Using AI for grants works best one question at a time. Uploading a whole application often yields vague, repetitive answers and masks structural errors you might miss.

Frame the context, invite clarifying questions, set word limits, then fact-check and revise before moving on. Treat AI as a closely supervised co-writer—and only use it if the funder allows it.

AI isn’t just for writing grants, it can help you decide which grants are worth your time. With tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, you can upload an RFP and get instant answers to key questions like deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility.

In this post, I’ll walk through how to use AI to do quick RFP assessments and even create a custom GPT that knows your organization and what you’re looking for. It’s one of my favorite time saving grantwriting tricks, and it might change how you approach your next application.

AI writing often reads smoothly, but beneath the surface it can carry flawed ideas, fictional examples, and subtle biases that undermine trust. Unlike human writing, the challenge isn’t typos or grammar, it’s spotting inaccuracies and cultural assumptions that slip in unnoticed. For fundraisers and communicators, sharpening your eye for these issues is critical, because credibility is the foundation of donor trust.

Thank you to everyone who joined my session on Leading Your Team Into the AI Era at Leading Philanthropy on September 17! I’m sharing a quick resource to help you take the next step: a cheat sheet on creating an AI policy, along with a few of the slides from the session.

I’d also love for you to join me for a free bonus follow-up on Wednesday, October 15 at 4 pm (ET). This Zoom session will be a chance to compare notes, share what you’ve tried, and ask questions as you bring AI into your work.

As AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini become integrated into everyday work and nonprofit operations, it’s easy to overlook that your chats are not private by default. Unless you’ve taken steps to opt out, personal and professional conversations may be used as training data to improve future models. That means donor details, client information, or even casual exchanges could be stored and referenced in ways you didn’t intend.

This article explains how each major platform handles data, from training defaults to memory features, and offers step-by-step instructions for adjusting your settings. It also covers options like temporary chats that function like “incognito mode.” With privacy laws still evolving, being proactive about these settings is the first step toward safer AI use- both at home and in the workplace.

Last week, OpenAI rolled out GPT-5 on ChatGPT, replacing all existing models with GPT-5 and the new GPT-5 Thinking mode. This upgrade was designed to seamlessly shift between capabilities depending on the task, offering a noticeable performance boost. Thinking mode, in particular, provides a deeper analytical process by revealing the steps the AI takes to form its answers. But the rollout hasn’t been without turbulence, prompting quick revisions and a flood of user feedback.

In response to vocal protests from GPT-4o enthusiasts who preferred its “personality,” OpenAI restored GPT-4o as a legacy model for paid subscribers, alongside several other older versions. As of now, users have eight different models to choose from, but GPT-5 remains the default. If you enjoy exploring new tools, try GPT-5 Thinking, just be ready for changes, as OpenAI’s lineup is likely to keep evolving.

AI agents are no longer a futuristic concept, they’re here. With OpenAI rolling out “agent mode” to all ChatGPT subscribers, these tools can now take a single prompt and autonomously plan and execute complex tasks, from scheduling meetings to drafting follow‑ups.

It’s a big leap forward, with exciting potential and real risks. Here’s what you need to know before you dive in.

Since March 2025, ChatGPT Plus subscribers have been given limited access to GPT‑4.5, a new model described as “good for writing and exploring ideas.” Early users have noticed a clear improvement: GPT‑4.5 feels more natural, nuanced, and emotionally intelligent, making it an excellent tool for brainstorming and creative projects.

The catch? Access is capped at a small number of messages each week (OpenAI hasn’t said how many), so users are strategic in how they use them. Think of it as a temporary upgrade on a flight, more legroom and better snacks, while you let the model stretch its wings on your biggest ideas.