Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio for Non-Profits: Unleashing AI for Seamless Productivity, Fundraising, and Impact Measurement

 

Microsoft Copilot brings generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to many Microsoft business applications, from Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.) to Microsoft’s Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, etc.) to the Dynamics 365 suite (Sales, Marketing, Finance, Services, etc.).

Generative AI, which is a subset of AI, produces content, such as text, images, code, and even music, that emulates something a human would make. Microsoft Copilot allows users to automate many time-consuming processes using conversational language prompts in Microsoft applications. Copilot can understand input prompts by individuals with varying levels of language skills and respond with the style and tone you define. Examples include using Copilot to write personalized emails to prospects, extract information from Excel tables, or summarize the points raised in a Teams meeting transcript.

Recently, Microsoft announced Microsoft Copilot Studio. Copilot Studio empowers users to build their own apps using a low-code graphical builder. Non-profit organizations can integrate their proprietary data from multiple sources, such as CRM, SharePoint, or websites, with other business applications like Workday, SAP, and ServiceNow, using over 1,100 prebuilt connectors or custom connectors. Data is stored securely in the cloud, ensuring privacy and security.

Imagine a non-profit focused on environmental conservation. With Copilot Studio, they create an interactive assistant for their website that answers common questions about their projects, helps users sign up as volunteers, and facilitates donations. They automate repetitive tasks like processing volunteer applications and summarizing meeting transcripts. For fundraising, Copilot analyzes their donor database to segment prospects and crafts personalized emails. The organization sets up nurture campaigns to keep donors engaged and evaluates their programs to measure and improve effectiveness. Volunteers are matched with tasks based on their preferences, ensuring a rewarding experience.

To measure and demonstrate impact, the organization uses Copilot to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of new volunteers, funds raised, and projects completed. They also use Copilot Studio to create visually compelling impact reports that highlight their achievements and the difference they’re making in environmental conservation. These reports are shared with donors, volunteers, and the public to showcase their work’s effectiveness.