Episode Details

If you're a development director or ED, you've had this meeting: a consultant or vendor pitches an AI tool that "changed everything" for an organization just like yours. This episode gives you the actual framework Sean uses — sitting on both sides of that table himself — to tell a genuine fit from a good demo, before any budget or staff time gets committed.

Six questions to ask before you say yes: what problem does it actually solve (in your own words, not theirs), who on your team would use it, what it really costs beyond the subscription, what happens to your data, whether you can see it working for an organization your size, and what walking away looks like in a year.

This isn't an argument for saying no to everything — it's a consistent way to say yes with real confidence when a tool is genuinely worth it.

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