An introduction to Transforming Philanthropy: Harnessing AI for the greater good

Jacob Pruitt, president of Fidelity Charitable, introduces a blog series exploring how AI empowers donors, nonprofits, and advisors to drive greater impact. Discover strategies for deeper connections, smarter giving, and ethical innovation. 

Welcome to our new blog series on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and philanthropy. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, understanding AI's potential is crucial for the philanthropic sector. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, a donor, an advisor, or simply curious about AI, this series will offer insights to help you harness technology for good.

Why AI matters in philanthropy

AI is more than a buzzword; it’s a powerful tool that can transform how organizations streamline operations, engage with supporters, and tackle social challenges. Today’s donors seek transparency, meaningful engagement, and measurable impact. AI helps nonprofits meet these expectations by deepening connections, fostering trust, and enabling data-driven insights into donor motivations. This, in turn, enhances engagement, optimizes charitable giving, and allows organizations to allocate resources more effectively.

About this series

As the nation’s top grantmaker, Fidelity Charitable sits at the intersection of donors and causes, uniquely positioned to witness and support AI's transformative impact on philanthropy. This series will explore how AI can improve donor relationships, enhance operational efficiency, and bridge the gap between data and donors.

Through expert contributions, we’ll cover topics such as donor attitudes toward AI, the potential for autonomous fundraising, and strategies for navigating AI's ethical challenges. We’ll focus on how AI can increase donor effectiveness by enhancing personalization and strengthening relationships. Additionally, we’ll explore how AI, data, and collaboration can foster more effective giving and promote a human-centered approach to philanthropy.

Conclusion

AI has immense potential to transform philanthropy and drive meaningful, lasting change. We invite you to join us as we discover how AI can empower your philanthropic efforts and help create a brighter future. We’re excited to share these insights with our community and help donors, advisors, and nonprofits leverage AI for positive impact.

Stay tuned for future posts in this series, where we’ll share even more on AI-driven philanthropy.

Jacob Pruitt

Jacob Pruitt

President, Fidelity Charitable

Jacob Pruitt has led Fidelity Charitable, the nation’s top grantmaker, since 2021, helping donors to support over 406,000 nonprofits with nearly $84.5 billion in grants. A decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he holds degrees from Tennessee State University, the University of Chicago, Stanford’s Executive Management Program, and Harvard’s Public Education Leadership Institute. With leadership experience at T. Rowe Price, Vanguard, and Fidelity Investments®, he is passionate about education and economic development and serves on nonprofit boards that include the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and Scouting America’s National Executive Board.

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