AI in Action: Kathryn Greenizen Answers Your Top AI Questions

At FLEX, we know that AI is reshaping the way mission-driven organizations operate. But, as always, with innovation comes uncertainty. 

To help combat that uncertainty, last week, we offered our network the opportunity to ask Kathryn Greenizen, FLEX’s Director of Strategic Innovation and Systems Design, their most pressing AI questions. 

As the FLEXpert behind our new AI Strategy and Implementation service line, Kathryn is helping our clients approach AI with confidence, clarity, and purpose. 

Below, she shares her perspective on everything from adoption to ethics in her answers to your questions. We’re excited to share them, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like her to answer any of yours. 

Question: How do you decide if AI is worth the investment for a small nonprofit?
Answer: Think of it this way: where is your team losing the most time? If staff are stuck entering data, pulling reports, or sending the same email over and over, that’s energy taken away from your mission. AI can step in to handle those repetitive jobs so your people can focus on the work only they can do.

The investment doesn’t have to be huge. Sometimes it’s just a $20/month tool that saves hours each week. If AI can take tasks off your plate and help your team spend more time with donors, clients, or programs, then it’s worth it.

Question: How can AI help with donor management, fundraising, or grant writing?
Answer: 

• Donor management: AI can sort your donor list, spot patterns, and even suggest who’s most likely to give again so you know where to focus.
• Fundraising: It can help personalize thank-you notes or campaign messages so each donor feels seen, even when you’re reaching out at scale.
• Grant writing: AI can’t replace your expertise, but it can draft outlines, summarize impact data, or polish a first draft so you’re not starting from scratch.

Question: Can AI help streamline operations without replacing staff?
Answer: Yes. AI isn’t here to take people’s jobs. It’s here to take away the “busywork.” Things like scheduling, data entry, or creating meeting notes. That gives your staff more breathing room to do the meaningful, high-touch work your nonprofit is known for. Think of it as giving your team an extra set of hands, not cutting them out.

Question: How do we protect sensitive data if we start using AI tools?
Answer: First rule: don’t put donor names, financial details, or private info into free, public AI tools. There are safe, nonprofit-friendly options that protect your data. At FLEX, we always check whether a tool stores or shares your information before we recommend it. You can also create a simple “AI policy” for your staff—basically, clear do’s and don’ts for what can and can’t go into AI. That keeps your team consistent and your data secure.

Question: How do we make sure AI doesn’t make us sound robotic or transactional?
Answer: AI sounds robotic when it’s left on its own. The trick is to give it your voice. Treat AI like a new intern. It does better when you feed it examples of how your nonprofit usually writes or talks. Use AI to draft, but then have a person polish it. That way, you save time and keep your authenticity.

Question: What’s the best way to introduce AI tools to a team that’s nervous about change?
Answer: Start small and pick one easy win, like using AI to draft meeting notes or organize donor lists. Show your team how it saves time, not how it “changes everything.” Give them space to ask questions, and don’t overwhelm them with multiple tools at once. Once they see the benefit, the fear usually fades.

Question: What AI trends should nonprofits and small businesses watch in the next 2–3 years?
Answer: The big shift is that AI won’t feel separate anymore. It’ll be built right into the tools you already use. Your donor database, your email platform, your document system will all start suggesting drafts, creating summaries, and tracking tasks for you. AI will feel less like “new tech” and more like a behind-the-scenes helper.

Question: How can AI help organizations like ours scale without losing our personal touch?
Answer: By being smart about where you use it. Let AI handle the behind-the-scenes tasks—like scheduling, drafting, or sorting data. But keep the personal conversations, the strategic thinking, and the relationship-building human. That way, you can serve more people without losing the warmth and trust that make your nonprofit special.

Looking Ahead

This dialogue highlights what so many leaders are feeling right now: curiosity, excitement, and often apprehension about AI. The truth? AI is already here. The question is how to adopt it thoughtfully, strategically, and in ways that unlock—not undermine—your mission.

At FLEX, we’re committed to helping mission-driven organizations use AI as a talent multiplier, not a replacement. We are here to guide you every step of the way.

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