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We have been using AI at Mostly Serious for quite some time, from lead scoring in popular sales and marketing tools like HubSpot to custom integrations that make translating content easy and affordable. In addition to using AI to improve outcomes for our clients, we have created an intentional focus on bringing ChatGPT Plus to every team member as a personal AI assistant, building additional custom AI solutions within our preferred ecosystem, and investing time and money in AI to enhance our internal operations. This work, along with our partnerships with many nonprofit organizations, has helped us understand the benefits of AI and the limitations and challenges in bringing ChatGPT and similar tools into your organization's workflow.

This workshop aims to assist in making ChatGPT more approachable, unlocking the powerful features available to nonprofits, and highlighting the limitations of AI.

Setting Up ChatGPT

If you don't already have a ChatGPT account, getting set up is fast and free. Go to the ChatGPT Website and click the "sign up" button. You can create an account with your email address or sign up with your Google, Microsoft, or Apple account. Continue the signup process to verify your phone number and confirm your email address. Once logged in, you will be taken to the ChatGPT dashboard. Familiarize yourself with the interface and start your first chat.

Midjourney Prompt: photo of a friendly robot working at Sunshine Nonprofit, an organization dedicated to providing solar-powered solutions to off-grid communities, landscape, view, nature, house, friendly robot in the distance --ar 2:3
Midjourney prompt: Sunshine Nonprofit, an organization dedicated to providing solar-powered solutions to off-grid communities, landscape, view, nature, house --ar 2:3
Workshop Sections

Meet Sunshine Nonprofit

Today, we will walk in the shoes (aka mechanical feet) of SerenaBot, the newest team member at Sunshine Nonprofit, an organization dedicated to providing solar-powered solutions to off-grid communities. SerenaBot has a list of tasks she needs to accomplish, and AI can be the perfect assistant to support her work. As we go through the tasks below, I encourage you to replace Sunshine Nonprofit with your organization to see how AI will manage tasks directly related to your day-to-day needs.

We'll be tackling the following tasks:

  1. Basic Communication: We'll walk through the essentials of communication. Learn how ChatGPT can help write emails, summarize articles and documents, and have conversations about PDFs using plugins.
  2. Event Planning: We’ll brainstorm event ideas, create core materials to support the event, then create a highly detailed logistical checklist to keep our event on track from first promotion through cleanup.
  3. Marketing Plan & Tactics: We’ll use ChatGPT to brainstorm a six-month marketing plan to support our event; then, we’ll use it to create a rough draft social media schedule and press release that we can refine further.
  4. Volunteer Coordination: We’ll draft a targeted volunteer recruitment message and then use ChatGPT to assist in scheduling and assigning tasks to volunteers for the "Solar Sprint" Charity Fun Run.
  5. Grant Writing: We'll use ChatGPT's web browsing feature to assist in researching grant opportunities and requirements. Then, we'll have ChatGPT write a draft for a section of the grant.

If you'd like to see the full list of prompts without ChatGPT response examples, please visit this Notion page.

Basic Communication

We will begin with several prompts aimed at having ChatGPT summarize information, identify key points, and assist in composing an email response. Following that, we will utilize a plugin to ask ChatGPT questions related to a PDF.

Event Planning

We will first brainstorm ideas for the event, then develop essential materials to support it. After that, we will create a comprehensive logistical checklist to ensure that our event runs smoothly from its initial promotion to the final cleanup.

Marketing Plan

In this section, we'll demonstrate how to utilize ChatGPT to generate ideas for a six-month marketing plan in support of your event. Additionally, we'll show you how to create a preliminary social media schedule and draft a press release using ChatGPT, which can then be fine-tuned to meet your specific needs.

Volunteer Coordination

In this section, we'll walk through drafting a targeted volunteer recruitment message for our event. Additionally, we'll showcase how to utilize ChatGPT in scheduling and assigning tasks to volunteers, ensuring a well-coordinated event.

Grant Writing

In this section, we'll demonstrate how to employ ChatGPT's web browsing capabilities to aid in researching grant opportunities and their requirements. Following that, we'll guide you through using ChatGPT to draft a section of the grant application, streamlining the process.

FAQs: ChatGPT Nonprofit Use Cases & Best Practices

1. How can nonprofits use ChatGPT to save time and resources?

ChatGPT can draft grant proposals, create event materials, answer donor questions, and coordinate volunteer communications. This frees staff to focus more on mission-critical work.

2. Can ChatGPT really help with grant writing?

Yes—it can structure proposals, suggest language based on funding priorities, and proofread for clarity. You’ll still need to provide data, stories, and final review to ensure accuracy and compliance.

3. How can AI improve volunteer coordination?

ChatGPT can draft role descriptions, schedule updates, and personalized thank-you messages. Integrated into your communication tools, it helps keep volunteers engaged without extra administrative load.

4. What role can ChatGPT play in event management?

It can assist with creating event agendas, promotional copy, and follow-up emails. Paired with human oversight, it ensures messaging is accurate, on-brand, and timely.

5. How can AI support internal nonprofit operations?

Beyond programs, ChatGPT can power internal tools like lead scoring for donor outreach or custom translations for multilingual teams. This improves efficiency and inclusivity across the organization.

6. What’s the first step to using ChatGPT in my nonprofit?

Identify one repetitive or time-consuming task—like drafting newsletters or summarizing meeting notes—and test ChatGPT there. Track time saved and results before expanding use.

7. Are there risks to using ChatGPT in a nonprofit setting?

Yes—AI can produce incorrect or biased information if prompts lack context or review. Always fact-check, protect sensitive data, and keep human oversight in the loop.

8. How do we make sure ChatGPT reflects our mission and values?

Create clear usage guidelines, train staff on prompt writing, and review outputs for tone, inclusivity, and alignment with your cause. Consistency builds trust with your community.

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