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Masterclass · 10 June 2026

Using AI in Fundraising Proposals — a working introduction

A 90-minute session for fundraisers who are curious about AI but unsure where to start. Practical, demystifying, and grounded in real proposal work. No prior experience needed.

Reserve My Seat — R 450
DateWed 10 June 2026
Time14:00 SAST · 90 min
FormatLive online (Zoom)
InvestmentR 450 per seat
What this is

For the fundraiser who's been quietly wondering.

If you've been hearing about AI for a while now and feeling a quiet mix of curiosity, scepticism, and overwhelm — this session is for you.

Maybe you've tried ChatGPT once or twice and found the output flat. Maybe you're worried that using AI will make your work feel less yours, or that funders will penalise it. Maybe everyone around you seems to know what they're doing and you're not sure where to begin. Maybe you suspect there's something useful here but don't know how to get to it without losing your voice or your time.

Those concerns are reasonable. They deserve a thoughtful answer, not hype.

In 90 minutes, I'll walk you through how AI can genuinely help in fundraising proposal work — for research, focus, impact indicators, and outcomes — and where it shouldn't be trusted. Plain language, real examples, and time for your questions. You'll leave with a clearer picture, some practical prompts, and a sense of where to start.

The 90 minutes

What we'll actually do.

0:00 – 0:20 · Setting the scene

What AI actually is — and what it isn't

A plain-language introduction. What these tools do, what they don't, and the common worries fundraisers have. Will it make my work feel less mine? Will donors notice? Do I need to be technical? We'll address each one, gently and honestly, before we go anywhere near a prompt.

0:20 – 1:10 · The working demo

AI in a real proposal — what actually helps

Live walkthrough on a real proposal. We'll look at how AI can sharpen four things that often let proposals down: research depth, programme focus, impact indicators, and outcome statements. You'll see the prompts, the before-and-after, and where the tools surprise you — for better and for worse.

1:10 – 1:30 · Q&A

Your real questions, your real proposals

Bring whatever's on your mind. Something you're working on now. Something you've been worried about. Something you tried and it didn't work. Open Q&A — no question too basic.

Who this is for

Built for fundraisers starting out with AI.

This is for you if

  • You write fundraising proposals — staff fundraiser, programme manager, ED, or independent consultant
  • You're curious about AI but not sure where to begin or whether to trust it
  • You've tried ChatGPT once or twice and it didn't quite click
  • You want plain language, not jargon
  • You want a working introduction, not a deep dive

This is not for you if

  • You're already using AI confidently in your fundraising work
  • You want hands-on coaching on your own organisation (that's the Lab)
  • You don't actually write proposals as part of your work
  • You're looking for a deep technical training
What you'll leave with

Three things, in your hands.

01

A clearer picture

A grounded, plain-language understanding of what AI is, what it does well, what it does badly, and where to use it in your fundraising work.

02

Practical starting prompts

The exact prompts used in the demo for sharpening research, focus, impact indicators, and outcomes — with notes on where each one tends to fall short.

03

The recording & resource pack

Full session recording shared within 24 hours, plus a written resource pack with the prompts and the before-and-after example we work through.

Your host

Twenty-five years of African fundraising, plus a working AI practice.

Shireen Motara
Founder · The Next Chapter Studio

Strategic advisor, facilitator, and executive coach with over 25 years partnering with NGOs, philanthropic intermediaries, and global funders on fundraising strategy and fundable cases for support — including the African Women's Development Fund, Hlanganisa Community Fund, Southern African Trust, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre, the Graça Machel Trust, Soul City, and Frontline AIDS. Now actively integrating AI into resource mobilisation work — and equally interested in helping fundraisers who are just starting to figure out where AI fits in their practice.

Reserve your seat

Investment.

90-Minute Masterclass
R 450
Per seat · Wed 10 June 2026, 14:00 SAST
Seats are capped at 40. The session is run live with active Q&A — small numbers protect the experience.
  • Live 90-minute working session on Zoom
  • A plain-language introduction to AI for fundraising
  • Live demo on a real proposal — research, focus, indicators, outcomes
  • The exact prompts used in the session
  • Written resource pack and before-and-after example
  • Session recording shared within 24 hours
  • Q&A on your real proposals and concerns
Reserve My Seat

Secure payment via Yoco

International participants: The fee is in South African rands. Most international cards work directly through the payment link above (your bank will handle the conversion). For invoicing or any questions, email shireen@thenextchapter.co.za.

Honest questions

Frequently asked.

Is this just a webinar with a sales pitch at the end?
No. You're paying R450 because you're getting 90 minutes of real teaching with real takeaways. There is no upsell pressure during the session. If you want to go deeper into the four-month Fundraising Lab afterwards, that information will be there — but you don't have to engage with it.
What if I can't attend live?
The recording will be shared within 24 hours. Live attendance is best because of the Q&A and the working dynamic, but you'll still get full value from the recording and resource pack if life gets in the way.
How is this different from the Fundraising Lab?
The masterclass is 90 minutes on one specific topic — using AI to write better proposals. The Lab is a four-month programme covering the full fundraising practice: donor strategy, organisational positioning, MEL, donor stewardship, AI workflows beyond proposals, and one live submitted proposal with full support. Many people do the masterclass first to see if I'm the right teacher for them before committing to the Lab.
Will we cover building custom GPTs?
No — that level of setup is beyond what 90 minutes can do well, and it's covered properly in the Lab. This session focuses on the prompts and frameworks you can use in standard ChatGPT, Claude, or similar tools without any setup. You can apply everything we cover the same day.
Do I need any AI experience?
None. The session is built for people starting from scratch as well as those who've used ChatGPT casually but don't know how to apply it to fundraising specifically.
Can my organisation pay for the seat?
Yes. We can provide an invoice and a one-line description for your finance team. Email shireen@thenextchapter.co.za if you need supporting documentation.
Refund policy?
Full refund up to 48 hours before the session. After that, the recording and resource pack will be provided in lieu of a refund.

A working introduction.
Plain language. Real use.

Wednesday 10 June 2026, 14:00 SAST. R450 per seat. Capped at 40. Live online with a recording afterwards.

Reserve My Seat