The Double-Edged Sword – Using AI for Grant Writing
By Michael Kiragu
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the grant writing landscape – and this is just the beginning. From drafting proposal sections to matching you with ideal funders, AI has opened up new possibilities for grant seekers. But with opportunity comes responsibility. To succeed in this new era, nonprofits must learn to leverage the benefits while navigating the pitfalls.
The Promise: What AI Does Well
Speeds Up Tedious Tasks – AI tools can generate proposal drafts, customise boilerplate content, summarise donor guidelines, and conduct funder research in minutes. This frees up time for the strategic, relationship-building work that truly drives fundraising success.
Improves Consistency and Quality – Maintaining a consistent voice across multiple proposals can be tough. AI helps ensure your language aligns with donor priorities while improving grammar, tone, and structure. Some tools even analyse successful past proposals to suggest persuasive language.
Enhances Research Capabilities – AI can scan thousands of funders and past grants to recommend matches based on your mission and track record. This levels the playing field, giving small organisations access to insights previously out of reach.
Assists with Data and Evidence – From analysing trends to visualising results, AI helps integrate data into your narrative. It can guide how to frame your impact, tailor proposals to donor interests, and even predict which funders are most likely to support your work.
The Pitfalls: Proceed with Caution
Increased Competition – With everyone able to produce polished proposals, standing out now depends even more on storytelling, clarity of vision, and values alignment.
Risk of Generic or Impersonal Content – AI-generated writing can feel flat or detached. Funders can tell when something lacks authenticity. Your unique voice still matters.
Over-Reliance and Shallow Thinking – AI can’t replace deep programme understanding, strategic framing, or cultural context. Relying on it too much risks diluting your value proposition.
Ethical and Authenticity Concerns – Some tools may recycle content or present unverifiable claims. Transparency is key – some funders may even require disclosure of AI usage.
Inaccuracies and Lack of Local Insight – Without human oversight, AI might introduce outdated stats or irrelevant arguments. Worse, it can strip out the contextual depth funders care about.
So, What’s the Way Forward?
AI is not your enemy – it’s your assistant. It can boost efficiency, but it can’t replace the human creativity, ethical judgment, and strategic insight required to win grants in today’s evolving philanthropic environment.
(Dr Michael Kiragu is a Kenyan fundraising expert, and Founder and Principal Consultant at Bell Consultants)
