterns in large datasets to forecast future outcomes. Nonprofit applications: Prospecting for fundraising and data analysis to inform decision-making. What are the advantages of challenges of using nonprofit AI? Advantages Increased efficiency: With AI handling mundane tasks, nonprofits can focus on more pressing mission-critical work. Easy data reporting: Humans are more prone to making errors when reporting on and analyzing data, while AI can easily and accurately report on important data. Better decision-making: AI can provide context and information that allows nonprofits to make more informed choices faster. Scalability: Advanced AI solutions can easily adapt to a growing nonprofit’s needs, enabling organizations to handle increased workloads without overburdening staff. Proactive growth: A majority of nonprofits have adopted AI, and it’s only getting more prevalent. Your nonprofit should leverage similar technology to keep up with others in the field. Challenges Data privacy and security: Nonprofits must confirm that their chosen solution complies with relevant data privacy laws, like GDPR and CCPA, to keep supporter data safe and maintain their trust. Research which regulations apply to your constituents based on their location, and ensure that AI usage is transparently communicated when necessary. Requires human oversight: AI can make mistakes in researching and synthesizing information, so nonprofit teams need to actively maintain their solutions (more on that later). Initial and ongoing costs: Like any other software solution, AI solutions have costs associated with them, both financial and in time to implement the tech and onboard staff. Ethical concerns: AI can reinforce biases based on the datasets it’s trained on. There are also concerns about Generative AI solutions trained on user data, which can plagiarize information from other sources. AI also requires a massive amount of computing power, which has raised environmental concerns. Loss of human touch: Nonprofit outreach relies on forging deep personal connections with supporters. While AI can emulate human thought, it lacks the emotional depth needed to reinforce relationships, so it still requires staff to ensure the final product aligns with an organization’s values. Leveraging AI: Best Practices for Nonprofits Assess your organization’s AI maturity. Before adopting new tools, identify where you stand. Are you in the ad-hoc phase (with individual staff using free tools individually), the operational phase (where your whole organization leverages enterprise tools for specific tasks), or the strategic phase (where AI tools are fully integrated into your CRM)? Knowing your baseline helps you choose the right tools for your current stage. Identify areas for AI application. AI has many different uses, your nonprofit doesn’t have to rely on it for everything. Based on your AI maturity, identify a few pressing areas where AI could help your operations, like content creation, data analysis, or task automation. Establish parameters for AI privacy and ethics. Your entire team should be aligned on ethical best practices while using AI. Adopt an AI usage policy and supporting AI governance infrastructure to ensure you’re fulfilling promises to stakeholders and protecting their sensitive information. Double-check AI’s work. While AI can generate human-like text, it’s still evolving and can make mistakes. AI models often "hallucinate" facts or produce generic content that lacks the emotional resonance required for fundraising. Review and edit the generated content to ensure it aligns with your organization’s voice, mission, and fundraising goals. Properly train your team. AI can present a learning curve for teams, especially those less technologically advanced. Create structured learning sessions that encourage experimentation in a safe environment, helping team members overcome "tech anxiety." Investing in this education ensures high adoption rates and transforms AI from a daunting replacement into an empowering assistant. Don’t completely replace human interaction with AI. AI should automate administrative tasks and draft outlines, but it should never fully manage high-stakes donor relationships or sensitive communications. Use these tools to clear your schedule of busywork, allowing you to spend more time on the face-to-face interactions that drive major gifts. Work with an expert to implement AI effectively. Implementing AI involves complex challenges regarding data security, ethical compliance, and integration with existing systems that go beyond simple software installation. Since the stakes are so high, it’s worth consulting with a professional to cover all of your bases. Choosing the right AI systems, developing policies, and training your team are essential to make the most of these tools, but they take time and expert knowledge to get right. By working with a professional team like Orr Group, you can get up and running with new insights and ideal tools by your side. Top AI Tools for Nonprofits General Use/LLM: ChatGPT Use: ChatGPT is an advanced language model that has significantly influenced the nonprofit sector’s fundraising strategies. It utilizes machine learning algorithms to generate human-like text based on the input it receives. Best features: Live web search, DALL-E image generation, and access to a growing dataset. Cost per month: Limited free tier $20 Plus tier $200 Pro tier $25/user Team tier Pro tip: Eligible nonprofits can receive a 20% discount on ChatGPT Team and a 50% discount on ChatGPT Enterprise through OpenAI for Nonprofits. AI Chatbot: Cody Use: Cody is a chatbot that uses organizational content to answer HR-related queries for employees based on defined knowledge sources. Best features: Easy user interface, customizable knowledge base, task automation, and specific features for IT support, business consulting, marketing, HR, and more. Cost: $29/month for the Basic tier, $249/month for the Advanced tier Writing: Grammarly Use: Grammarly is a browser extension that enhances grammar and generates written content. Best features: Tone suggestions, auto-completion of writing, and extensive user-supplemented knowledge base. Cost: Free tier, $12/month, $15/month Prospecting: Apollo Use: Apollo is a sourcing tool that collects contact information for prospective supporters. Best features: Automated outreach, meeting scheduler, and CRM enrichment tools. Cost: Free-$119/month Grantwriting: Copilot Use: Copilot is an AI assistant integrated directly into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem that helps draft, edit, and summarize grant narratives and proposals. Best features: Seamless integration with Microsoft Word to draft content from bullet points or rewrite text for ton, the ability to securely reference your organization’s internal files to ground answers in your specific data, and web-connected research capabilities. Cost: Free-$30/user/month Graphic Design: Gamma Use: Gamma is a graphic design platform that facilitates the creation of presentations, documents, webpages, infographics, and more. Best features: AI-generated designs, customization options, and a user-friendly interface. Cost: Free-$15/seat/month Administrative: Zapier Use: Zapier automates repetitive administrative tasks while connecting various apps and services. Best features: Configurable workflows, app integrations, and a large integration ecosystem. Cost: Free-$69/month Data Management: Microsoft Power BI Use: Microsoft Power BI is a Microsoft add-on tool that allows users to create reports, visualize data, and share insights. It can be combined with Microsoft Copilot 365 for AI data insights. Best features: User-friendly integrations with Microsoft Suite, interactive dashboards, and customizable reports. Cost: Free-$10/user/month Meeting Management: Zoom AI Companion Use: Zoom AI Companion simplifies meeting management by automatically completing tasks during the meeting. Best features: Real-time meeting transcriptions, agenda generation, and the ability to assign next actions with a meeting summary. Cost: Free with paid Zoom account Orr Group’s AI Services for Nonprofits As previously mentioned, having an AI expert help with implementation can help you get up and running faster—and smarter. Orr Group has your organization covered with nonprofit-specific AI implementation experience. We offer a comprehensive suite of AI services for nonprofits, including: AI Assessment: Through comprehensive analysis and qualification, we create a high-ROI custom action plan that addresses your nonprofit’s specific needs with AI solutions. AI Implementation: Low-tech experience? No problem. We handle technical AI integration across teams, connecting AI tools to your CRM and existing platforms to automate administrative burdens. AI Training: Our team sets your nonprofit up for long-term success with a comprehensive training regimen. We work with you to build your internal AI policies and deliver customized staff training, fostering a culture of confidence and safety. AI Advisory: AI constantly evolves, so even after your initial integration, you need to remain alert to new opportunities. We provide ongoing analysis and regular strategy sessions to ensure your organization stays ahead of the curve. Our embedded partnership approach has given us hands-on experience helping many nonprofits to leverage AI to the fullest. For instance, take our work with Anthos|Home, who needed to improve the process of matching New York housing voucher recipients to available apartments and increase limited staff capacity. Through a detailed evaluation, Orr Group identified key opportunities to automate activities, improve data accuracy, streamline administrative tasks, and accelerate the housing placement process. Our work resulted in: 50+ opportunities identified 30+ new automation touchpoints 1,500 administrative hours saved annually This initiative reduced manual data entry, increased efficiencies, and enhanced the experience for both tenants and housing providers. By aligning technology with its core mission, Anthos|Home continues to strengthen its ability to drive lasting change in the fight against homelessness. Now that you have a solid understanding of AI in the nonprofit world, it’s time to create and execute your own strategy! Developing policies, training your team, and staying up-to-date on the newest best practices can be draining—but it doesn’t have to be. Having an expert team by your side allows you to play around with these tools, test them out, and see what works for you without compromising mission-critical activities. We suggest working with a team that brings a business-oriented mindset, an embedded partnership approach, and AI-specific expertise, like Orr Group. Our extensive nonprofit experience and hands-on strategy can help your nonprofit become more comfortable with AI and develop a sustainable use policy in the long term. That way, you can adapt to the rapidly changing world of AI with ease! If you’re interested in learning more about AI for nonprofits, check out our other resources: AI’s Impact On Human Resources: Harnessing Potential And Addressing Bias At Your Nonprofit. AI presents nonprofit HR teams with new, unique challenges. Address them head on with this guide’s advice. Harnessing AI Responsibly: A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. Want to learn more about ethical AI implementation in nonprofits for mission impact? Our guide has you covered. 5 Cost And Time-Efficient Strategies For Nonprofits To Embrace AI. Use these 5 strategies to expand your nonprofit’s use of artificial intelligence in fundraising and operations. Terry Cangelosi drives Orr Group’s organizational strategy on responsible AI usage, pushes to increase user adoption, develops policies and trainings, and implements AI and automation-driven efficiencies. As Head of Operations, Terry maintains safe, compliant, and effective day-to-day operations and implements projects to continually improve organizational systems.
The Environmental Impact of AI: What Nonprofits Should Know (and Do) AI Published Date 2025 The Environmental Impact of AI: What Nonprofits Should Know (and Do) Explore the environmental impact of AI, why it matters for nonprofits, and four practical steps to reduce your digital carbon footprint responsibly.
The Nonprofit AI Journey: A Roadmap for Responsible, Strategic, and Effective Implementation AI Published Date 2025 The Nonprofit AI Journey: A Roadmap for Responsible, Strategic, and Effective Implementation Orr Group developed a three-phase roadmap designed to help organizations adopt AI responsibly, strategically, and effectively. Explore our Nonprofit AI Journey to understand how your nonprofit can leverage AI.