Using AI for Grant Writing: A Human Grant Writer’s Surprisingly Positive Take
- Eleanor Cotter
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
I hear it almost every day: “We can’t afford a grant writer. So we use AI!”
Nonprofit development teams have always been early adopters of technology that helps them do more with less, and AI is no exception. It’s fast, cost-effective, and undeniably useful. I love learning to use new technology, and I can see the appeal! But as a human grant writer, I do have some advice for nonprofits using AI for grant seeking.
There’s no question that AI is excellent at writing. It can clean up grammar, organize ideas, and turn rough notes into narratives in minutes. If your biggest challenge in developing successful grant applications has been getting professional-sounding language onto the page, AI is here to save the day!
As we know, however, successful grant seeking isn’t just about writing. It’s about understanding a funder’s priorities, knowing your organization’s strengths, and making a thoughtful, realistic, and compelling case for where those things align. That kind of work requires sound judgment, relevant context, and (in my experience) plenty of human insight.
Let’s not forget, at every stage of the grants process, there are people making decisions. Program officers and reviewers aren’t just checking boxes; they’re looking for clarity, credibility, and connection. Proposals that feel generic or templated can miss the mark, even if they’re technically perfect.
In the same way that a weeknight dinner idea pulled from AI never tastes quite as good as a beloved family recipe, we often have a sense that something is “off” when we are reading AI-generated content. The last thing any nonprofit needs is for its human-centered programs to sound soulless or artificial to a potential funder.
To keep myself honest, I asked ChatGPT what it thought about the whole “AI vs. human grant writer” debate. Its bullet-pointed answer? A hybrid approach works best. That's our pal ChatGPT, always with the original ideas!
Look - by all means, use AI to draft, brainstorm, and refine. Let it save you time and stretch your resources. But my advice is to keep human expertise at the center of your grants strategy - to shape proposals, ensure alignment, and bring your story to life.
The strongest and most successful grant applications still come from a place of genuine human connection. We can celebrate the availability of extraordinary AI tools while keeping our hearts and souls in the work of changing the world.
