Ep 165| Why AI Visibility Matters for Nonprofits - with Raj Hegde

Jul 3, 2025

Raj Hegde, SVP of Growth & Marketing at Donorbox, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing donor behavior. He emphasizes that if nonprofits aren't leveraging AI visibility, they're risking funding. The discussion covers how strategic online presence and meaningful content can enhance donor trust and engagement. Hegde also highlights the importance of visual storytelling in showcasing impact. Tune in for practical strategies and tools, including a free AI visibility checklist for nonprofits to assess their online presence.

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INSIGHT

AI Changes Donor Discovery

Donors strongly rely on AI tools like ChatGPT to discover nonprofits, with 73% using these tools.
If your nonprofit does not appear well on AI platforms, it is effectively invisible to many donors.

INSIGHT

AI as Decision Gatekeeper

Donors now ask AI tools direct questions instead of doing keyword searches.
AI acts as a gatekeeper using structured data and trusted sources, not just as an assistant.

INSIGHT

AI Needs Structured Data

Having a great website alone does not guarantee AI visibility.
AI tools rely on structured, trusted data sources, not traditional web crawling like Google.

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AI isn’t coming - it’s already deciding who gets funded.

This episode is your wake-up call.

Donors are turning to ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools to find and evaluate nonprofits they can trust with their support. If your organization isn’t showing up, or showing up accurately, you may already be missing out.

In our Season 6 premiere, Jena sits down with Raj Hegde, SVP of Growth & Marketing at Donorbox, to break down how AI is quietly reshaping donor behavior, and what your nonprofit can do right now to stay seen, trusted, and funded.

You’ll learn:

How AI tools are changing donor discovery
What “AI visibility” really means - and why it matters
The small gaps that create big funding problems
Simple steps to assess your current AI presence

💡 Don’t miss the free AI Visibility Checklist to help you track and improve your org’s visibility where donors are looking.
👉 https://library.donorbox.org/donorbox-ai-visibility-checklist/

Resources and links to guide you:

Charity Navigator: https://www.charitynavigator.org/
GuideStar: https://www.guidestar.org/
Schema Markup for Nonprofits: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data
Google Markup Helper: https://www.google.com/webmasters/markup-helper/

▶️ Prefer to watch? The full video episode is available now on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Donorbox

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast and a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics are available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode: 🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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