Live at AMA: Live at AMA: Empowering Advancement Marketing Through AI

In this special episode of the Higher Ed Pulse podcast series, recorded live at the American Marketing Association (AMA) conference, Mallory Willsea speaks with Dan Giroux, AVP of Advancement Communications & Stewardship at Drexel University. With a focus on personalized engagement, operational efficiency, and AI-powered predictive analytics, Dan shares insights on leveraging technology to enhance advancement efforts and build meaningful relationships with donors.

Key Takeaways

• AI’s Role in Advancement: AI tools, like ChatGPT, offer efficiency and personalization opportunities in advancement, filling gaps for teams with limited resources.
• Predictive Analytics Potential: AI can transform donor engagement by analyzing data to inform outreach strategies, predict giving patterns, and improve campaign development.
• Institutional AI Integration: The higher education sector awaits seamless AI integration within existing platforms, which will likely drive widespread adoption in advancement.
• Practical Use Cases for AI in Advancement: From drafting content to strategic donor engagement, AI provides practical solutions to ongoing challenges in advancement.
• Continuous Learning with AI: For advancement professionals, embracing AI through regular exploration and experimentation is essential to staying ahead in the evolving higher ed landscape.

Why Does AI Matter in Advancement? 
The podcast opens with Dan explaining the importance of AI in advancement efforts, especially as these teams face increasing demands and limited resources. AI provides ways to automate tasks, personalize engagement, and support decision-making—all critical in the alumni and donor relations space. By using AI tools, advancement teams can streamline workflows and communicate more effectively with constituents, enhancing overall efficiency without adding headcount. This is especially useful for content creation, such as personalized donor thank-yous, targeted emails, and solicitations, which often require a consistent tone of voice and branding.

Addressing Resource Constraints with AI 
Mallory and Dan discuss a significant challenge in advancement: open positions and budget constraints. Dan notes that Drexel University’s advancement team has faced unfilled positions for two years. For teams stretched thin, AI serves as a valuable tool to tackle basic but essential tasks, like generating first drafts of communications or tailoring messages to different donor levels. This capability not only relieves pressure on understaffed teams but also ensures a more personalized experience for constituents. AI allows smaller teams to handle large volumes of content and maintain a cohesive voice, a function once dependent on extensive editorial guidelines.

Current AI Tools in Advancement: Are We There Yet? 
Mallory inquires about AI’s integration into existing tech stacks within advancement. Dan explains that while some AI features are starting to appear in niche tools, broader integration into major platforms like Salesforce or Anthology Encompass is still in its early stages. Institutions are beginning to explore AI’s potential, with tools like “AI gift officers” gaining attention, though the landscape is still developing. Without comprehensive institutional support, many professionals are experimenting with AI independently, often without clear guidance. As more universities form task forces to evaluate ethical AI use, these technologies will likely become better integrated into the advancement workflow.

Predictive Modeling and Donor Engagement 
The conversation turns to predictive analytics as a promising AI use case in advancement. Dan suggests that AI’s potential for donor engagement lies in analyzing donor history to create targeted outreach and even develop customized