Episode Details

Every episode so far has been about donors. This one turns to your own team. Sean walks through a real search he ran for a client — filling a Development and Donor Relations Coordinator role — covering exactly where AI helped, where he deliberately kept it out, and where this sector needs to be careful.

AI handled volume: organizing a large applicant pool against clearly defined, objective criteria. Every actual judgment call — who advanced, who got interviewed, who got hired — stayed entirely human. The episode closes with concrete guidance on where to draw that line in your own hiring, and why transparency with candidates matters.

Sean is the founder of Magnolia Philanthropic Services, advising nonprofits nationwide on development strategy, with 25+ years in the field.