AI tools can now draft appeal letters, segment donor lists, suggest gift amounts and write thank-you notes in seconds. Fundraisers still research donors, build relationships, ask for gifts and run the campaigns and events that bring money in.
The short answer: current evidence points to AI changing how fundraisers write and research, not replacing them. The ILO's 2025 index rates public relations professionals, the closest group for fundraisers, at gradient 2 with a score of 0.43. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for fundraisers from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 10,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed fundraisers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Professionals | Gradient 2 | 0.43 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for fundraisers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraisers | Grow 6% | About 10,000 |
The BLS ties growth to the continued need of nonprofit organizations to collect donations to run their operations. It also says organizations are building their online presence and using social media to raise money, which keeps demand for fundraisers who can use those platforms. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- First drafts of appeal letters, emails and grant summaries.
- Sorting and summarizing donor records.
- Suggesting which past donors to contact and when.
- Reporting on how earlier campaigns and events performed.
What stays with fundraisers
- Relationships: meeting donors and earning their trust over years.
- The ask: asking for a major gift in person is a human conversation.
- Events and volunteers: running campaigns and training volunteers.
- Checking AI help: donor facts, figures and claims in drafts can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Writing and research take less time, so more of the job is relationship work and running online campaigns. Fundraisers also handle legal reporting rules, and donor data needs care when it goes into AI tools. This page is general information, not legal advice.
See also will AI replace PR specialists?, will AI replace event planners? and will AI replace marketing?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for fundraisers at $72,550 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace fundraisers?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO group, PR professionals, is gradient 2, and the BLS projects 6 percent growth for fundraisers from 2025 to 2035.
Why is fundraiser employment growing?
The BLS points to nonprofits continuing to need donations to run, and to more fundraising online and on social media.
How many fundraiser openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 10,000 openings a year.
What fundraising work stays human?
Donor relationships, asking for gifts, running events and volunteers, and checking AI drafts.