AI in fundraising: donor data, CRM and smarter fundraising in 2026

How do you turn data into donations? In this fireside chat, Walkerscott and Microsoft discuss what smarter fundraising looks like in 2026, and what Not-for-Profit organisations should be doing now to prepare. The conversation covers fit-for-purpose fundraising technology, AI in fundraising, fundraising CRM, donor data, personalisation, reporting, fundraising automation, and the foundations organisations need to scale without creating more admin or technical debt. You’ll hear practical discussion on why generic systems can create complexity, why fit-for-purpose fundraising platforms matter, and how better integration across CRM, finance, payment gateways and wider organisational data can improve visibility, donor journeys and team capacity. The panel also explores how embedded AI can support donor segmentation, campaign optimisation, reporting and better donor conversations, while keeping a human in the loop. The session also looks ahead at where fundraising is going next, including hyper-personalisation, unified data, preconfigured AI agents, and how Not-for-Profits can prepare their systems and data now rather than trying to catch up later. You’ll also hear practical points on handling third-party fundraising channels like P2P and crowdfunding, reducing manual bottlenecks, and avoiding unnecessary payment gateway lock-in over time. Topics covered: AI in fundraising Fundraising CRM Donor data and personalisation Not-for-Profit technology strategy Fundraising reporting and insights Preconfigured AI agents P2P, crowdfunding and workplace giving integrations Payment gateway flexibility Fit-for-purpose technology for fundraising teams If your organisation is reviewing its fundraising CRM, donor data strategy, AI readiness or payment processing foundations, this discussion gives a practical view of what matters now and what to watch next. If you are interested in learning more about Klevr Fundraising Donor Management CRM, get in touch with us today.