Episode Details

Welcome to "Advancement Amplified: AI for IA," a 5-part Pulse Check hosted by Dan Giroux, a higher education marketing and communications leader focused on elevating the strategic impact of Advancement. Advancement is at a pivotal moment. As institutions navigate shifting donor expectations, alumni engagement challenges, financial pressures, and the demand for greater efficiency, AI is emerging as a transformative force. In today's Part 2, Dan chats with Kim Infanti, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Syracuse University, to explore how AI is reshaping advancement marketing and communications. 

From leveraging AI for donor segmentation to streamlining internal workflows and even enhancing alumni engagement through platforms like Protopia, Kim shares real-world examples of how her team is embracing AI. Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or looking for new ways to integrate it into your advancement strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.‍

Key Takeaways

• AI is revolutionizing advancement work – AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot are helping Syracuse’s advancement team automate tasks, generate creative content, and analyze alumni engagement data more effectively.
• Protopia is redefining alumni networking – Syracuse is implementing Protopia, an AI-driven platform that connects students and alumni for career advice, while also enhancing alumni data accuracy.
• AI can streamline content creation – From social media posts to segmented fundraising emails, AI is making it easier to craft compelling, personalized messaging.
• Data privacy and security are key – Syracuse is piloting Copilot for sensitive university data, ensuring compliance with institutional guidelines while using AI to optimize operations.
• AI adoption requires experimentation – Syracuse’s advancement team is still refining AI best practices, but those who actively experiment with AI tools are seeing significant productivity gains.
• AI can enhance personal efficiency, too – Beyond work, Kim shares how she uses AI for personal tasks like meal planning and trip itineraries, showcasing AI’s versatility in everyday life.‍

How AI Became a Game-Changer for Syracuse University’s Advancement Team

When Did AI Enter the Picture for Advancement?

While AI has been on the radar for years, Syracuse University’s advancement team fully embraced it after an AI at Work session on October 1, 2024. Led by Syracuse’s ITS team and Chief Digital Officer Jeff Rubin, the session encouraged staff to explore AI tools as part of their daily workflows. Since then, AI has become a go-to resource for Kim and her team, helping them generate content, analyze data, and enhance engagement strategies.

One major takeaway from that session? The advice to “go to AI before you Google.” This mindset shift has led Kim to replace many of her traditional search habits with AI-powered insights, significantly boosting efficiency.

How Is AI Being Used Across Syracuse’s Advancement Team?

AI adoption varies across the Advancement and External Affairs division, with some team members diving in more actively than others. Kim and her colleague Kara have been at the forefront, even presenting at a November conference on AI applications in advancement. Their real-world use cases are convincing more colleagues to integrate AI into their workflows, especially after seeing how it simplifies tasks like email drafting, event promotion, and donor segmentation.

To encourage broader adoption, Syracuse is hosting additional AI at Work sessions and sharing AI-generated work examples within the team. The goal? To normalize AI as a powerful tool for efficiency rather than a replacement for human expertise.

What Are the Key AI Tools Syracuse Uses?

Kim and her team primarily use three AI tools, each with distinct advantages: