What We Learned From the First $1M in Autonomous Fundraising

When we launched our first cohort of innovation partners, we knew we were asking a big question: Could a Virtual Engagement Officer earn a real place in the most human part of our profession—donor relationships?

Today, we have the definitive answer.

This week, the VEO crossed $1 million raised—real gifts, from real donors, funding the missions that matter most. And it didn’t happen through mass marketing or automation disguised as personalization. It happened through genuine, one-on-one engagement. Thoughtful questions. Relevant cultivation and stewardship. Conversations that leave donors feeling heard. And that makes all the difference.

What makes this moment so powerful isn’t just the milestone, it’s what it says about readiness. Donors are open to communicating in new ways. In fact, they’re engaging deeply. With over 8,800 donor interactions, 126,000+ autonomous activities, and just a 0.1% opt-out rate, it’s clear: this isn’t a novelty, it’s a signal that something is working. When done right, this new kind of teammate has a place in the donor experience, and it can do work that matters. 

This milestone was made possible through true partnership—early collaborators who were willing to be first, not only in the nonprofit sector, but in nearly any industry, to implement direct revenue-generating autonomous AI. These early partners helped us learn about the most effective use cases and portfolio development, which led to success in every ROI metric that matters: revenue, participation, retention, engagement, and re-engagement. Autonomous Fundraising isn’t just about a product or technology, it’s about building something fundraising leaders can count on to reach their goals. 

Every feature we’ve added, every use case we’ve designed, every lesson we’ve learned, every improvement we’ve made has come back to one idea: every donor deserves a conversation. That’s what Autonomous Fundraising is really about.

And now, with $1M raised, we’re welcoming our fourth cohort of Innovation Partners—teams that believe fundraising can reach more people, in more personal ways, without compromising what makes it meaningful.

The next chapter is already underway. And I couldn’t be more proud of how we got here, or more excited for what comes next.