Is AI really ready for nonprofits? Insights from Content Strategist Heather Kenny
Nonprofit leaders today are asking: How should we use AI? Is it a powerful ally—or a risky shortcut?
In our new series, Faith, Fortune, or Fiction: AI Tells and Tales, we sit down with nonprofit professionals, writers, and strategists to hear their untold stories about AI. In this first episode, Mike Mitchell of Nonprofit Advisors speaks with Heather Kenny, a content writer and strategist, about the promises and pitfalls she sees in AI for creative and nonprofit work.
Watch the full interview here, or read below for insights and transcript.
Heather Kenny’s Background: From Journalism to Nonprofit Writing
“I started out my career in journalism at the Chicago Reader… that was really a boot camp for me for journalism and writing, fact-checking, research, all that good stuff. But journalism wasn’t going to provide the kind of income or lifestyle I wanted, so I moved into copywriting and content marketing… eventually focusing on nonprofit organizations.” – Heather Kenny
Heather brings decades of experience in writing, storytelling, and nonprofit content strategy. That background shapes how she views the rise of AI tools.
AI and Writing for Nonprofits: A Double-Edged Sword
Heather has used AI herself—for research and outlining—but she sees both opportunities and risks.
“I’ve used it to do research and get my mind around a concept. That’s great and very helpful. But sometimes I don’t even love to use it for outlines because once that’s in my head, it’s hard to get it out. I might feel forced to follow a structure that isn’t even the best one.” – Heather Kenny
This resonates with nonprofit professionals who fear AI might reduce originality in fundraising appeals, grants, or storytelling.
The Risk of Bland and Generic Writing with AI
Mike Mitchell shared a concern he heard directly from nonprofit leaders:
One development director said AI was making her writing less creative.
Another noticed a staff member’s AI-drafted language had become “very bland.”
Heather agreed, warning that AI’s limits can shape our thinking in ways we don’t even notice.
“AI itself is limiting because it’s pulling from a limited amount of information. It seems expansive, but there are guardrails you don’t even know about. That can create sameness in writing—and over time, we may stop recognizing the difference between exceptional writing and generic writing.” – Heather Kenny
Long-Term Concerns: Creativity and Critical Thinking
Heather worries the deeper impact may be subtle but profound:
“People already aren’t asking questions. They don’t question the results. Critical thinking skills could start to atrophy. Not just in recognizing good writing, but in distinguishing good arguments from flawed ones.” – Heather Kenny
For nonprofits, this matters: if donor letters, grants, or campaigns lack originality or rigor, organizations risk losing trust and impact.
The Human Side of Writing and Joy in the Process
Heather shared a story from a colleague whose company mandated AI to scale writing faster.
“It had taken the joy out of the process. Before, she enjoyed working with writers, being creative together. But AI turned it into grudge work. The end product suffered—but so did the process.” – Heather Kenny
For Heather, the process of writing—research, exploration, discovery—is “kind of magical.” And that magic can’t be automated.
Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders
AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it to spark ideas, not to dictate your entire process.
Guard against sameness. Be aware of AI’s limits and always add human creativity and critical thinking.
Protect the process. Writing and collaboration are not just about output—they’re part of how your team finds meaning in its work.
Watch the Full Interview
🎥 Watch the full conversation with Heather Kenny on YouTube
This is Episode 1 in our new series, Faith, Fortune, or Fiction: AI Tells and Tales. Stay tuned for more conversations with nonprofit leaders navigating AI in real life.
Full Transcript: Heather Kenny on AI, Nonprofits & Storytelling | Faith, Fortune, or Fiction Series
Mike Mitchell: Hi everybody. My name is Mike Mitchell and welcome to Faith, Fortune or Fiction: AI Tells and Tales. Today we are lucky to welcome Heather Kenny, who is a content writer and strategist. We are doing a series of videos interviewing people and talking to them about how AI intersects with their world. We’re lucky to start the series with Heather. For those of you who don’t know me, I lead Nonprofit Advisors, and more recently we’ve released a tool that is an AI tool supporting nonprofits. Welcome, Heather.
Heather Kenny: Hello. Thank you for having me.
Mike Mitchell: So, Heather, tell us first a little bit about your background as a writer—what that means and how you became one.
Heather Kenny: I’ve always been a writer. When I was a little girl, I was always scribbling stories. I majored in English in college, then started out my career in journalism at the Chicago Reader. That was really a boot camp for me—fact-checking, research, interviewing—all of that formed the foundation of what I do. But journalism wasn’t going to provide the kind of lifestyle I wanted, so I moved into copywriting and content marketing. I worked for an education services firm for about 10 years, then after being laid off in 2018, I began working for myself—focusing on different sectors including nonprofits.
Mike Mitchell: Well, I’ve seen your work and it’s incredible. Let me ask you about AI. What is your impression of how AI is affecting the industry and writers specifically?
Heather Kenny: It’s hard to say because everything feels unclear right now. A lot of writers are talking about it. It’s definitely being used. But I worry about how it affects creativity. AI is limiting—it pulls from a finite set of information. It seems expansive, but there are guardrails you don’t even know. I’ve used it for research—that’s great. I’ve used it for outlines, but I don’t love that, because once it’s in my head, it’s hard to get out. I may feel forced to follow a structure that’s not the best for what I’m working on.
Mike Mitchell: That’s interesting. I recently spoke to a development director who said her concern was becoming less creative with her writing. Another said a staff member’s AI writing sounded very bland. So how do you think this plays out 10 years from now?
Heather Kenny: The scary part is that the impact will be subtle. People may stop asking questions. They won’t question the results. It’s documented that AI makes mistakes or uses unreliable sources. Sometimes the sources don’t even say what the AI claims. That worries me—critical thinking skills could atrophy. There could be a sameness to writing. We may lose the ability to recognize what’s exceptional vs. what’s generic, what’s a good argument vs. a flawed one.
Mike Mitchell: At the end of these conversations, we ask guests to share a “tell or tale” that illustrates their perspective. Do you have one to share?
Heather Kenny: Yes. A writer I know said her company mandated AI use to scale faster. She noticed it took the joy out of the process. Before, she enjoyed working with writers, collaborating, coming up with creative angles. With AI, it became grudge work. The writers felt it too. So, it wasn’t just the end product—it was the process that changed. For me, the process is magical—the research, exploration, discovery. That doesn’t translate well when the focus is only on efficiency.
Mike Mitchell: Agreed. Heather, thank you so much for joining us. If you’d like to reach out to Heather, you can find her through Nonprofit Advisors. We look forward to sharing more conversations like this one.
