Working with AI for everyday fundraising
If your PTA has questions about artificial intelligence (AI), Adam Graham, managing director at Qlic IT, has the answers
A A
s AI becomes more common in our daily lives, it also raises questions about how to manage change and
ensure security. Your volunteers may already be using AI informally to write emails, create social media posts or generate images. By formalising your AI use, you can maximise its potential, address concerns and increase the time available to focus on the human aspects of your work.
QWhy is there so much now, and what has changed?
discussion about AI right
The focus on AI since ChatGPT launched less than three years
ago has revolved around large language models (LLMs). These advancements in AI have given us a more direct way to access information. The biggest difference is that, rather than using Google to find relevant sources, a conversational AI chatbot gives direct answers to direct questions. For example, if you wanted to
apply for a grant, it could take hours to search for the necessary information to make your submission sound professional. With AI, you provide the key points, and it handles some of the work for you.
Q Which AI tools should a PTA consider using? A
Most people will start with the big players: OpenAI’s ChatGPT,
Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and Meta AI. In addition, there are AI tools designed for specific tasks. Canva’s Magic Studio, for instance, allows users to generate designs from text prompts and creates AI-generated images. A lot of websites and apps are now incorporating AI into their features. Play and experiment until you find out which one works for you.
Q How can a PTA use AI in its everyday work? A
You can use AI to communicate with your supporters: to shape
newsletter content, write a post for social media or even write a blog for the school website. AI can help you find the most successful events in your area, allowing you to plan your calendar with this information in mind. You might use it to transcribe your PTA meetings and produce minutes, meaning people can concentrate on what’s being said without taking notes, or watch the recording if they can’t attend.
Q What are AI prompts, and 48 SPRING 2026 School Fundraising how can our PTA use them? A
We’ve all become very good at using Google to search the
internet using short queries of two to five words. But this doesn’t work for AI; the broader your query, the less information you’re going to get. Prompts, on the other hand, are all about providing detail and context, and that’s what prompt engineering is. You can keep querying an AI in a way you can’t do with a search engine. Tell the AI: ‘You’re wrong,’ and then refine your answers by adding more context. You might say: ‘I want to achieve a, b and c,’ and then specify: ‘I’m a PTA based in London.’
Q What are the benefits of A
a paid subscription?
The pro version of ChatGPT allows you to ask more questions
and receive more accurate and detailed answers. A paid version of Copilot can be integrated into your Microsoft Office applications. With the paid versions, your data remains secure within your organisation.
Q How can we use AI beyond the basics? A
Advanced users can already create a custom GPT [Generative
Pre-trained Transformer], where you upload all your group’s relevant information and documents.
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