5 tips for making the most of Microsoft Copilot at your nonprofit
Nonprofits want to see real, usable value from AI tools. This infographic outlines five ways to get started with Microsoft Copilot, including drafting donor communications, summarizing dense content, and generating custom visuals. View this guide to see how Copilot can support your mission daily.
How do we get started with Microsoft Copilot at our nonprofit?
To get your nonprofit team started with Microsoft Copilot, direct them to copilot.microsoft.com and have them sign in using their work account (the same account they use for Microsoft 365).
Once signed in, they can:
- Ask questions in natural language (just like they would with a colleague).
- Draft content such as emails or summaries.
- Explore how Copilot can support their daily tasks before rolling it out more broadly.
If your team uses Microsoft Edge, they can also access Copilot directly from the Edge sidebar, which makes it easier to use while they’re reading web pages, articles, or online documents.
How can Copilot help us summarize long reports and PDFs?
Microsoft Copilot can help your team turn long, complex documents into clear, concise summaries so staff and volunteers can focus on decisions instead of decoding text.
Here’s how to use it in Microsoft Edge:
1. Open the long article, document, or PDF in Microsoft Edge.
2. Open Microsoft Copilot in the Edge sidebar.
3. Use a prompt like: “Summarize this in five bullet points” or “Turn this 20-page PDF into a short paragraph I can share with our board.”
Copilot can:
- Convert a 20-page, jargon-filled PDF into a bulleted list.
- Provide a short paragraph or even a single-sentence summary.
- Help you quickly brief leadership, program teams, or board members without everyone reading the full document.
How can Copilot support our donor communications and storytelling?
Microsoft Copilot can streamline how your nonprofit creates donor communications and visual content, helping your team move from ideas to ready-to-send materials more quickly.
1. Draft donor emails and outreach content
- Open Microsoft Copilot in Edge.
- Use prompts like: “Draft a follow-up email to an existing donor thanking them for their recent gift and sharing one impact story.”
- Adjust tone (e.g., professional, warm, concise) and length to match your organization’s style.
- You can also start from bullet points and ask Copilot to turn them into a donor-ready message.
2. Generate custom images for campaigns
- In Microsoft Copilot in Edge, select **Compose**.
- Describe the image you want, for example: “Create a 2D illustration of a pair of hands holding the world.”
- Use these images in emails, social media posts, presentations, or reports to reimagine how you tell your story, instead of relying only on stock photos.
3. Learn and plan faster
- Treat Copilot as a personal teacher when you’re exploring new topics.
- Ask questions tailored to your nonprofit’s needs, such as: “Explain how a large language model works in simple terms” or “Give me a table that summarizes average email metrics for the nonprofit industry.”
- Request the format you prefer (tables, bullet points, short explanations) so you can quickly turn insights into communication plans and campaigns.