How AI Can Help Year-End Fundraising Overwhelm with Tommy Vacek
Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Practical Advice for Overwhelmed Small Teams
Julia asks for one tip; Tommy recommends small AI experiments, education on security and ethics, and doing tool homework.
This episode was recorded live on LinkedIn.
The final months of the year can feel like a sprint—and for nonprofit fundraisers, it’s often a marathon on top of that. Between Giving Tuesday, holiday campaigns, and meeting year-end goals, teams are juggling outreach, reporting, donor stewardship, and internal pressure to perform with limited resources.
But what if fundraisers could move from a place of overwhelm to a sense of abundance—not by working harder, but by working smarter?
In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, we’re diving into the power and possibility of AI with Tommy Vacek, Chief Technology Officer at Bloomerang. Tommy brings a unique perspective to this conversation—not only as a tech leader, but as someone deeply invested in building tools that amplify, not replace, human effort in the nonprofit sector.
Together, we explore how AI can become a trusted ally to fundraisers, especially during the high-pressure year-end season. From practical ways AI can lighten the lift—like automating repetitive tasks or drafting donor communications—to more strategic considerations around ethics and human connection, this conversation is full of actionable insights for nonprofit leaders looking to embrace AI with confidence and clarity.
Tommy also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Bloomerang is approaching AI within its own platform, and how the company is working to ensure its tools are aligned with the values and real-world challenges of the fundraising community.
🔍 We Discuss:
- Why year-end fundraising is a perfect test case for smart AI implementation
- Real-world examples of how AI can support donor segmentation, appeal writing, and campaign optimization
- How nonprofit professionals can upskill to stay ahead of the AI curve
- Ethical considerations and how to keep technology aligned with trust and transparency
- A sneak peek into how Bloomerang is integrating AI in ways that empower, not overwhelm, fundraising teams
🧰 Resources & Links:
Learn more about Bloomerang's AI tool: https://bloomerang.com/blog/meet-penny/
Connect with Tommy Vacek on LinkedIn
🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷
What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars. Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.
That's where Bloomerang comes in. Bloomerang's Giving Platform is built for purpose, with easy-to-use tools and powerful insights that help you understand your donors better than ever and unleash generosity! (Slightly faster, more energetic) Imagine... spending less time on admin tasks and more time on what mat
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