June 17, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
A few years ago, the average nonprofit technology discussion centered around selecting the right CRM. Today, that conversation has expanded dramatically. Organizations are now managing fundraising platforms, marketing automation tools, event management systems, volunteer solutions, reporting platforms, online giving tools, advocacy systems, and a growing number of AI-powered applications. As a result, many nonprofit leaders […]
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AI for Nonprofits (4 of 10): Start With the Organization Not the AI Tool
October 22, 2026 / by Mark Becker / ThursdAI
One way to make a poor AI decision is to begin with a product demonstration before agreeing on the problem. The tool may be impressive, but the organization still has to answer a more basic question: what problem are we trying to solve? In Article 3, we introduced the seven-part Cathexis AI Readiness & Enablement […]
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AI for Nonprofits (3 of 10): A Practical Process for Getting Started
October 15, 2026 / by Mark Becker / ThursdAI
Nonprofits do not need an AI strategy because AI is new. They need one when AI can help solve important problems, reduce avoidable work, improve access to information, or increase the organization’s ability to advance its mission. Buying licenses is not the same as becoming AI ready. An organization can provide AI tools to every […]
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AI for Nonprofits (2 of 10): What Does AI Actually Cost a Nonprofit
October 8, 2026 / by Mark Becker / ThursdAI
AI can be free, cost a few dollars per user, or become a significant technology investment. All three statements are true. The difference usually comes down to who will use the tool, what organizational information it can access, which administrative and security controls are required, and whether the nonprofit needs a conversational assistant, an integrated […]
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AI for Nonprofits (1 of 10): Chatbots Copilots Agents and Automation
October 1, 2026 / by Mark Becker / ThursdAI
Welcome to ThursdAI by Cathexis Partners, a new series offering practical, responsible AI guidance for nonprofits. Over the coming weeks, we will move from the basics—what the different types of AI are and what they cost—into the seven-part Cathexis AI Readiness & Enablement Process. Each article will include examples and steps you can take immediately. […]
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Is Your Nonprofit Website Ready for AI Search?
September 16, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
For years, nonprofits have worked to make their websites easier to find through Google using search engine optimization, keyword research, content development and technical improvements. Now there is a new concern: Will our organization appear when someone asks ChatGPT, Google’s AI Mode, Microsoft Copilot or another AI tool for information? Nonprofit leaders are hearing terms […]
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Raiser’s Edge NXT Database View Is Going Away. Is Your Nonprofit Ready?
September 1, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Blackbaud, Nonprofit Data, Uncategorized
For years, Raiser’s Edge NXT users have worked in two versions of the same fundraising system: the newer, browser-based web view and the familiar database view accessed through Citrix. That dual experience now has an expiration date. Blackbaud has announced that it will end support for Raiser’s Edge NXT database view on September 15, 2027. […]
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The Hidden Cost of Online Giving: Understanding Platform Fees in 2026
August 6, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
By Mark Becker, Founding Partner, Cathexis Partners, with contributions from Erin Peshoff, Chief Curator at Vivia Studios For years, nonprofit organizations evaluated online fundraising platforms based on features, usability, integration capabilities, and payment processing rates. Most of us became familiar with the standard conversation around credit card processing fees. Depending on the provider, organizations could […]
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Before You Replace Your Nonprofit CRM, Fix the Process Behind It
July 20, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
Nonprofit organizations often come to us convinced they have reached the same conclusion: Their CRM cannot do what they need it to do. Sometimes they are right. A platform may genuinely be outdated, poorly suited to the organization or unable to support its evolving needs. But after hundreds of discovery sessions, technology audits and platform-selection […]
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Evaluating Your Nonprofit Technology Stack: A Practical Framework
June 17, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
A few years ago, the average nonprofit technology discussion centered around selecting the right CRM. Today, that conversation has expanded dramatically. Organizations are now managing fundraising platforms, marketing automation tools, event management systems, volunteer solutions, reporting platforms, online giving tools, advocacy systems, and a growing number of AI-powered applications. As a result, many nonprofit leaders […]
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Beyond Automation: The Rise of the Autonomous CRM in 2026
February 27, 2026 / by Mark Becker / Privacy & Security, Uncategorized
Although the nonprofit CRM landscape is crowded with options, many systems are viewed as difficult to navigate or untrustworthy because of inconsistent data entry and insufficient data governance. This often leads teams to create complicated queries or manage critical reporting through external spreadsheets instead of within the CRM itself. In 2026, we’re finally moving past […]
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