What the Fundraising | Episode 289

Smarter Missions, Stronger Impact with Darian Rodriguez Heyman
Aired: March 31, 2026
Host: Mallory Erickson | Guest: Darian Rodriguez Heyman

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the intersection of technology—especially AI—and the nonprofit sector, exploring how responsible tech adoption can enable social impact organizations to amplify their missions. Darian Rodriguez Heyman, a seasoned nonprofit leader and tech-for-good advocate, shares deep insights on leveraging technology for fundraising, program delivery, back office operations, and community engagement, while centering the conversation on values, ethics, and human connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Darian Rodriguez Heyman (02:42)

• Darian’s Background:

  • Recent author of "AI for Nonprofits".
  • 25–30 years exclusively in social impact (from starting digital ad agencies to leading UN gender initiatives and nonprofit boot camps).
  • Deep work at the intersection of tech (social media, mobile for good, AI) and mission-driven sectors.

• Quote:

  “In my mind, I think really looking at how do we leverage technology as a tool to support our needs... instead of just getting caught up on what it is or how it works.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [04:07]

2. Hope & Overwhelm: The Promise of AI for Nonprofits (05:31)

• Relationship-based Fundraising:

  • The dream is to move beyond transactional giving to meaningful partnerships.
  • AI offers a pathway to “mass personalization” and better audience segmentation.

• AI as an Enabler, Not a Replacement:

  • Tech should ‘jetpack’ human work, not replace connection.
  • Anticipates near-future automation: AI-generated call lists, tailored donor messages, drafts of communication—all freeing staff for deeper relationship building.

• Quote:

  “AI can absolutely help… it gets us a lot closer to that goal of mass personalization… giving everybody in the nonprofit sector a jetpack…”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [05:57]

3. Navigating Concerns: Values, Risks, and Adoption Barriers (10:49)

• Overwhelm & Reluctance:

  • Many nonprofits feel “behind” and unsure how AI fits their mission.
  • The sector is using AI (92% to some extent), but only 8% have formal strategies or guardrails.
  • Unaddressed fears (environmental concerns, bias, data security, job loss) create resistance.

• Facing Fears to Move Forward:

  • Reluctance persists because real concerns go unspoken.
  • Adoption requires open, honest grappling with risks—don't “make people feel crazy” for their worries.
  • The “wild west” state of BYO-AI is risky without organization-wide strategies.

• Quote:

  “If we make people feel crazy for having personal and value-driven concerns about AI that are valid, they’re never going to engage… we have to meet the sector where it’s at.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [14:49]

4. Responsible AI: Sequencing Adoption (19:47)

• Values First:

  • Assess alignment of technology with mission and core values before adoption.
  • Openly discuss and mitigate bias, ethical concerns, and environmental impact.

• Crawl-Walk-Run Approach:

  • Once values are addressed, organizations can experiment, learn, and scale.

• Quote:

  “You can’t talk about responsible AI adoption until you talk about responsible… and what are the concerns about, is this tool in line with our values to begin with?”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [20:00]

5. Emotional Work of Fundraising (33:11)

• Mindset Shift: From Begging to Inviting Impact

  • Fundraisers often internalize rejection, but a mental shift frames asks as invitations to join in creating change.
  • Nonprofits are “the pourers” not “the drinkers”—they channel support to make impact happen.
  • Board and staff should recognize that donors give through organizations to create a better world.

• Quote & Story:

  “It depends on whether you’re pouring or drinking… we are not the drinkers. Every single one of us... we are the pourers. We are the nurturers of society. And what every nonprofit does... is connect people and organizations with resources to the change that they want to see in the world.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [33:30]

  • As Grandma Gertrude says about the classic “half-full or half-empty” question: "It depends on whether you’re pouring or drinking." [33:30]

6. Perspectives from Philanthropy & Funders (37:58)

• Stages of Adoption on the Funder Side:

  • Foundations are further along than nonprofits with AI for internal operations: grantmaking, back office, and communications.
  • Few are funding sector-wide capacity building; more are providing technical assistance to grantees.

• Call for Funder Action:

  • Philanthropy must provide resources, training, and tools to nonprofits for responsible AI use.

7. Moving Past the Hype: Tackling Real Implementation (43:04)

• Features vs. Solutions:

  • Problem: Market confusion as tech vendors pitch “all-in-one” tools using indistinguishable language.
  • Recommendation: Start with the problem (“what can it do for you right now?”), then discuss how it works.
  • Nonprofits need “tactical, practical tips and tools”—not just inspiration or utopian visions.

• Quote:

  “We spend so much time trying to inspire audiences and we fail to recognize like this sector’s already really inspired. What’s missing… is for all these big ideas and concepts, let’s put the tool to work.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [29:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Channeling Impact:

  “People don’t give to you, they give through you.”
  – (attributed by Darian Rodriguez Heyman to Kingswinkle Grace) [34:25]

• On AI Uptake:

  “Everybody is using AI within their organizations, but none of us have taken the time to come up with a concrete and cohesive and integrated strategy and approach to create the guardrails.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [12:15]

• On Conference Overload:

  “Every conference I go to... more than half the sessions have AI in the title. So there’s this tremendous interest level… but the state of the union is kind of crickets.”
  – Darian Rodriguez Heyman [11:47]

Actionable Takeaways

For Nonprofit Leaders

• Start with internal values conversations before AI adoption.
• Address specific fears (ethical, environmental, security) head-on to foster organization-wide buy-in.
• Experiment incrementally (“crawl-walk-run”) once philosophical alignment is reached.
• Prioritize practical, problem-solving tools over hype.
• Recognize and reframe your role as an inviter and conduit for impact—don’t internalize “nos.”

For Funders

• Invest in sector-wide AI education and capacity building.
• Fund grantees’ access to responsible tech tools and training.

For Tech Providers & Consultants

• Frame offerings around solving actual nonprofit pain points (fundraising effectiveness, program reach, efficiency) rather than abstract potential or features.
• Contribute to nuanced sector conversations—address risks and realities, not just hype.

Further Resources & Next Steps

• Darian’s Book:
  AI for Nonprofits (Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble)
• Connect with Darian:
  • Website: helpingpeoplehelp.com
  • AI-focused nonprofit: ai4np.org
• Free Resources:
  • Prompt engineering cheat sheet
  • Pro bono 20-minute coaching sessions (details on helpingpeoplehelp.com)
• Mallory’s Resources:
  • Additional episode notes, takeaways, and tools: MalloryErickson.com/podcast

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:50–04:40] Darian’s career overview & entry into AI for nonprofits
• [05:31–06:59] AI, hope, and the future of relationship-based fundraising
• [07:31–10:49] The reality of overwhelm and prospects for AI-enabled fundraising
• [11:28–16:54] Fears, ethics, and barriers to responsible technology adoption
• [19:47–23:47] The importance of sequencing: Values come before adoption
• [33:11–36:00] Fundraising mindset shift: Pourers, not beggars
• [37:58–41:02] Philanthropy’s journey up the AI adoption curve
• [43:04–47:23] Tech vendors vs. real practitioner needs
• [50:11–52:05] How to connect with Darian & get his resources

Final Thoughts

This episode is both a rallying call and a roadmap for nonprofit leaders grappling with fast-moving technology. Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Mallory Erickson emphasize that meaningful AI adoption must be rooted in organizational values and real-life challenges, not abstract tech trends. The key is, as Darian puts it, meeting people where they are—with honesty about risks, the humility to address fears, and the courage to lead change from a place of connection and purpose.