AI and Grant Writing: Exploring the Future of Fundraising

The Impact of AI on Grant Writing

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making waves across industries, and the grant writing profession is no exception. As AI tools become more sophisticated, many grant writers are wondering how this technology will affect their work. Will AI replace human grant writers entirely? Or will it enhance their capabilities and make the grant writing process more efficient?

To explore these questions, we spoke with Philip Deng, co-founder and CEO of Grantable, a company at the forefront of applying AI to grant writing. Deng has been thinking about the intersection of AI and grant writing for over two years, well before ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022. His insights provide a balanced and nuanced perspective on how AI is likely to impact the grant writing profession in the coming years.

Will AI Replace Grant Writers?

One of the most pressing concerns for many grant writers is whether AI will eventually make their jobs obsolete. According to Deng, the answer is increasingly looking like "no." While AI will certainly change the grant writing landscape, it's unlikely to replace human grant writers entirely.

Deng predicts that AI will impact the grant writing sector in several key ways:

1. Streamlining the writing process: AI tools will likely reduce the time spent on assembling narratives, managing character limits, and other technical aspects of proposal writing.

2. Enhancing research capabilities: AI has the potential to improve individual research capacity, although current tools like ChatGPT are not yet reliable for this purpose.

3. Increasing grant applications: As AI lowers the barriers to creating grant proposals, more organizations may begin applying for grants.

Interestingly, Deng believes that the third point - an increase in grant applications - may actually lead to more work for grant writers, not less. As more organizations enter the grant-seeking arena, there will be a greater need for skilled professionals to navigate the competitive landscape and craft compelling proposals.

The Role of Human Grant Writers in an AI-Assisted Future

Rather than replacing grant writers, AI tools are more likely to augment their capabilities and change the nature of their work. Deng envisions a future where grant professionals take on roles similar to real estate agents, using their insights and expertise to help the right applicants find the right funders.

This shift aligns with broader trends in the philanthropic sector, such as the growing emphasis on trust-based philanthropy and relational grant-making. These approaches prioritize human connections and relationships, areas where AI cannot compete with skilled grant writers.

As AI tools handle more of the technical writing tasks, grant writers may find themselves focusing more on:

• Strategic planning and alignment
• Relationship building with funders
• Interpreting and contextualizing data
• Crafting unique, compelling narratives
• Ensuring proposals align with organizational values and mission

Introducing Grantable: An AI-Powered Grant Writing Tool

Grantable is an AI-powered platform designed to enhance the grant writing process without replacing human expertise. Unlike general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT, Grantable is specifically tailored to the needs of grant writers.

Here's how Grantable works:

1. Users upload previous writing samples, ideally full grant proposals.
2. When starting a new proposal, users input the prompt from the RFP and any additional instructions (e.g., character limits, tone specifications).
3. Users select source material from their uploaded documents or let the AI search for relevant content.
4. The AI generates a draft, which users can then edit manually or with AI assistance.

Deng compares using Grantable to having a personal chef come to your home, as opposed to going to a restaurant (which would be more akin to using ChatGPT). With Grantable, you're using your own "ingredients" - your organization's unique information and writing style - to create a personalized proposal.

Key Features and Benefits of Grantable

Some of the key features and benefits of Grantable include:

1. Personalization: Grantable learns your organization's voice and style, ensuring that generated content feels authentic.

2. Efficient workflow: The platform guides users through a step-by-step process, from initial drafting to fine-tuning.

3. Version history: Users can track changes and revert to previous versions if needed.

4. Collaboration tools: While still in development, Grantable aims to facilitate teamwork and data sharing among grant writers and other stakeholders.

5. Data consistency: Future updates will help maintain consistency in key data points across multiple proposals.

Learning to Work with AI in Grant Writing

As with any new technology, there's a learning curve involved in using AI for grant writing effectively. Deng offers several tips for grant writers looking to incorporate AI into their workflow:

1. Approach AI with curiosity and a beginner's mindset.
2. Experiment with different prompts and instructions to see what works best.
3. Understand the limitations of AI, particularly when it comes to research and factual accuracy.
4. Use AI for broad strokes and initial drafts, but rely on human expertise for fine-tuning and ensuring authenticity.
5. Stay informed about AI developments and best practices in the field.

The Future of Non-Profits in an AI-Driven World

Beyond its impact on grant writing specifically, Deng sees AI as potentially transformative for the non-profit sector as a whole. He posits that as AI automates more jobs in the for-profit sector, there may be a shift towards work that AI cannot easily replace - precisely the kind of mission-driven, human-centered work that non-profits specialize in.

Deng suggests that the non-profit sector, with its focus on human and planet-centered work, may be uniquely positioned to thrive in an AI-driven future. He argues that the sector has been innovating and "doing business on hard mode" for years, developing the kind of human-centered thinking and values-driven systems that will be crucial for aligning AI with societal needs.

Conclusion: Embracing AI in Grant Writing

As AI continues to evolve and integrate into the grant writing process, it's clear that the technology offers both challenges and opportunities. While AI tools like Grantable can streamline many aspects of proposal writing, they are unlikely to replace the need for human grant writers entirely.

Instead, grant writers who embrace AI as a tool to enhance their work may find themselves better equipped to navigate an increasingly competitive funding landscape. By leveraging AI for tasks like initial drafting and data management, grant writers can focus more of their energy on the strategic, relational, and creative aspects of their work that truly set them apart.

As we move forward into this AI-assisted future, it's important for grant writers to approach the technology with curiosity, caution, and a willingness to adapt. By doing so, they can help shape a future where AI and human expertise work hand in hand to advance the crucial work of the non-profit sector.

Ultimately, the goal is not to replace grant writers with AI, but to empower them with tools that make their work more efficient and effective. As Philip Deng and the team at Grantable demonstrate, AI has the potential to be a powerful ally in the quest to secure funding for worthy causes and create positive change in the world.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anBSKk-e8vI