Discussion: The Right Humans in the Loop: Why Fundraising AI Belongs Inside Your CRM

Ray Borkman

The Right Humans in the Loop: Where Should AI Live in Fundraising?

Hey all, this new blog from Amelia Helm explores why that choice matters more than most of us think:
https://blog.blackbaud.com/right-humans-in-loop-why-fundraising-ai-belongs-inside-your-crm/

Here’s the core idea:

AI isn’t just about capability—it’s about context.

When AI sits outside your CRM:

• Data can quickly become outdated
• Workflows get fragmented
• Visibility and control start to slip

But when AI lives inside your CRM—working directly with your system of record:

• Insights are grounded in real-time data
• Workflows stay connected
• Fundraisers remain at the center of decisions

And that last point is critical.

The most effective AI in philanthropy doesn’t replace fundraisers—it works alongside them.

This is a key principle behind Agentic AI and what we’re building with Development Agent and the broader Agents for Good vision:

• AI that acts as a teammate, not a tool you bolt on
• AI that helps scale impact without losing the human connection
• AI that keeps the right humans in the loop, especially when trust and relationships matter most

Let’s open it up for discussion 👇

• How are you currently thinking about AI in your fundraising strategy?
• Have you experimented with standalone AI tools vs. embedded solutions?
• Where do you see the biggest risks—or opportunities—when AI operates outside your CRM?

What questions or experiences can you share?