How AI is helping your nonprofit write grants faster and smarter

Scale grant writing without adding staff using AI workflows.

Nonprofits face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding, with limited staff and time to handle the demands of grant writing. What if AI could help lighten that load?

In his lightning talk at All Things Open, Will Mendoza from i90 shares how his team worked with a local nonprofit to build an AI-assisted workflow that accelerates grant and RFP writing without increasing costs. By focusing on quick wins and augmenting human expertise, Will highlights how AI can make a measurable difference for small organizations.

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He explains that nonprofits face challenges in four major areas: Identifying opportunities, drafting applications, revising submissions, and incorporating feedback. Rather than trying to solve everything at once, Will’s team focused on the writing process. By training ChatGPT with past applications, wins, and feedback, they helped the nonprofit create strong first drafts in hours instead of days.

The workflow preserves each organization’s unique voice while handling repetitive tasks like formatting and drafting. The grant writer still provides expertise and feedback, but instead of spending time typing and searching for old documents, they can focus on reviewing and improving quality. This balance saves time, reduces costs, and improves consistency across applications.

Will emphasizes that the human element is still central. AI speeds up production, but people provide judgment, creativity, and cultural context. By iterating and refining, organizations can scale their funding efforts without losing their authenticity.

Key takeaways

• Start small and target the most impactful pain points to see immediate results.
• Use AI to draft applications quickly, but rely on humans to refine the tone and maintain organizational voice.
• Consistent feedback loops help AI adapt to an organization’s style while saving grant writers valuable time.

By applying AI in practical, focused ways, nonprofits can reduce time spent on manual work and dedicate more energy to advancing their mission.

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