Answering the urgent call for nonprofit innovation 

Nonprofit leaders who are feeling anxious today aren’t alone, according to Bonterra CEO Scott Brighton, who took the stage at this year’s AWS Imagine event.  

Speaking to mission-driven leaders in the social good sector, Scott was clear and urgent with his message: Nonprofits must adapt, diversify, and embrace technology to thrive in an increasingly uncertain funding landscape. He reminded nonprofit leaders that freezing in the face of uncertainty is not an option. Social good organizations must turn this moment of crisis into opportunity.  

4 ways to meet the moment

1. Face the challenge. Crises have a way of freezing progress as leaders wait to see how things turn out. But by tackling the challenges head on and using the tools available, nonprofits can make decisions now that will sustain their operations and set them up for continued success down the road.  Bonterra exists to unify the social good ecosystem, build trust, and transform philanthropy. As an innovative software provider backed by the power and scale of AWS, Bonterra partners with customers to increase giving. In the year since Scott last presented at AWS Imagine, the urgency of Bonterra’s mission — to excel charitable giving to 3% of the US GDP — has grown dramatically. Where technology used to present an exciting growth opportunity, now it’s a requirement for nonprofit survival.  
2. Diversify and innovate. More than ever before, over-concentration is putting nonprofit funding in jeopardy. Research shows that 80% of nonprofits depend on just one or two primary fundraising channels, even though multi-channel donors give 3x more than single-channel donors over their lifetime. With government grants at risk, small-dollar donor retention declining, and limited fundraising channels available, nonprofits must optimize their donor pools while diversifying fundraising streams and courting smaller donors. Tools available today allow social good organizations to cast a dramatically wider net quickly and efficiently, ensuring that new funding sources are found and nurtured. Recognizing that today’s environment requires such interventions is the first step toward self-preservation. 
3. Personalize the donor journey with AI. By applying AI across the entire donor lifecycle, not just at isolated touchpoints, nonprofits can increase retention and engagement. For example, Bonterra’s Fundraising Optimization Assessment, powered by 12 different AI models, is able to analyze the full donor journey and identify specific actions to improve fundraising outcomes within minutes, not weeks. By quickly moving from insight to action with AI, nonprofits can customize their outreach and build quality relationships with more donors. And, with AI-powered grant matching, it’s possible to leverage data and impact metrics to simplify and enhance the grant-seeking process in record time. 
4. Invest for impact. For those concerned about whether now’s a good time to invest in innovation, the answer is a resounding yes. Whether through AI-driven fundraising strategies or smarter grant applications, organizations must embrace innovation to secure their future. Bonterra’s partnership with AWS has enabled the development of cutting-edge tools, ensuring nonprofits can find and secure critical funding faster. AI-powered solutions will be instrumental to driving immediate impact even as the funding landscape changes.  

More innovation to come 

Looking ahead, Bonterra is creating an online network that uses AI technology to connect nonprofits, funders, and supporters in a way never before possible. The first phase of the Bonterra Network will revolutionize grant discovery and applications with AI-driven insights and Bonterra’s proprietary database, matching nonprofits with private funders and streamlining applications. This network is at the heart of Bonterra’s plan to overcome industry barriers and connect nonprofits, funders and supporters, and accelerate social impact. 

Philanthropic giving has been stuck at 2.5% of US GDP for decades; Bonterra made it a mission to facilitate an increase to 3% by 2033. It will not be achieved by one company, one nonprofit, or one form of emerging technology. It will take everyone together, using every tool available, and with a continued dedication to achieving positive outcomes for every community in need. 

Take action today 

Interested in learning more about the Bonterra Network? You can start today. Sign up to have your data analyzed in a Fundraising Optimization Assessment to gain personalized insights into improving donor engagement.