Compassionate AI goes beyond kindness and empathy. It’s deep-rooted, human-centered intelligence that understands and supports a person as a whole. Embedded in both Western rationality and Eastern wisdom, it aims to help us grow and connect more meaningfully. Instead of replacing humans, compassionate AI develops our ability to understand ourselves and each other. In medicine, education, justice, or everyday life, AI like this helps us to become better humans. It begins with believing in ourselves and leveraging the tools that are currently in our grasp.  

We are joined by Dr. Jean-Luc Mommaerts, MD, MAI, PhD, a medical doctor and AI expert with an extensive background spanning over decades in artificial intelligence. He obtained a master’s in AI and cognitive science in 1997 and a PhD in medical science in 2014. He worked as a physician for 12 years, and his attention currently remains on developing a coaching chatbot, Lisa, based on subconceptual (‘connectionist’) principles. He is devoted to using technology to support self-understanding and human well-being with the experience of both clinical medicine and artificial intelligence development.  

In today’s conversation, Dr. Jean-Luc primarily focused on explaining the concept of compassionate AI and how Lisa AI, a compassionate AI tool, prioritizes human happiness and motivation. Throughout the conversation, we dive into the following topics regarding the use of compassionate AI and its future: the role of compassionate AI in nonprofits, its potential to create a more empathetic and efficient society, the expected expansion into various fields, including healthcare, education, and judicial systems, and also the importance of keeping these types of AI accessible to everyone.  

HIGHLIGHTS

[01.04] Introduction and background to Dr. Jean-Luc Mommaerts. 

[05.28] The concept of compassionate AI.  

[10.47] The philosophy behind Lisa: a compassionate AI coach.  

[15.33] The unique aspects of Lisa AI and its focus on compassionate intelligence.  

[21.00] The role of compassionate AI in fundraising.  

[29.00] Future of compassionate AI. 

[35.38] The importance of keeping compassionate AI accessible to everyone.  

[43.54] Believing in yourself and starting the journey toward a compassionate self.  

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mommaertsjeanluc/  

Website – aurelis.org 

Email - [email protected]  

amazon.com/Jean-Luc-Mommaerts/e/B086BVMVJK&source=gmail-imap&ust=1748675972000000&usg=AOvVaw138RRdL13aH2uaS9iYF72c  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠fundraising.ai/

AI continues to offer incredible opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency, making the way to transform how we live and work. While AI becomes more involved with our daily lives, it raises critical questions about responsibility, ethics, and governance. For a responsible AI adoption, you need not only to embrace the technology and its potential but also understand the risks and limitations that come with it. For a successful but responsible AI adoption, thoughtful leadership, clear boundaries, and continuous studying to ensure that AI is being fair and safe are much-needed requirements.  

In this week’s episode, Nathan and Scott continue to share their thoughts on responsible AI adoption. They start the conversation by commenting on the book signing event they participated in for their new book, ‘Nonprofit AI.’ They also discuss the newest updates to ChatGPT and advise people to be aware of the personalities and persuasive abilities of modern AI models. Next, they explain the real harm AI can cause by walking us through the lawsuit involving Character AI. Furthermore, in the conversation, Nathan and Scott take time to go through the fourth chapter of their book, AI First Nonprofit: Reimagining Nonprofit Impact. Wrapping up this week’s episode, Nathan introduces the ponder of the week, where he questions what’s riskier between waiting to use AI until we have a full understanding of it or diving right in without understanding it at all. Scott contributes with the tip of the week, where he suggests using multi-perspective prompting to get better results from AI.  

HIGHLIGHTS

[02:41] Nathan and Scott discuss their recent book signing event for their newly released “Nonprofit AI” book.  

[07:00] Personalities and persuasive abilities of AI models. 

[11:33] The lawsuit involving Character AI.  

[17:40] Enhancing productivity and innovation in the nonprofit sector.  

[19:30] Chapter Four of Nonprofit AI: AI First Nonprofit, Reimagining Nonprofit Impact.  

[22:34] AI as a strategic driver.  

[27:30] A solution-oriented approach for AI adoption.  

[31:02] Tip of the Week – Use multi-perspective prompting to get better AI results.  

[34:16] Ponder of the Week – What’s riskier? Waiting to use AI until we understand it, or using it without understanding at all?  

Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good  

by Nathan Chappell and Scott Rosenkrans  

amazon.com/Nonprofit-Comprehensive-Implementing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/139431664X  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠

LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠fundraising.ai/

AI continues to prove its potential to enhance human touch in an era where technology often feels like it's replacing it. Most leaders are finding out that instead of replacing, AI can enhance empathy, streamline communication, and strengthen donor relationships. Using AI thoughtfully can help people reduce time-consuming work, clarify complex messages, and personalize outreach in a way that truly resonates with donors. The promise of AI is not to replace us, but its ability to enhance our humanity.  

Meet Peggy Maher, Vice President & Chief Development Officer, CHSLI and the St. Francis Hospital Foundation. Catholic Health is a $3 billion comprehensive healthcare system that serves the entire Long Island community. With a renowned career in fundraising, Peggy has held leadership positions at institutions including Stony Brook University, Columbia University, and the University of Arkansas in New York.  

In today’s conversation, Nathan and Peggy dive into the following topics regarding embracing AI with intention in the nonprofit landscape: leading with facilitation, from resistance to experimentation with AI, the benefits of voice technology, the importance of maintaining human connection, the balance between human connection and technological advancements, leadership responsibilities in adopting and using AI, and more.  

[05:18] The potential of AI to imitate a human voice.  

[12:43] Leadership, facilitation, and AI adoption.  

[16:15] Embracing curiosity and activating the experimentation stage with AI.  

[20:48] Moving from resistance to experimentation.  

[27:08] NotebookLM and the benefits of voice technology.  

[30:05] Maintaining human connection and trust in using AI.  

[34:36] Balancing technological advancements with human connection.  

[37:44] Keeping the relationships at the center of work.  

[40:00] Leadership responsibilities of adopting and using AI.  

[43:08] Showing impact through action.  

Connect with Peggy Maher 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/peggy-maher-a436772/  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠

LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠fundraising.ai/

What does it mean to be AI fluent? And why is this skill becoming crucial not just for tech teams but for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and other mission-driven professionals? In this week’s episode, Nathan and Scott ponder these very questions. They also unpack what truly drives innovation: curiosity and imagination, while commenting that the biggest barrier to progress isn’t tools but people's own imagination. They examine various aspects, from hiring strategies to leadership errors, and how AI can assist in attracting and retaining employees to maintain organizational relevance. They also discuss the critical tension of the need to explore new tools without falling for every shiny object that comes out. Whether you are just getting started or already experimenting with modern AI tools, join Nathan and Scott as they dive into leading with intention, not just adoption.  

HIGHLIGHTS

[02:19] The newest memory upgrade of OpenAI.  

[06:26] The importance of custom instructions.  

[10:41] OpenAI Academy for AI literacy and community learning. 

[17:41] AI 2027: An in-depth study on AI in the next couple of years.  

[19:15] NotebookLM and its ability to distill large amounts of information into a digestible format. 

[22:30] Nonprofit AI: AI Fluency.  

[24:20] The role of curiosity in innovation.  

[26:14] The importance of AI fluency.  

[29:18] The challenges of AI Fluency.  

[36:20] Tip of the Week – Keep a visual reminder of ‘How Can I Help’? 

[36:48] Ponder of the Week – Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.  

RESOURCES

ai-2027.com/  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠

LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠

Website: ⁠fundraising.ai/

From an emerging trend to a powerful everyday tool, AI has surely come a long way. The current models can generate content and languages, create visuals, and even act as personal assistants. And guess what the best part is? You don’t have to be a tech expert or a part of a large organization to use them. In this episode of the Fundraising AI podcast, Nathan and Scott explore how modern AI is transforming work for the better. They also talk about why responsible use of AI matters; as with any great power, caution is crucial.  

Starting the conversation, Nathan and Scott dive into the improvements in AI image generators, their limitations, and their potential to save time and effort for nonprofits. Next, they share their take on working smarter with AI customization tools, where you can save your instructions rather than retyping your prompts every time. Then Nathan shares some significant details on a study conducted by Harvard Business School about improvements in performance and efficiency when using AI. The study shows the difference in performance improvement between teams that are using AI and those that are not. It also shows the improvement of the efficiency of teams that use AI by 12.7%.  

In the last part of the conversation, Nathan and Scott dive into the second chapter of their book, ‘Fundraising AI,’ where they separate AI myths from reality. They paid special attention to the myth that AI is only for large, well-funded organizations, which is the opposite of the truth. Additionally, Nathan and Scott walk us through the topics of recent releases of new AI models by Gemini and embracing AI with eyes wide open.  

HIGHLIGHTS

[02:25] Recent improvements in AI image generators.  

[06:20] Challenges in AI image generators.  

[10:48] Saving time and effort for nonprofits with AI image generators.  

[14:34] Recent releases of new AI models by Gemini.  

[17:40] Work smarter with AI customization tools.  

[20:04] A study by Harvard Business School about the significant improvements in performance and efficiency when using AI. 

[22:21] Chapter Two of ‘Nonprofit AI’.  

[25:20] Separating myth from reality.  

[28:40] Embracing AI with eyes wide open.  

[32:07] Tip of the Week – Provide better prompts to AI tools to improve output quality.  

[34:40] Ponder of the Week – Recognizing people who use AI with responsibility in larger organizations.  

RESOURCES

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/

Xiaochen Z is the founder and chief AI officer at AI2030, a global network focused on driving responsible and ethical AI development for the good of humanity. He is also the CEO of FinTech4Good with over 20 years of experience in the intersection of technology and social impact and leverages technology to empower communities and support sustainable development goals.

In today’s episode with Xiaochen, we dive into the intersection of technology, responsibility, and social impact. As we stand on the edge of major technological evolution, especially AI, we face a critical moment where proactive actions can shape the future. We talk about how we can ensure that technology is in the hands of the right people, being used for the greater good, and what role the nonprofits sector plays in guiding this process. Xiaochen holds a Ph.D. in financial technology and has worked with reputable organizations like the World Bank, United Nations, and AWS.

HIGHLIGHTS

[03.00] Xiao’s background and his desire to use technology for social good.

[05.22] Innovation in addressing long-standing challenges.

[10.10] The importance of human relationships in organizational partnerships.

[12.53] Climate change and AI development.

[18.54] Setting meaningful milestones.

[23.15] The distinction between regulated and non-regulated industries regarding AI adoption.

[28.23] Creating positive impact while maintaining responsibility.

[32.50] Keeping AI in the hands of those who are willing to make the world a better place.

RESOURCES

Connect with Xiaochen Z

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/cmyidea

Website - fintech4good.co/

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/

Fundraising, in the nonprofit sector, is no exception to the unprecedented pace of industry transformation by Artificial Intelligence. While AI continues to develop at a rapid rate, it presents both challenges and opportunities for organizations that seek effective donor engagement, operation optimization, and amplifying missions.  

In this week’s episode of the FundraisingAI podcast, Nathan and Scott dive deep into the evolving role of AI in the nonprofit sector. They discuss its rapid development referencing Reid Hoffman’s AI-driven book Personalization as something nonprofits could leverage to strengthen donor relationships. Next, they introduce their upcoming book, ‘Nonprofit AI,’ its chapters, and what they represent. They also explain how this book could help nonprofits to navigate the challenges of adopting AI including organizational resistance, ethical concerns, and the need for AI literacy.  

Furthermore, they highlight how AI is becoming more accessible and affordable making it a vital tool for organizations looking to enhance their efficiency and impact. Wrapping up the conversation, Nathan and Scott present the two new segments they’ve added to the podcast: Ponder of the Week and Tip of the Week. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 

[01:43] Reif Hoffman’s new book ‘Superagency’ and it’s optimistic view on AI.  

[06:33] Scott explains the process of writing their book ‘Nonprofit AI’.  

[08:11] The exponential nature of AI and its recent self-improvement.  

[10:00] Nathan explains the use of various AI tools, including GPT and Deep Research, to help in writing the book. 

[12:38] Generosity crisis and the need for innovation.  

[16:25] Scott explains how their book would benefit the nonprofit sector.  

[19:46] Chapters on ‘Nonprofit AI’.  

[23:55] Ponder of the Week - The authenticity of AI in representing human empathy. 

[27:30] Tip of the Week – Choosing AI models for specific tasks.  

RESOURCES 

Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good 

By Nathan Chappell & Scott Rosenkrans 

amazon.com/Nonprofit-Comprehensive-Implementing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/139431664X  

Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future  

By Reid Hoffman 

amazon.com/Superagency-Could-Possibly-Right-Future/dp/B0D5WMKV9H  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/

Nathan and Scott celebrate the 50th episode of the Fundraising AI podcast, reflecting on their journey and the rapid evolution of AI technology. They discuss the balance between AI scale and safety, noting the industry's focus on expansion over responsible use. The conversation highlights advancements in deep research, AI's impact on nonprofits, and the growing importance of generalists in the AI era. They introduce agentic AI, which can take actions beyond simple responses, raising concerns about regulation. 

Nathan and Scott emphasize responsible AI use in fundraising, ensuring technology enhances human connection. They discuss their upcoming book, Nonprofit AI, and their role in guiding nonprofits through AI's transformation. Looking ahead, they express excitement for the next 50 episodes and the future of AI in philanthropy. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 

[00:41] Reflecting on 50 Episodes of the Fundraising AI Podcast 

[02:00] Evolution of AI Technology and Industry Challenges 

[03:15] The Arms Race Between Scale and Safety in AI 

[06:00] Deep Research and Its Impact on Nonprofits 

[11:17] The Role of Curiosity and Generalists in the AI Era 

[14:58] The Future of Agentic AI and Its Implications 

[22:34] The Role of Fundraising AI in Shaping the Future 

[25:16] Looking Ahead to Episode 100 

RESOURCES 

Mentioned in the episode: 

Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good: amazon.com/Nonprofit-Comprehensive-Implementing-Artificial-Intelligence 

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/

Meet Dave Raley, consultant, co-host, writer & keynote speaker, and the founder of Imago Consulting, an advisory firm that helps organizations create growth through innovation. He is also a passionate Disney fan. As an expert in nonprofit leadership, Dave has inspired thousands of nonprofit leaders to grow both personally and organizationally. He is the author of ‘The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy Is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit,’ which comes out February 4th, 2025. He writes a weekly innovation and leadership column called The Wave Report. In addition, Dave co-founded the Purpose and Profit Podcast, exploring the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands and highlighting innovative ways generosity can manifest across sectors. He joined us today to talk about the intersection of AI and generosity in fundraising.  

We start the conversation with Dave sharing his journey, the intersection of business and technology, his passion for social causes, and how these experiences led him to the world of nonprofit fundraising and sustainable giving. Then Nathan and Dave talk about the importance of crisis moments in life and how we respond to them. They believe that personal and professional growth can be achieved by overcoming challenges. They further mention that choosing growth over being a victim is what shapes our characters.  

Further down in the conversation, we cover the following topics regarding sustainable giving: subscription economy, recurring giving, a strategic approach to building a thriving recurring giving program, the biggest mistakes in building a subscription, the power of identity & belonging in a community, the future of sustainable giving, and more.  

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 

[02.38] Who is Dave Raley? 

[04.19] Dave shares his journey from growing up in poverty to his interest in ideas and computers. 

[08.45] The importance of crisis moments in personal and professional growth. 

[11.50] Dave’s new book “The Rise of Sustainable Giving”. 

[15.24] Subscription economy and recurring giving. 

[19.06] Taking advantage of the subscription economy in nonprofits.  

[23.46] Building a sustainable recurring giving program.  

[29.10] The biggest mistakes when building a subscription.  

[32.13] Identity and belonging.  

[35.38] The future of sustainable giving and the role of technology in achieving it. 

RESOURCES 

Connect with Dave Raley 

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/draley/  

Website - imago.consulting/  

The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy Is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit  

by Dave Raley 

amazon.com/Rise-Sustainable-Giving-Subscription-Transforming/dp/B0DQ66W4MF  

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/

We start today’s conversation with Nathan and Scott sharing their thoughts on the inauguration of the 47th president of the USA and the tech giants who were present. Nathan comments on the new president’s decision to overturn the former president’s ‘Responsible AI Framework.’ Nathan and Scott then discuss the implications of AI's rapid advancement and the potential for future regulation, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI.  

Just because you have a certain tool or technology in your grasp doesn’t mean you must use it. Nathan shares the importance of developing a habitual behavior of questioning the ethical implications of using AI. He explains that we must ask ourselves about the potential implications of using a certain technology and decide which path to follow. Then Nathan and Scott share their view on AI’s role in displacement and the creation of jobs. Scott shares the importance of developing skills like creativity, resilience, and lifelong learning. 

Further into the conversation, Nathan and Scott talk about AI super agents who are expected to possess PhD-level reasoning capabilities and the four things that they can do: execute intricate multi-tasks without human intervention, demonstrate advanced problem-solving skills compared to highly educated PhD-level humans, adapt better to new situations and learning from experience, and potentially replace human workers and knowledge-intensive fields. Additionally, Nathan encourages people to use AI as a powerful tool to augment human capabilities rather than mere competition.  

Episode Highlights

[03:53] The inauguration of the 47th president of the USA and its key participants.  

[07:03] Responsible AI framework and its current status after the presidential inauguration.  

[11:00] Ethical implications of working with or developing AI technologies.  

[15:03] The importance of creating a habitual behavior of questioning the ethical implications of using AI tools. 

[19:15] AI's impact on job displacement and creation.  

[24:00] The importance of staying adaptive and innovative, focusing on skills like creativity, resilience, and lifelong learning. 

[29:00] AI Super Agents.  

[33:16] The importance of using AI to synthesize large amounts of data in the nonprofit sector.  

RESOURCES 

Connect with Nathan and Scott:

LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/

LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans

Website: fundraising.ai/