Microsoft has announced a suite of new AI solutions and improvements to Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit “designed to transform the nonprofit industry and how fundraisers engage with donors, manage campaigns and optimize operations,” the company says.

It's also offering a limited private preview for nonprofits “to experience a new AI-powered fundraising propensity model.” Within the preview, participating nonprofits will be able to test new AI tools that give fundraisers the power to do predictive forecasting of fundraising goals with data modeling and identify donors most likely to donate to a campaign, cause or major gift.

"AI can and will be a game-changer for nonprofits and fundraisers," said Justin Spelhaug, Vice President and Global Head, Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft. "With these new AI solutions, we aim to empower nonprofits and fundraisers to achieve more and to create a more positive and rewarding experience for donors."

Microsoft's research into NGOs has found that since 2020, many fundraisers have seen an ongoing decline in the overall number of donors giving to causes. And although data can help nonprofits identify and prioritize the most promising prospects, predict donor behavior and measure fundraising outcomes, access to data and the ability to form actionable insights based on fundraising analytics is a major roadblock for many organizations. According to one study from the National Council of Nonprofits, barely 18% of nonprofits reported having all the data they need and using it in nearly every decision they make.

Tools within the new service include a new dashboard, and the use of Dynamics 365 Marketing, Viva Sales, and Teams Premium. Microsoft says it's also developing an AI-based “donor propensity model” to help nonprofits identify constituents most likely to donate or engage with a campaign or cause based on predictive donor behavior. The services are built on Microsoft's cloud platform, Azure.