Mario Hernandez on Elevating AI Use for Nonprofits Beyond Basic Queries

In a recent LinkedIn post, Mario Hernandez discusses the common misconception among nonprofit leaders about their current use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and outlines a more effective approach for the sector. Hernandez highlights that many organizations, when they claim to be using AI, are often treating it as a sophisticated search engine rather than a strategic tool.

He elaborates on this initial, less effective phase of AI interaction:

“Quick questions. Generic answers. Zero leverage.”

Hernandez shares his own experience, admitting that he initially approached AI in a similar manner. This led to superficial interactions that yielded little practical benefit for his work. However, a significant shift occurred when he changed his strategy from asking simple, random prompts to providing AI with rich, specific context relevant to nonprofit operations.

Transforming AI Engagement with Context

The core of Hernandez’s argument is that the true power of AI for nonprofits is unlocked when the technology is fed detailed information about the organization. He lists several key areas that, when provided as context, dramatically enhance AI’s output:

• Their mission
• Their donors
• Their programs
• Their financial goals
• Their internal bottlenecks

By feeding AI this contextual data, Hernandez explains, the tool transforms from a simple answer-provider into a powerful operational assistant. This shift enables the rapid generation of critical documents and insights that would otherwise consume significant staff time.

“Suddenly AI wasn’t ‘helpful.’ It was building things. Grant drafts in minutes. Board reports automatically. Donor audits on demand. Newsletters in seconds. Financial scenarios instantly.”

This enhanced capability, according to Hernandez, is precisely what many nonprofits need to operate more efficiently and effectively. He emphasizes that the current AI landscape lacks tools specifically tailored to the unique workflows and challenges of the nonprofit sector.

Introducing Givly: AI Tailored for Nonprofits

Recognizing this gap, Hernandez, along with collaborators Kendra Garagan and Randy Molland, is co-founding Givly. This new venture aims to provide an AI assistant specifically designed for the nonprofit industry.

“There is no AI built specifically for how nonprofits actually work. So alongside Kendra Garagan 🦄 and Randy Molland 🫶🏻, we’re building: 👉 Givly An AI Assistant designed for nonprofits.”

The mission of Givly, as described by Hernandez, is to significantly reduce the time nonprofits spend on administrative tasks, thereby enabling them to focus more on their core mission. The platform is being developed with the goals of:

• Saving hours every week
• Raising more money
• Scaling impact without burning out teams

Hernandez positions Givly as the future of nonprofit operations, suggesting that AI, when properly contextualized and designed for the sector, can be a transformative force for good. He invites interested parties to join a waitlist for early access and special perks.