Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

The occupation "Fundraising Managers" has a base automation risk of 46.9%, indicating that nearly half of the job’s tasks could potentially be automated using current or emerging technologies. This moderate risk level stems from a combination of administrative, organizational, and communication tasks that can easily be replicated by artificial intelligence or software solutions. For instance, activities such as assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of fundraising staff are increasingly managed using robust project management tools and HR platforms equipped with advanced tracking and reporting features. Similarly, compiling or developing grant materials—tasks that once required manual data collection and formatting—can now utilize automated templates, content generators, and research bots. Furthermore, contacting corporate representatives, government officials, or community leaders for outreach can be streamlined through automated mailing systems and CRM platforms that automate scheduling, follow-ups, and messaging. However, not all aspects of the role are equally susceptible to automation. Writing compelling and effective press releases, preparing information for media kits, and maintaining the organization’s online presence involve a high degree of creativity, linguistic nuance, and brand alignment, which current AI systems struggle to fully replicate. Directing the activities of external agencies or departments to develop fundraising strategies requires complex decision-making, negotiation, and strategic oversight—skills that remain largely human-dominated due to the need for context awareness and adaptive thinking. Additionally, planning and directing special fundraising events, such as silent auctions or community gatherings, relies heavily on people management, real-time problem-solving, and social intelligence, all of which are difficult to automate at a high level of quality. Several bottleneck skills contribute to the relative resistance of this occupation to full automation. High-level communication abilities enable managers to craft persuasive messages and build lasting relationships—skills that require emotional intelligence and empathy beyond AI’s current reach. Strategic planning and event management demand creativity, flexibility, and on-the-fly decision-making that cannot be fully codified into algorithms. Finally, leadership and team supervision entail not just tracking and accountability, but also motivational and conflict resolution skills, reinforcing the human element in directing complex projects. Overall, while many repetitive or administrative tasks in fundraising management are ripe for automation, the occupation’s core functions still depend substantially on uniquely human abilities.