Fueling Fundraising Success: AI, Personal Connections, and Generosity with Erik Tomalis

Episode Summary: In this episode of The AI Dude podcast, host Josh Hirsch is joined by fundraising expert Erik Tomalis, Chief Evangelist at Virtuous, to explore the evolving role of AI in nonprofit fundraising. With over two decades of experience and thousands of face-to-face donor interactions under his belt, Erik shares his rich journey from working with renowned organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital and the Boy Scouts of America to helping nonprofits drive global generosity at Virtuous.

The conversation delves into the importance of personal connections in donor relations and how AI is revolutionizing the way nonprofits engage with their supporters. Erik emphasizes that fundraising is not just about transactions—it's about building lasting relationships that are driven by passion and generosity. With AI’s capabilities, nonprofits can now automate repetitive tasks, freeing up fundraisers to focus on what they do best: cultivating deeper, more meaningful donor relationships.

Erik also shares how Virtuous uses AI to create responsive fundraising strategies that allow nonprofits to personalize their outreach at scale, making every donor feel like the only one in the room. The episode explores how small, budget-conscious nonprofits can use AI tools to compete with larger organizations, leveling the playing field and maximizing impact.

Listeners will also hear Erik and Josh discuss the ethical considerations surrounding AI in the nonprofit space, touching on transparency, privacy, and the need for a responsible AI framework. Erik’s advice for nonprofits looking to integrate AI into their fundraising strategies offers practical takeaways for organizations of all sizes.

Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or just beginning to explore how AI can enhance your organization’s mission, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to help you think bigger and work smarter in today’s data-driven world.

Key Topics:

• The power of personal connections in fundraising
• How AI is reshaping donor relations and engagement strategies
• Erik’s experience at organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital and Boy Scouts of America
• The role of AI in responsive fundraising at Virtuous
• How AI enhances fundraising, from automating tasks to creating personalized donor journeys
• The ethical considerations of using AI in fundraising
• How nonprofits of all sizes can leverage AI to scale their efforts

Guest Bio: Erik Tomalis is the Chief Evangelist at Virtuous and a veteran fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience. He has made over 4,000 face-to-face donor solicitations and raised millions of dollars for organizations in healthcare, education, human services, and more. Erik is also actively involved with numerous nonprofit boards and associations, including AFP and The Giving Institute. He is passionate about leveraging technology to grow global generosity and believes that charitable giving is about personal connections, not just transactions.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Erik Tomalis and his background in fundraising
• 02:10 – Erik’s extensive experience on the road and how he balances work with personal life
• 04:00 – Memorable moments from Erik’s fundraising career, including a major transformational gift
• 06:30 – Erik’s use of AI tools like ChatGPT for personal and professional tasks
• 08:30 – The importance of iteration and refinement when using AI outputs
• 09:30 – How Virtuous uses AI for responsive fundraising and personalized donor engagement
• 12:00 – The ethical considerations of using AI in fundraising
• 14:00 – Erik’s thoughts on AI enhancing fundraisers' roles rather than replacing them
• 17:00 – How AI can help small nonprofits compete with larger organizations
• 19:00 – The future of AI in nonprofit fundraising and Erik’s key takeaways

Resources:

• Learn more about Virtuous: https://virtuous.org/
• Follow Erik Tomalis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriktomalis
• Fundraising.AI Framework: https://fundraising.ai/