Will the overdependence on Ai in legacy fundraising close doors?

Imagine The Savoy Hotel. A doorman stands at the entrance only letting in the right kind of guests. This is how, I fear, we're going to treat legacy prospects with the overdependence on Ai.

It's called the 'Doorman Fallacy', the mistaken belief that we can always predict who will leave a gift in their Will based on surface-level signals - wealth, age, loyalty or past giving.

But legacy fundraising doesn't follow a tidy profile.

Some of the most transformational gifts in Wills, I've experienced, came from people who were never on our radar. They weren't rich. They didn't attend an event. They weren't even a supporter.

Our overdependence on Ai means it becomes a digital doorman. It automates the assumptions like:

'They've lapsed and only donated £10 - not a prospect."

"They're too young - not a prospect."

'They've never donated - not a prospect."

I'm worried that Ai closes doors rather than opens them if we place it at the centre of our legacy fundraising models. 

Yes, let's use these tools, but let's not forget the power of ‘conversations' happening right now for e.g. between your front line staff and members of the public. And the emotions they’re igniting that leave a lasting imprint on hearts and minds.

Let’s make space for the power of human connections. Let’s keep the doors open.