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Meet the Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO): The Future of Donor Engagement

  • Writer: Sara Montgomery
    Sara Montgomery
  • Mar 20
  • 3 min read

The Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) is an AI-powered autonomous fundraiser designed to scale personalized donor engagement without adding to your team’s workload. VEOs work alongside your fundraisers to build relationships, drive retention, and increase giving—ensuring that no donor is left behind.


The VEO thinks, learns, and acts strategically to manage donor portfolios and advance relationships. Unlike traditional digital outreach, which relies on mass email campaigns, the VEO applies AI-driven moves management to nurture donors through thoughtful, personalized touchpoints across multiple channels.


How the VEO Expands Fundraising Capacity


Manages a portfolio of 1,000+ donors autonomously

Traditional fundraisers are typically responsible for a select group of major donors, leaving thousands of annual and mid-level donors without dedicated outreach. A VEO acts as a fully autonomous team member, maintaining relationships, sending personalized updates, and following up with donors—ensuring that no one is left behind.


Creates and executes personalized 12-month donor journeys

Engagement isn’t a one-time interaction. It’s a relationship that grows over time. VEOs strategically map out yearlong donor journeys that include outreach, follow-ups, stewardship, and solicitations, all tailored to each donor’s giving history and preferences. This ensures donors feel continuously connected to your organization, increasing their likelihood of giving and staying engaged over time.


Engages across multiple channels—email, text, handwritten notes, and more 

Unlike traditional mass outreach campaigns, a VEO communicates like a human fundraiser would—across multiple channels based on the donor’s preferences. Whether it’s an email update, a text message inviting them to an event, or even a handwritten note thanking them for their past support, the VEO ensures that engagement feels personal, not automated.


Identifies and advances donor relationships based on key engagement signals 

Not all donors are at the same stage in their giving journey. Some need a first-time solicitation, others are ready for a renewal, and some are prime candidates for a major or planned gift. A VEO analyzes donor behavior, past interactions, and giving patterns to determine when and how to engage each donor—automatically moving them through the pipeline at the right time.


Ensures giving is a natural outcome of consistent, meaningful engagement

People give when they feel connected to a cause. A VEO not only asks for donations, it builds relationships, keeps donors informed, and expresses appreciation throughout the year. By ensuring regular, thoughtful interactions, the VEO makes giving feel like a natural next step rather than a transactional request.


By integrating a VEO into your team, you can increase donor participation, recapture lapsed supporters, and strengthen donor relationships—all without hiring additional staff.


See a VEO in Action: Meet John


At La Salle University, John already making an impact. As a fully autonomous fundraiser, John manages donor portfolios, nurtures relationships, and ensures personalized engagement at scale—complementing the work of La Salle's fundraising team and enhancing their ability to cultivate donors.


Want to see how VEOs like John work in real time?


Watch the Webinar: Meet John and Sandy


Watch the latest Fireside Chat where you’ll meet John from La Salle University and Sandy from San Diego State University—two VEOs actively driving donor engagement today. Learn directly from fundraising leaders about how Autonomous Fundraising is expanding their capacity and transforming donor engagement strategies.



Expanding Fundraising Capacity with Digital Fundraising Partners


Organizations are now planning multi-year digital labor strategies to complement traditional fundraising efforts and expand their donor engagement capabilities.


With the VEO, fundraising teams can:

  • Address critical gaps in donor engagement

  • Expand into specific fundraising use cases such as leadership giving, planned giving, and parent giving

  • Scale a fully integrated digital labor strategy that complements human fundraisers


Build a digital labor strategy that works alongside your team, expanding your reach and strengthening donor relationships in a way that’s both scalable and personal.


 

Are you ready to see how a VEO can transform your donor engagement?Schedule your demo today.

 
 
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