5 Questions Every Fundraising Leader Asks About Autonomous Fundraising

Fundraising leaders today are being asked to do the impossible: build deeper donor relationships, grow pipeline, and deliver more results — all with flat (or shrinking) teams. That’s why many organizations are turning to trusted digital labor: AI-powered tools that actually do the work of cultivating, engaging, and stewarding donors in a truly relational way.

In a recent conversation, Version2’s Reilly Conroy sat down with Renee Quinn, Director of Sales & Partnerships, to walk through five of the most common questions fundraising teams ask before they get started. If you’re considering whether a Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) could support your goals, you’re not alone — and this blog has the answers you’re likely already looking for. You can also access the full webinar here.

1. How can I use AI-powered digital labor to make the most and the right impact for my organization?

Many organizations manage only their top 1–5% of donors with real one-to-one outreach. The other 95% are left with mass emails, even when they’d love a more personal connection. A Virtual Engagement Officer fills that gap — handling portfolios of rated but unassigned donors with the same thoughtful, relational approach a human fundraiser would use.

Renee Quinn explains how Autonomous Fundraising was born to solve this real labor shortage — and why digital labor means reaching more people in a personal way, not just blasting more messages.

2. How can I use AI to empower my staff and expand their impact?

A Virtual Engagement Officer isn’t just a tool to take busywork off your team’s plate — it’s designed to help your people do what they do best. Renee Quinn highlights three ways partners use VEOs to strengthen their teams: proving the need for more frontline relationship managers, giving emerging fundraisers real portfolio management experience, and keeping donor pipelines warm so human fundraisers step in at the perfect moment.

3. How can I trust that AI gets the right tone, message, and voice?

A Virtual Engagement Officer is trained on a curated knowledge base that blends your organization’s content, such as campaign materials, program pages, and cases for support, with deep fundraising context. That means every message reflects your voice, priorities, and donor engagement strategy. It’s not just personalized. It is grounded in the way your team actually builds relationships. In the clip below, Renee shares how that content is sourced and how the system stays aligned with your mission.

4. How much time does it take to manage a fundraising AI like a VEO?

Nobody wants tech that creates more work than it saves. A Virtual Engagement Officer is built to launch quickly and run with minimal oversight. Renee Quinn shares how most partners get up and running in as little as three weeks. Once live, managers receive a weekly report to check benchmarks, share updates, and handle any human handoffs — often in just 10–15 minutes a week. A quick monthly check-in keeps the VEO accountable and aligned with your goals.

5. How do donors respond when engaged through AI?

This is the top question every team asks: do donors like it? The short answer: yes. The opt-out rate for VEO-managed donors is less than a quarter of one percent. Many of these donors have never had a true one-to-one conversation before — so they see thoughtful outreach as an upgrade, not an intrusion. It’s personal, relevant, and gives donors an easy way to share what they care about most — keeping them closer to your mission for the long run.

Whether you’re trying to re-engage lapsed donors, grow your parent giving program, or increase retention at scale, a Virtual Engagement Officer can help you get there — without adding headcount or sacrificing quality.

Schedule a demo to see how trusted digital labor can expand your team’s capacity.