Description

In this episode of the Giving Growth Podcast, Greg Sobiech sits down with Lacey Stone, Chief Development Officer at USA for UNHCR, and Nathan Chappell, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co-founder of Fundraising.AI, to explore how non-profits can move beyond segmentation and embrace an AI-first approach to donor engagement.

Lacey shares how USA for UNHCR responded to the Ukraine crisis by welcoming 100,000 new donors and rethinking donor journeys — treating even small-dollar donors with the same care as major givers. She explains how listening, trust, and authentic stewardship are at the heart of retention and long-term loyalty.

Nathan brings his expertise in AI for social good, unpacking how predictive modeling and personalization can help charities build deeper donor relationships. He emphasizes why listening at scale, starting small, and creating a culture of curiosity are essential for successful AI adoption.

Together, they explore:

• What it really means to go “beyond segmentation” in fundraising
• How USA for UNHCR transformed an influx of emergency donors into long-term supporters
• Why listening to donors is often more powerful than traditional segmentation
• How nonprofits can use AI to prioritize limited staff time and deepen relationships
• Why 70% of AI initiatives fail and the cultural shifts needed to prevent it
• The small, consistent steps nonprofits can take today to move toward true personalization