Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Fundraisers:
58.2%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forFundraisers
$72,550 median salary•10,000 annual openings•SOC Code: 13-1131.00
Fundraisers are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 8 sources.
Fundraising is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the work, building real relationships with donors, showing up at events, and earning people's trust, is exactly the kind of deeply human activity that AI struggles to replicate. In fact, 82% of fundraisers are already comfortable using AI for donor research, while most still feel that AI-generated donor communications feel too impersonal, which shows that the field is finding a healthy balance between tools and human connection.
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Fundraising is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the work, building real relationships with donors, showing up at events, and earning people's trust, is exactly the kind of deeply human activity that AI struggles to replicate. In fact, 82% of fundraisers are already comfortable using AI for donor research, while most still feel that AI-generated donor communications feel too impersonal, which shows that the field is finding a healthy balance between tools and human connection.
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Fundraisers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Fundraisers jobs?
If you're thinking about a career in fundraising, here's some good news: AI is showing up as a helper more than a replacement. Fundraisers plan and oversee campaigns and events to raise money and other donations for an organization, and much of that work is deeply human. But the "behind-the-scenes" tasks — like updating donor databases, tracking campaign progress, and analyzing giving patterns — are being augmented by AI fast.
According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy [1], the College of Charleston now uses an "AI fundraiser" that texts and emails alumni about their favorite professors or campus buildings, then uses those replies to craft personalized appeals — freeing gift officers to focus on real relationships. Small charities are also using AI coding tools to auto-import donor data from different systems, which one Toronto fundraiser said gave him back hours each week to spend with donors instead of copy-pasting spreadsheets. On the adoption side, NonProfit PRO reports [2] that "nearly two-thirds of nonprofits are already using AI for fundraising and development tasks," with the most common uses being donor communications (62%), marketing (60%), and data analysis (42%).
Interestingly, Nonprofit Tech for Good's 2026 statistics roundup [3] found that "63% of fundraisers are unsure about using generative AI for donor communications because it seems less personal, but 82% are comfortable using AI for donor research" — which lines up with the O*NET task automation scores: high for database/monitoring work, very low for in-person relationship building.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Fundraisers?
Adoption is happening quickly on the tool side but slowly on the strategy side. Cost isn't the main barrier — The Chronicle notes [1] that "AI tools are plentiful, and many are free or inexpensive or part of existing software," which is why 30% of nonprofits already say AI has boosted fundraising revenue. What's slowing things down is trust and training.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals [4] points to the AI Equity Project 2025, which found that "nearly 80% of nonprofits are using AI in some way, yet only 9% feel ready to use it responsibly." Ethics matter here — donors expect authenticity, and 70% of nonprofit staff worry about data privacy. Labor market factors also favor adoption: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [5] projects employment of fundraisers will grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 10,000 openings each year — meaning organizations need AI to help stretched teams, not shrink them. The bottom line for young people: the parts of fundraising that require empathy, showing up at community events, and building donor trust are exactly the tasks with the lowest automation risk.
If you can pair those human skills with comfort using AI tools for research and data, you'll be well-positioned in a field that's growing, not disappearing.
Sources
Will AI replace Fundraisers?
No. We don't think AI will replace Fundraisers, though we do expect the job to change.
Fundraising earns a 58.2% AI Resilience Score from us, and the reason is pretty straightforward: the core of the job is human connection. Showing up at events, earning a donor's trust, and making someone feel genuinely seen are things AI simply cannot replicate. Nearly two-thirds of fundraisers are uncomfortable using generative AI for donor communications because it feels less personal [3], and that instinct reflects something real about what donors actually respond to.
What AI is changing is the back-office work. Donor research, database management, and campaign tracking are already being automated or heavily assisted by tools that free up fundraisers to spend more time with people [1]. Nearly two-thirds of nonprofits are already using AI for fundraising tasks like donor communications and data analysis [2], and 30% say it has already boosted revenue.
The job market supports this picture too. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% employment growth for fundraisers through 2035, with around 10,000 openings each year [5]. Organizations are using AI to help stretched teams do more, not to cut headcount. If you pair genuine people skills with comfort using AI tools, this field has real room for you.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Fundraisers
These articles highlight the transformative impact of AI on fundraising careers. For instance, Blackbaud's integration of AI tools promises to enhance fundraising insights, empowering fundraisers to make data-driven decisions. Conversely, a survey revealed that many fundraisers are apprehensive about AI's role, emphasizing the need for adaptability. The potential of AI to significantly boost donations, as shown in a study where AI outperformed human fundraisers, underscores the importance of embracing these technologies. By being open to AI advancements, future fundraisers can enhance their effectiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing landscape.
How Could Blackbaud (BLKB) Change Fundraising Work With Its New AI Integration?
finance.yahoo.com • 8/13/2026
Blackbaud (NasdaqGS: BLKB) has integrated Microsoft 365 Copilot with Raiser's Edge NXT, bringing AI-driven fundraising insights directly...
Fundraisers concerned about AI impact on role, survey finds
www.civilsociety.co.uk • 8/6/2026
Many charity fundraisers are concerned about the impact of AI and automation on their roles, according to a survey by CharityJob.
AI Convinces People to Donate Nearly 3x More Than Human Fundraisers
www.unite.ai • 6/18/2026
A new Oxford-led study suggests that leading language models can raise notably more money than professional fundraisers, and can reliably...
Nonprofit AI Adoption Report 2026 - NonProfit PRO - Tactical Leadership Strategy for the Modern NonProfit
www.nonprofitpro.com • 2/17/2026
Nonprofit AI adoption reaches 92%, but only 7% report major fundraising impact, according to a new 2026 benchmark study.
How to use AI to Fundraise | Fundraising with AI
www.gofundme.com • 1/20/2026
Learn how to use AI to fundraise on GoFundMe. Discover AI fundraising tools, personalized asks, and data-driven tips to boost donations and...
More Career Info
Career: Fundraisers
They help organizations get money by planning events, reaching out to donors, and promoting causes to support important projects and goals.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$72,550
Jobs (2025)
140,900
Growth (2025-35)
+5.5%
Annual Openings
10,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Attend community events, meetings, or conferences to promote organizational goals or solicit donations or sponsorships.
2
Direct or supervise fundraising staff, including volunteer staff members.
3
Contact corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders to increase awareness of organizational causes, activities, or needs.
4
Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
5
Secure speakers for charitable events, community meetings, or conferences to increase awareness of charitable, nonprofit, or political causes.
6
Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
7
Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
