If you’re a fundraiser wondering how a specific pitch to a donor should be handled, a group of 21 angel investors might have the answer. They are backing an artificial intelligence-driven platform that would coach fundraisers’ conversations with immediate evaluation and feedback.
Fundraisers are being sought to be beta testers of Practivated.
The platform is intended to be an AI-powered donor conversation simulator to help fundraisers practice for meetings with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners. The process is intended to improve fundraisers’ confidence and outcomes through personalized coaching, real-time feedback, and tailored scenarios.
The concept was developed by fundraiser and author Mallory Erickson who is a co-founder of Fundraising.AI and who works on ethical AI use in the nonprofit space. Erickson said that she has trained more than 60,000 fundraisers and Practivated is her first technology platform.
With a decade of coaching and an understanding of behavioral science, Erickson said that she saw a need for a scalable tool that empowers fundraisers to feel confident and prepared.
The angel investors include serial nonprofit technology entrepreneur Jay Love, founder of eTapestry and Bloomerang. Prior to starting eTapestry, Love served 14 years as president and CEO of Master Software Corporation. He is also one of the investors in the initial $7 million seed funding round in 2022 for fundraising platform Givebutter.
The angel investors are providing an initial $1.37 million. The seed round closed February 21.
“Fundraising is high-stakes and high-pressure. Fundraisers often face stress, burnout, and uncertainty, while donors feel disengaged,” said Erickson. The intention is to provide “a safe, judgment-free space to practice and refine skills, helping fundraisers move beyond fear and unlock deeper donor relationships. Because better conversations mean more support for the causes that matter.”
Beta testers are being sought at https://practivated.com/. “We’re inviting fundraisers, development directors, chief development officers, nonprofit teams who want to sharpen their donor conversation skills and shape the future of fundraising technology,” she said. “Whether you’re a solo fundraiser at a small shop, part of a large university or hospital development team, we want your feedback. Ideal beta users are curious, innovative, and passionate about improving donor relationships and fundraising success.”
