3 AI Tools Your Nonprofit Can Start Using Today (for Free or Low Cost)
Easy Wins with Canva, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot
At CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, we recognize that nonprofits are often asked to do more with less. Navigating rapid changes in the world of AI can feel overwhelming when time and resources are already stretched thin.
The encouraging news is that you don’t need a large tech budget or a dedicated data team to begin using AI in ways that make a real difference. With a few accessible tools, your organization can save time, enhance communications, and strengthen connections with donors and the communities you serve.
Here are three AI-powered tools your team can start using right away:
- Canva: Build and Design Better Campaigns, Faster
Canva’s free version is already a go-to for nonprofit teams, but its newer AI features can help speed up your work even more. Use Magic Design to generate a suite of branded materials from just a single image or logo. The Magic Write feature can help draft headlines, event descriptions, donor thank-you messages, and more inside your designs.
Use it for:
- Social media graphics
- Event flyers
- Campaign visuals
- Writing short-form content in your brand voice
Canva also offers a free premium account for eligible nonprofits, which unlocks even more design tools.
- ChatGPT + Google Sheets: Turn Data into Donor Insights
If you’re already using tools like Bloomerang Lite or HubSpot, you can export donor data into Google Sheets and pair it with ChatGPT for surprisingly useful insights. You can ask ChatGPT to:
- Segment your donors into personas
- Suggest engagement strategies for each group
- Predict who might be most likely to give again
- Generate email copy tailored to specific donor types
This approach is especially helpful for smaller teams that don’t have built-in analytics tools or data staff. All you need is a clean spreadsheet and a clear prompt.
- Microsoft Copilot: Analyze, Summarize, and Make Content More Accessible
If your nonprofit uses Microsoft 365, you may already have access to Copilot in tools like Excel and Word. In Excel, it can help you identify donation trends, flag gaps in giving, and suggest useful donor segments. In Word or Outlook, Copilot can simplify complex language, summarize lengthy content, and assess documents for readability and accessibility.
Improving accessibility isn’t just about compliance. Accessibility can expand your reach and help more people quickly understand and engage with your content. Tools like Copilot and Grammarly can even suggest alt text, flag jargon, and rewrite materials in plain language, making your communications clearer and more inclusive for all audiences.
Final Takeaway
You don’t have to wait for a tech grant or a new budget cycle to start using AI. With tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot, your team can begin today to work more efficiently, engage more strategically, and communicate more clearly.
