As we work to build the world’s most experienced fundraiser, our team tackles a key question: What are the milestones for autonomous fundraising’s success.
We broke this journey into smaller, measurable steps to track success, adjust and refine the Virtual Engagement Officer’s (VEO) artificial general intelligence (AGI) in real time. This milestone-driven approach helps our team stay focused and ensures we deliver meaningful results for our innovation partners.
Below are the milestones that we’re working towards as we research, develop and accelerate the deployment of the world’s first fully autonomous frontline fundraiser:
Milestone 1: Secure Early Gifts
Our first milestone is all about momentum—demonstrating that Version2’s autonomous Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) can engage with donors and secure early gifts. These early successes build trust and lay the foundation for future efforts. In June, we achieved this milestone with our first gifts from the College of Charleston and William & Mary. As we continue to fine-tune the VEO’s processes, securing these initial gifts ensures that we're on the right track. We’re continuing to train the VEO using proven fundraising practices and organization-specific strategies so it can close gifts with empathy and responsiveness, maintaining a personal touch.
Milestone 2: Self Sustainability
The next milestone is to prove that the VEO can be self-sustaining. For organizations to invest confidently in autonomous fundraising, the VEO must generate enough revenue to cover its operational costs. Achieving this shows that the VEO is practical, engaging donors without adding financial strain. This milestone truly represents the beginning of scale for autonomous fundraising as a service where organizations can buy fundraising capacity.
Milestone 3: Exceed Last Year’s Portfolio Performance
After covering its costs, the VEO must demonstrate that it can outperform the results of its portfolio from the previous year, when it was being managed through annual fund marketing and one-to-many communications. This milestone proves autonomous fundraising develops more personal engagements lead to the natural outcome of new and increased gifts. At this milestone, the VEO has secured its position as an asset that elevates the fundraising potential of the organization.
Milestone 4: Match and Exceed Expectations for a Traditional Fundraiser
This milestone involves the VEO matching—and surpassing—the performance of a traditional fundraiser, such as a DXO or LAG Officer, especially in engagement and dollars raised. While traditional gift officers typically manage hundreds of prospects, VEOs handle portfolios of over 1,000. With AI’s speed, data-driven insights, and scalable outreach, VEOs will eventually outperform traditional approaches, helping organizations raise more funds, faster and more efficiently.
Milestone 5: Generate Major Gift Pipeline and Close Multi-Year Gifts
The final and most ambitious milestone is for the VEO to actively build a major gift pipeline and close multi-year gifts. While securing smaller, annual gifts is important, the real power of autonomous fundraising lies in the ability to identify, cultivate, secure multi-year gifts, and build a pipeline of potential major donors. Once the VEO can close multi-year gifts, it will prove its ability to not only enhance short-term fundraising efforts but also drive long-term, transformational support for organizations.
The Path Forward
As we pursue these milestones, we recognize the challenge nonprofits face: limited human resources to build relationships. This is where autonomous fundraising is vital. By pushing toward surpassing traditional DXO results and securing major gifts, the VEO will transform fundraising by driving both immediate and long-term donor engagement. This journey is just beginning with our first Cohort of Innovation Partners, and with each milestone, we’re proving together that autonomous fundraising is the future of philanthropic success.
