Nonprofit AI Cookbook for OpenAI Jam Day

Created by Decoded Futures

Your guide to getting started with prompting ChatGPT for common nonprofit challenges

What is this?

The AI Prompt Cookbook is your nonprofit's guide to getting started with artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Instead of staring at a blank chat box wondering what to ask, this cookbook provides you with ready-to-use prompts that solve real nonprofit challenges.

How it's organized

We've categorized nonprofit AI solutions into 5 core problem types:

Each problem has three complexity levels:

For Jam Day: Keep it simple!

Don't get overwhelmed by all the options. Focus on finding 1-2 templates that match your current challenges. You can always come back and explore more later.

Step-by-step guide (for first-time AI users):

  1. Browse the categories - Click through the 5 problem types below to see what kinds of challenges AI can help with
  2. Find your problem - Look for templates that describe challenges you're actually facing at your organization
  3. Start with Low complexity - These are designed to work immediately without any setup
  4. Copy the template - Click the "Copy Template" button on any template page
  5. Open ChatGPT - Go to chat.openai.com and create a free account if you don't have one
  6. Paste and customize - Paste the template into ChatGPT and replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your specific information
  7. Hit enter and iterate - Send your prompt, then ask follow-up questions to refine the results

Tips for success:

Remember: AI is a tool to help you work faster and more effectively, not to replace your expertise. You know your organization best - use these templates as starting points and customize them to fit your unique needs and voice.

🔍 Find the Perfect Template

Search through all 365 templates to find exactly what you need:

Showing all templates

Create and Communicate

I need to write or create something to share with others

Content Generation from Scratch

Creating original content with minimal input requirements

Social media posts and content calendars

Creates a calendar of 12-15 social media posts using nonprofit information and current trends

Thank you letters and donor communications

Generates personalized thank you messages that acknowledge specific donor contributions and impact

Blog posts and thought leadership articles

Writes compelling blog posts that showcase organizational expertise and thought leadership

Press releases and media announcements

Crafts professional press releases formatted for media distribution and maximum coverage

Newsletter content and email campaigns

Develops engaging newsletter content with multiple sections and clear calls to action

Website copy and program descriptions

Writes clear, compelling website copy that explains programs and services effectively

Event promotional materials

Creates promotional content that drives event attendance and communicates key details

Corporate partnership pitches

Develops professional partnership proposals that align business and nonprofit goals

Structured Report Creation

Synthesizing information into formatted reports with sections and headers

Board reports and meeting materials

Compiles comprehensive board reports with data analysis and recommendations from multiple sources

Annual reports and impact summaries

Creates structured annual reports with impact stories, data visualization, and stakeholder messaging

Grant reports and compliance documentation

Generates detailed compliance reports that meet funder requirements and reporting standards

Program summaries for stakeholders

Summarizes complex program outcomes tailored for different stakeholder audiences

Strategic planning documents

Transforms strategic planning discussions into structured, actionable implementation documents

Audit responses and evaluation reports

Develops formal responses to audit findings with corrective action plans and timelines

Template Filling & Personalization

Creating personalized versions of standard content templates

Personalized donor appeal letters

Generates customized appeal letters for specific donor segments while maintaining authentic organizational voice

Volunteer recruitment and onboarding communications

Creates tailored volunteer recruitment and onboarding communications for different roles and skill levels

Client service communications and follow-ups

Personalizes client communications and follow-ups while maintaining professional standards and consistency

Event invitations and confirmations

Customizes event invitations and confirmations for different attendee types and registration levels

Certificate and award generation

Generates personalized certificates and awards for volunteers and donors with specific achievement details

Content Adaptation & Reformatting

Converting existing content into different formats or styles

Converting brochures to website copy

Converts print brochures into web-optimized copy with appropriate formatting and digital engagement elements

Adapting newsletters into social media posts

Transforms newsletter content into engaging social media posts with platform-specific formatting and hashtags

Creating executive summaries from detailed reports

Condenses detailed reports into executive summaries highlighting key findings and recommendations

Converting written content to video scripts

Transforms written materials into engaging video scripts with visual cues and timing considerations

Translation & Accessibility Conversion

Making content accessible across languages and abilities

Multi-language program materials

Translates program materials into multiple languages while maintaining cultural sensitivity and accuracy

Plain language versions of complex documents

Converts complex policies and procedures into plain language versions accessible to diverse audiences

Cultural adaptation of messaging

Adapts organizational messaging for different cultural communities while maintaining authenticity and avoiding misunderstandings

Multi-language social media content

Creates social media content in multiple languages with culturally appropriate messaging and engagement strategies

Visual Content Creation

Creating visual elements and design concepts

Infographics about programs and impact

Designs compelling infographics that visually communicate program impact and organizational achievements

Social media graphics and quote cards

Creates eye-catching social media graphics and quote cards with consistent branding and messaging

Event flyers and promotional images

Designs professional event flyers and promotional images with key details and compelling visual elements

Presentation slide designs

Designs visually appealing presentation slides that maintain audience attention and support key messages

Photo captions and alt text

Writes compelling photo captions and accessibility-compliant alt text that describe visual content effectively

Script & Narrative Writing

Creating content for spoken or video presentation

Video scripts for programs and testimonials

Writes engaging video scripts that tell organizational stories effectively through visual storytelling techniques

Speech writing for events and presentations

Crafts memorable speeches that inspire action and connect with audiences through compelling narratives

Podcast episode outlines and show notes

Creates structured podcast episode outlines and show notes that engage listeners through compelling audio storytelling

Data Storytelling

Converting data and statistics into compelling narratives

Impact stories from program data

Transforms program statistics into compelling impact stories that connect with donors and stakeholders

Survey result summaries and insights

Analyzes survey data and presents insights clearly through accessible summaries and actionable recommendations

Fundraising case statements with evidence

Creates compelling fundraising case statements that combine data evidence with persuasive storytelling

Financial report explanations for donors

Translates financial reports into understandable and compelling narratives for donor communication

Policy & Procedure Documentation

Creating formal organizational documentation

Staff handbooks and policy manuals

Creates comprehensive staff handbooks and policy manuals that cover all policies in clear, readable formats

Training materials and onboarding guides

Develops thorough training materials and onboarding guides that new staff can follow independently

Volunteer agreements and contracts

Creates clear volunteer agreements and contracts that protect the organization while maintaining welcoming tone

Safety protocols and emergency procedures

Documents safety protocols and emergency procedures with clear, actionable steps that staff can follow

Interactive Content Creation

Creating engaging, participatory content and activities

Training curricula and workshop activities

Designs engaging training curricula and workshop activities that achieve specific learning objectives

Survey design and evaluation forms

Creates surveys and evaluation forms that gather useful data without overwhelming respondents

Automate the Admin

I keep doing the same tasks over and over, taking time away from important work

Repetitive Data Processing

Automating routine data handling and transfer tasks

Processing volunteer timesheets and hour tracking

Processes volunteer timesheets and tracks hours efficiently with automated verification and reporting

Reviewing expense reports and receipts

Reviews expense reports and receipts for compliance and accuracy with systematic verification processes

Data entry between different systems (CRM to accounting)

Transfers data between different systems like CRM to accounting with error checking and validation

Invoice processing and vendor management

Processes invoices and manages vendor information with automated workflows and approval tracking

Membership data updates and maintenance

Updates and maintains membership data across systems with consistency checks and automated synchronization

Event registration data processing

Processes event registrations and manages attendee information with automated categorization and tracking

Financial reconciliation and reporting

Reconciles financial accounts and prepares reports with systematic verification and automated calculations

Automated Communications

Scheduling and sending routine communications

Appointment scheduling and calendar management

Coordinates appointments and manages calendars across multiple staff with automated scheduling and conflict resolution

Membership renewals and payment reminders

Sends timely membership renewal reminders and payment notices with automated scheduling and tracking

Event registration follow-ups and confirmations

Follows up on event registrations and sends confirmations with automated tracking and personalized messaging

Volunteer shift reminders and updates

Coordinates volunteer schedules and sends shift reminders with automated tracking and update notifications

Donor acknowledgment and receipt automation

Sends timely donor acknowledgments and receipts with automated personalization and tax compliance

Client check-in and follow-up messages

Maintains regular client contact through automated check-ins and follow-ups with personalized messaging

Board meeting reminders and material distribution

Coordinates board meetings and distributes materials with automated reminders and deadline tracking

Form & Document Review

Systematic review of documents against established criteria

Compliance reporting and form submissions

Reviews forms for compliance before submission with systematic verification against regulatory requirements

Grant application completeness checks

Ensures grant applications are complete and meet all requirements through systematic review and verification

Volunteer background check processing

Processes volunteer background checks efficiently while maintaining safety standards through systematic review

Client intake form validation

Reviews client intake forms for completeness and accuracy with systematic validation and error flagging

Financial document verification

Verifies financial documents for accuracy and compliance with systematic checking against established requirements

Contract review and approval workflows

Reviews contracts for approval with systematic tracking of approval processes and legal compliance verification

Policy compliance auditing

Audits organizational practices for policy compliance through systematic review and documentation of findings

Answer and Assist

I get lots of questions and can't keep up with answering them all

FAQ & Knowledge Base Responses

Providing consistent answers to common questions

Volunteer program FAQs and onboarding questions

Answers volunteer program FAQs and onboarding questions with consistent, comprehensive responses from knowledge base

Donor inquiries about programs and impact

Responds to donor inquiries about programs and impact with detailed, accurate information from multiple sources

Staff questions about policies and procedures

Answers staff questions about policies and procedures with consistent, detailed responses from organizational knowledge base

Board member questions about governance

Provides board members with quick access to governance information and procedures through structured knowledge base

Partner organization coordination questions

Coordinates with partner organizations by answering questions about procedures and expectations with clear guidance

Event attendee logistics and information

Provides event attendees with quick answers to logistics questions and essential information through automated responses

Program participant service questions

Answers program participant service questions immediately with personalized guidance to maintain engagement and satisfaction

Personalized Support & Guidance

Providing customized assistance based on individual needs

Client service navigation and support

Helps clients navigate services and support options with personalized guidance based on individual needs and available resources

Grant application guidance and coaching

Provides personalized grant application guidance and coaching based on funder requirements and organizational capacity

Volunteer placement and matching assistance

Matches volunteers with appropriate opportunities by analyzing volunteer skills and organizational needs for optimal placement

Donor stewardship and engagement planning

Creates personalized donor stewardship and engagement plans based on individual donor interests and giving capacity

Staff professional development guidance

Provides personalized professional development guidance based on individual career goals and organizational needs

Program participant troubleshooting

Helps program participants troubleshoot issues with personalized solutions based on individual circumstances and available resources

Community member resource referrals

Connects community members with appropriate resources based on knowledge of available services and eligibility requirements

Sort and Scan

I spend too much time reviewing information that follows a pattern

Application & Candidate Screening

Evaluating applications against consistent criteria

Grant application initial screening

Screens grant applications for eligibility and fit through systematic review against multiple criteria and scoring rubrics

Scholarship candidate evaluation

Evaluates scholarship candidates fairly and efficiently through consistent application of criteria across multiple applications

Volunteer application processing

Processes volunteer applications to identify best fits through systematic review and background verification

Job applicant resume screening

Screens job applicant resumes efficiently while ensuring fair consideration through systematic qualification review

Board member candidate assessment

Evaluates board member candidates by assessing skills, experience, and organizational fit against strategic needs

Vendor proposal evaluation

Evaluates vendor proposals objectively through systematic comparison against established criteria and scoring systems

Program participant selection

Selects program participants fairly when demand exceeds capacity through consistent application of eligibility criteria

Content Categorization & Prioritization

Organizing and ranking content by importance or category

Email triage and response prioritization

Triages emails and prioritizes responses by identifying urgent communications and categorizing by importance and topic

Survey response categorization and analysis

Categorizes survey responses into meaningful categories and analyzes patterns to identify key themes and insights

Donor prospect identification and ranking

Identifies and ranks potential donors from community contacts through systematic research and capacity evaluation

Social media mention monitoring and response

Monitors social media mentions and determines response priorities through systematic tracking and sentiment analysis

Feedback and complaint categorization

Categorizes feedback and complaints to identify patterns and route to appropriate responses through systematic organization

Media coverage tracking and analysis

Tracks media coverage and analyzes impact through systematic monitoring and evaluation of reach and sentiment

Community input organization and themes

Organizes community input from multiple sources to identify themes and priorities through systematic categorization and analysis

Quality Assessment & Scoring

Evaluating items against quality standards and criteria

Program proposal evaluation and feedback

Evaluates program proposals consistently and provides constructive feedback through systematic assessment against quality criteria

Training material quality assessment

Assesses training materials for quality and effectiveness through systematic review of instructional design and learning outcomes

Event planning proposal scoring

Scores event planning proposals objectively through systematic comparison against established criteria and budget constraints

Marketing material effectiveness review

Reviews marketing materials for effectiveness by analyzing target audience alignment and messaging strategy impact

Partner organization capability assessment

Assesses partner organizations for capability and fit through systematic evaluation of capacity and mission alignment

Service delivery quality evaluation

Evaluates service delivery quality through systematic assessment against established standards and client feedback analysis

Content quality assurance and editing

Ensures content quality and consistency across all materials through systematic review and editing processes

Learn and Decide

I want to learn something new or make smarter decisions

Data Analysis & Insights

Extracting meaningful insights from data and metrics

Program evaluation data analysis

Analyzes program evaluation data to identify trends and improvement opportunities through statistical analysis and visualization

Survey response analysis and insights

Analyzes survey responses to identify actionable insights and trends through systematic data review and pattern recognition

Impact measurement and outcome tracking

Measures program impact and tracks outcomes through systematic evaluation methods and data analysis techniques

Financial performance analysis

Analyzes financial performance to identify trends and inform strategic decisions through systematic accounting analysis

Volunteer engagement and retention analysis

Analyzes volunteer engagement patterns and retention factors through systematic data analysis and trend identification

Donor behavior and giving pattern analysis

Analyzes donor behavior and giving patterns to improve fundraising through systematic data analysis and trend identification

Community needs assessment data interpretation

Interprets community needs assessment data to inform program decisions through systematic analysis and community context integration

Research & Intelligence Gathering

Collecting and synthesizing information for decision-making

Best practices research for program development

Researches best practices for program development by finding, reviewing, and synthesizing information from multiple authoritative sources

Policy trend analysis and implications

Analyzes policy trends and their implications through systematic monitoring and impact assessment for organizational planning

Competitive landscape analysis

Analyzes competitive landscape and organizational positioning through systematic research and strategic assessment

Funding opportunity research and matching

Researches funding opportunities and matches them to organizational capacity and mission through systematic opportunity analysis

Technology solution evaluation and comparison

Evaluates technology solutions and compares options through systematic assessment of features, costs, and organizational fit

Partnership opportunity identification

Identifies potential partnership opportunities through systematic research and relationship mapping for strategic alignment

Regulatory compliance research and updates

Researches regulatory compliance requirements and updates through systematic monitoring and interpretation of legal changes

Strategic Planning & Forecasting

Supporting long-term planning and decision-making processes

Budget analysis and financial forecasting

Analyzes budget performance and creates financial forecasts through systematic financial analysis and projection modeling

Strategic plan development and scenario planning

Develops strategic plans and creates scenario planning through systematic analysis and strategic framework development

Community needs assessment and priority setting

Assesses community needs and sets organizational priorities through systematic analysis and stakeholder input integration

Program expansion feasibility analysis

Analyzes program expansion feasibility through systematic assessment of capacity, resources, and market conditions

Risk assessment and mitigation planning

Identifies organizational risks and develops mitigation strategies through systematic assessment and scenario planning

Capacity building and organizational development

Plans capacity building and organizational development through systematic assessment of organizational systems and change management strategies

Impact projection and theory of change development

Develops theories of change and projects impact through systematic program logic modeling and evaluation methodology