Two-Thirds of Sector Are Using AI for Grant Applications - Are You?
Spoiler: Your competitors aren’t burning the midnight oil, they’re training algorithms instead.
Welcome to another edition of the best damn newsletter in human-centric innovation!
This week, we’re slicing through the hype to explore how AI is quietly revolutionising grant funding, and why your organisation can’t afford to sit this one out.
Here’s your 60-second preview:
→ The AI grant revolution: Who’s already in the game?
→ Why free tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai are levelling the playing field
→ The real impact on grant writers: Adaptation, not extinction
→ How to future-proof your skills without selling your soul to Silicon Valley
Let’s get into it. 👇
The AI Grant Revolution: Who’s Holding the Torch?
Let’s cut through the noise: AI adoption in grant applications is surging, with small organisations leading the charge. Forget clunky spreadsheets and caffeine-fuelled all-nighters, AI is drafting proposals, predicting funding success rates, and even automating compliance checks.
Take Grantable, a tool designed specifically for nonprofits, which uses AI to streamline application processes by auto-generating content tailored to funders’ requirements. Or Instrumentl, which helps organisations identify relevant funding opportunities based on keywords and project goals.
But here’s the twist: you don’t need fancy paid tools to achieve similar results. Free platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai can help you brainstorm ideas, summarise complex funding requirements, and even draft compelling narratives for proposals.
The AI Grant Revolution: Small Players, Big Wins
Let’s cut through the noise: two thirds of charities using AI tools for grant fundraising are small charities, according to recent research. Forget clunky spreadsheets and caffeine-fuelled all-nighters, AI is drafting proposals, predicting funder priorities, and automating compliance checks.
Key Insight: Small organisations, including CICs and SMEs, are punching above their weight by using free or low-cost AI tools to compete with larger rivals. Think local community hubs securing six-figure grants by training ChatGPT to mirror funders’ language or SMEs using Perplexity.ai to uncover niche funding opportunities they’d otherwise miss.
The kicker? You don’t need a seven-figure IT budget. In fact, you don't really need any budget. The same tools reshaping philanthropy are available to you, whether you’re a startup, social enterprise, or grassroots NGO.
Why AI Isn’t Just for Tech Giants
(Hint: It’s about working smarter, not harder)
Here’s why even sceptics are folding:
24/7 Grind Without the Burnout: AI doesn’t care if it’s 2 AM or a bank holiday. It’ll analyse 100+ funding databases while your team sleeps.
Bias Buster: Tools like ChatGPT refine language to avoid jargon traps that alienate grassroots funders.
The Compliance Safeguard: Missed a GDPR clause? AI checkers flag errors human eyes gloss over, saving average organisations thousands in resubmission costs.
The Elephant in the Server Room: What This Means for You
Let’s get real, AI will profoundly reshape grant writing as we know it.
In my humble opinion, AI in the next three years will have more impact on the world than the internet had in twenty years.
While it will create new opportunities, it’s likely to disrupt traditional workflows:
→ The Upside: AI kills the drudgery (goodbye, budget formatting hell!) so you can focus on storytelling and impact strategy, the bits humans still do best.
→ The Challenge: Roles will evolve. The future belongs to “AI Whisperers” who can:
Curate AI outputs into compelling narratives
Audit ethical risks (e.g., algorithmic bias in proposal scoring)
Train models on your organisation’s unique voice
Free Tools That Deliver Paid Results
You don’t need expensive subscriptions to play this game. Here’s how to use accessible AI tools effectively:
Research Funding Streams: Ask Perplexity.ai questions like “What UK grants support mental health initiatives for under-25s?” or “What funding is available for CICs in renewable energy?”
Draft Proposals: ChatGPT generates outlines tailored to funders’ scoring criteria and helps you refine your language for clarity and impact.
Edit for Impact: Use Claude 2 or ChatGPT to trim jargon and emphasise community outcomes in your applications.
Brainstorm Ideas: Stuck on how to frame your project? Use ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner to develop innovative angles that align with funder priorities.
Pro Tip: Combine AI drafts with your team’s expertise for polished, authentic applications.
The Bottom Line
The grant funding world is splitting into two camps: those using AI to amplify their impact, and those watching rivals snatch their lunch.
One question haunts us: Will your organisation be the disruptor, or the disrupted?
Don’t just keep up - lead. Join Netropolitan Academy’s upcoming webinar this week on using AI tools for grant funding applications! Learn how platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai can transform your approach, and secure more funding faster.
👉 Sign up now to “How to Use AI to Assist with Grant Applications” for free!
Until next time—stay sharp, stay sceptical, and never let a bot have the last word.