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Version2 & Givzey Second Innovation Partner Cohort: Accelerating the Research, Development, and Deployment of Fully Autonomous Fundraising
At Version2, we are Givzey’s AI R&D lab researching, developing, and accelerating the deployment of the world’s first fully autonomous fundraiser. We are thrilled to announce our second cohort of nonprofit Innovation Partners to launch the Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) to donors. This new cohort builds off of the successes and learnings of Version2’s first cohort of innovation partners, which set the VEO on the path to raise $1M by mid 2025.
“When Givzey and Version2 introduced Autonomous Fundraising to the world, there were many who said it would never work. Now that autonomous fundraisers are on the path to securing over $1M in gifts from donors, there is undeniable proof that completely autonomous AI can and will add trusted fundraising capacity to organizations working to change our world. We are honored to welcome 14 organizations and their leadership to Autonomous Fundraising's second cohort as we lead the world in the application of the digital labor revolution that scales and expands on the work of our human teams. These pioneers understand that to truly change the world, fundraising innovation is critical.” – Adam Martel, CEO of Givzey and Version2
Fourteen nonprofit organizations have stepped forward to partner with Givzey and Version2 for the second cohort to add trusted fundraising capacity to their existing teams of outstanding human talent through the fully autonomous, AI-powered VEO. Each of these innovation partners is also a learning partner, introducing their VEOs to a portfolio of 1,000 donors to cultivate, engage, and result in the natural outcome of giving. This cohort will help define new use cases for Autonomous Fundraising, establish best practices within the category, and engage donors and constituents that traditional fundraising could not effectively reach due to limitations in staffing and human capacity.
Version2’s second cohort of nonprofit Innovation Partners include:
Baylor University - Jason Diffenderfer, Vice President, University Advancement
Boston Children's Hospital - Michael C. Bornhorst, Vice President, Corporate Development, Leadership Giving & Special Events
John Burroughs School - Ginger Imster, Assistant Head of School for External Affairs
JPS Foundation - Leah King, President, JPS Foundation
MLK Community Health Foundation - Dyan Sublett, President
San Diego Humane Society - Brian Daugherty, Executive Vice President
University of Arizona Foundation - Jonelle Vold, Senior Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Prospect Development
University of Oklahoma Foundation - Jay Kahn, Senior Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Marty Wold, Assistant Vice President, Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement and Executive Director of the OU Alumni Association
University of Puget Sound - Victor Martin, Vice President for University Relations
University of Toledo Foundation - Maren Kurtz, Associate Vice President of Human Resources & Advancement Operations
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Dr. John Newman, Executive Director, Chief Medical Officer
Western Kentucky University - Amanda Trabue, Vice President, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement
Young Women's Preparatory Network - Cindy Ryan, Chief Development Officer
“Boston Children's Hospital is proud to collaborate with Givzey and Version2 at the forefront of innovation in philanthropy. With a legacy rooted in groundbreaking advancements and a commitment to excellence, this initiative reflects our dedication to embracing innovation in every aspect of our mission, including how we connect with our generous community of supporters." – Michael C. Bornhorst, Vice President, Corporate Development, Leadership Giving & Special Events at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust
Because no two nonprofit organizations are alike, each is onboarding their autonomous fundraiser with institutional knowledge and goals that are specific to each partner and their fundraising strategy. As such, these 14 innovation partners will build on the learnings from the first cohort to confirm top use cases and test new ones for the first time. These use cases include, but are not limited to, recapturing, renewing, and increasing donor giving at a mid/leadership giving level, pipeline development and major gift identification, re-engaging targeted populations of donors, annual giving participation, and retention of new donors.
"At the University of Oklahoma, we pride ourselves on embracing forward-thinking initiatives that advance our community, our state, and the world. Our partnership with Givzey and the launch of our Virtual Engagement Officer through Version2 exemplify this commitment. This collaboration allows us to leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence to enhance alumni interactions, making them more engaging and effective. The VEO is just one of the innovative ways we are enhancing alumni engagement at OU, ensuring our alumni community remains closely connected and actively involved." – Marty Wold, Assistant Vice President, Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement and Executive Director of the OU Alumni Association
“The University of Toledo Foundation is committed to staying at the cutting edge of philanthropic innovation. By partnering with Givzey and Version2, we’re not just adopting new technology – we’re helping shape the future of fundraising. This partnership allows us to be pioneers in a movement that will transform how we connect with and engage donors.” – Maren Kurtz, Associate VP of Human Resources & Advancement Operations at The University of Toledo Foundation
"Donors are increasingly comfortable engaging in a digital environment, and we recognize the need to adapt to this evolving landscape. Partnering with Givzey and Version2 has provided us with the tools to innovate and expand our engagement strategies. Together, we are developing effective methods to connect with more alumni, parents, and friends—strengthening the Baylor Family and generating the philanthropy needed to fulfill our mission. We are proud to collaborate with Version2 to harness the power of artificial intelligence and establish best practices for the future of philanthropy." – Jason Diffenderfer, Vice President University Advancement at Baylor University