Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 5/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Fundraising Managers:
49.2%
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.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forFundraising Managers
$123,480 median salary•3,600 annual openings•SOC Code: 11-2033.00
Fundraising Managers are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Fundraising managers land in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is already handling a meaningful chunk of their routine work — things like drafting donor emails, researching prospects, and predicting who's most likely to give — and that shift is only going to grow. The good news is that the heart of fundraising, building real relationships with donors, telling authentic human stories, and making strategic decisions about how to inspire generosity, is something AI genuinely can't replicate, and that's where most of the job actually lives.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is somewhat resilient
Fundraising managers land in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is already handling a meaningful chunk of their routine work — things like drafting donor emails, researching prospects, and predicting who's most likely to give — and that shift is only going to grow. The good news is that the heart of fundraising, building real relationships with donors, telling authentic human stories, and making strategic decisions about how to inspire generosity, is something AI genuinely can't replicate, and that's where most of the job actually lives.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Fundraising Managers
Updated Quarterly

How is AI changing Fundraising Managers jobs?
The good news for fundraising managers is that AI is mostly showing up as a helper, not a replacement. A new benchmark study from Virtuous and Fundraising.AI finds that 92% of nonprofits are using AI tools in some capacity, yet just 7% report major improvements in their organizational capability — a gap described as an "efficiency plateau." In other words, lots of fundraisers are experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, but the work itself is still being done by people.
What is AI actually doing right now? Mostly the routine writing and research parts of the job. According to Nonprofit Tech for Good's 2026 statistics roundup [1], 82% of nonprofits are using AI informally/ad-hoc, mostly to generate content like drafting donor emails, and 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.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that for years, predictive AI has helped fundraisers identify who is most likely to give, when to reach out, and how much to request. Generative AI, on the other hand, can write compelling, human-sounding outreach. Some organizations are even testing autonomous tools — while tech companies have laid off employees claiming AI makes their jobs unnecessary, we haven't seen that yet in the nonprofit sector.
However, we have seen organizations with big fundraising teams using an AI fundraiser that interacts with donors and raises money. So far, the higher-stakes work (relationship-building, major-gift meetings, strategy) is still firmly human.
Sources

How fast is AI adoption growing for Fundraising Managers?
Adoption is happening fast on the surface but slowly underneath. The tools are cheap and easy to get — ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini are inexpensive or free, which makes the cost of experimenting tiny compared to staff salaries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [2] still projects that overall employment of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 10,200 openings for public relations and fundraising managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. That's a healthy labor outlook, not a shrinking field.
Several things are slowing deeper adoption. Eighty-one percent of organizations report using AI individually and on an ad hoc basis, while only 4% say they have documented, repeatable workflows. In practice, experimentation often remains personal rather than institutional.
Governance gaps compound the issue. Nearly half of the respondents report having no formal AI policy. Trust matters too: a 2026 outlook in The Chronicle of Philanthropy [3] notes that a recent Mission Partners–Chronicle of Philanthropy survey found that just under half of nonprofits were using AI, though three-quarters agreed or strongly agreed AI would have a positive impact on nonprofits.
And as the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 [4] highlights, employers across sectors are investing more in AI skills training — meaning the people who learn to use AI well are the ones who'll thrive.
The honest takeaway: AI will keep eating the routine drafting, data lookup, and email work. But donor trust, ethical judgment, storytelling about real people, and face-to-face relationship building — the heart of fundraising — are exactly the human skills AI can't fake. If you're curious about this career, lean into those, learn the new tools, and you'll be in a strong spot.
Sources

Will AI replace Fundraising Managers?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Fundraising managers sit at a 49.2% AI Resilience Score, which means real change is coming but not a full replacement. Right now, AI is handling the routine parts: drafting donor emails, pulling research, and predicting who is most likely to give. According to data from nptechforgood.com, 82% of nonprofits are already comfortable using AI for donor research, while 63% are still uneasy about using it for actual donor communications because it feels less personal. That tension tells you something important about where the human line is.
The work that stays human is the heart of the job: building trust with donors, making the case for a cause in a room, exercising ethical judgment, and telling stories about real people and real impact. Those things are hard to automate and donors notice when they feel fake.
The broader job market still looks reasonably healthy. The BLS projects 5% employment growth for fundraising managers through 2034, faster than average, with about 10,200 openings expected each year [2]. The World Economic Forum also points out that workers who build strong AI skills alongside their human ones are the ones who will thrive [4]. Learn the tools, protect the relationships, and this career has a real future.
Sources

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Latest AI news for Fundraising Managers
These articles highlight the transformative role of AI in fundraising, offering valuable insights for aspiring Fundraising Managers. For instance, Blackbaud's AI capabilities can streamline donor relationships and enhance campaign efficiency, while Bonterra's new platform promises smarter grant management. Understanding these advancements provides students with a competitive edge, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology in their fundraising strategies. Embracing AI-driven solutions can foster resilience and innovation in their future careers, ensuring they remain relevant in a rapidly evolving sector.

Blackbaud Highlights AI Capabilities Transforming Fundraising at AFP ICON 2026
www.prnewswire.com • 4/29/2026
PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact, is proud to once again...

Topics - How AI is evolving for charities
charitydigital.org.uk • 1/12/2026
The charity sector's relationship with artificial intelligence has moved on from just adoption to ensuring it is being used responsibly and...

How can AI agents transform nonprofit fundraising?
aimmediahouse.com • 10/9/2025
Discover Blackbaud's new AI Agent for Nonprofits, automating donor stewardship and connecting data for improved social impact. Learn more!

Bonterra Que brings agentic AI to nonprofits for smarter fundraising and grant management
siliconangle.com • 10/1/2025
Nonprofit technology provider Bonterra LLC today announced the launch of Bonterra Que, a full agentic artificial intelligence platform...

Agentic AI can help nonprofits find new funding sources
www.fastcompany.com • 7/17/2025
AI-powered workflows can act as a fundraising coach or help manage donor relationships.
More Career Info
Career: Fundraising Managers
They plan and organize events or campaigns to raise money for causes or organizations, helping them get the funds they need to operate and achieve their goals.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$123,480
Jobs (2024)
45,700
Growth (2024-34)
+4.2%
Annual Openings
3,600
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new business opportunities.
2
Identify main client groups and audiences, determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them, and develop and implement a communication plan.
3
Manage special events, such as sponsorship of races, parties introducing new products, or other activities the firm supports, to gain public attention through the media without advertising directly.
4
Formulate policies and procedures related to public information programs, working with public relations executives.
5
Evaluate advertising and promotion programs for compatibility with public relations efforts.
6
Assign, supervise, and review the activities of public relations staff.
7
Produce films and other video products, regulate their distribution, and operate film library.
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.
