Getting Started with AI Prompts
New to AI tools? This guide will help you start using prompts to save time and boost your nonprofit's impact.
What is AI and How Can It Help Nonprofits?
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are language models that can help you write content faster. Think of them as smart writing assistants that can:
- Draft donor thank-you letters
- Write social media posts
- Create grant proposal sections
- Generate email newsletters
- Develop program descriptions
- And much more
How to Use These Prompts
Step 1: Find a Prompt
Browse prompts by category or search for what you need. Each prompt is tagged by role, difficulty, and use case.
Step 2: Copy the Prompt
Click the "Copy" button to copy the prompt to your clipboard.
Step 3: Customize It
Replace the [BRACKETED] fields with your specific information. For example, replace [ORGANIZATION NAME] with your nonprofit's actual name.
Step 4: Use with AI
Paste the customized prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. The AI will generate content based on your prompt.
Step 5: Review and Edit
ALWAYS review AI output before using it. Add your personal touch, verify facts, and ensure it matches your organization's voice.
Which AI Tool Should I Use?
Our prompts work with all major AI tools:
- ChatGPT (OpenAI): Most popular, good all-around performance. Free and paid tiers available.
- Claude (Anthropic): Excellent at following instructions precisely, great for longer content.
- Gemini (Google): Fast and cost-effective, good for quick tasks.
On each prompt page, you can see example outputs from all three models to help you choose.
Prompt Customization Tips
- Be specific: The more detail you provide, the better the output
- Set the tone: Specify if you want formal, warm, casual, etc.
- Provide context: Add relevant background about your organization or situation
- Iterate: If the first output isn't perfect, ask the AI to revise it
- Save good prompts: When you find prompts that work well, bookmark them or save customized versions
Responsible AI Use
Privacy & Data Security
- Don't paste confidential donor information into AI tools
- Anonymize examples when testing prompts
- Be aware of your AI tool's privacy policy and data usage
- Don't include sensitive financial or personal data
Accuracy & Review
- AI can make mistakes - always fact-check outputs
- Verify statistics, dates, and claims before publishing
- Add human judgment and organizational knowledge
- Don't rely on AI for legal or compliance advice
Authenticity & Voice
- Edit AI outputs to match your organization's voice
- Add personal touches and authentic details
- Use AI as a starting point, not the final product
- Be transparent about AI use when appropriate
FAQs
Do I need to pay for AI tools?
No - ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini all offer free tiers that work with these prompts. Paid tiers provide faster responses and more features.
Will donors know I used AI?
Not unless you tell them. AI is a writing tool, just like spell-check or templates. The key is to review and personalize outputs.
Are these prompts tested?
Yes! Every prompt has been tested with multiple AI models and realistic nonprofit scenarios. You can see the actual outputs on each prompt page.
Can I modify the prompts?
Absolutely! Customize them for your organization's needs. That's the whole point.
What if the output isn't good?
Try a different AI model (see our examples), add more context to your prompt, or iterate by asking the AI to revise specific parts.