Getting Started with Action Plans

Action plans are powered by generative AI. Your organization admin must enable generative AI features before anyone can use them.

1. Sign in to Blackbaud and select Admin from the solution menu.

2. Select Settings, Blackbaud AI.

3. Select Enable generative AI features. The opt-in takes effect immediately across all products.

For full details, see Opt In to Generative AI Features Globally.

Users need the Chat with Blackbaud AI task permission to create action plans. Create an artificial intelligence role and assign it to each user who needs access.

1. In Security, select Role management.

2. Under Artificial intelligence roles, select New.

3. Enter a role name and description.

4. Under Blackbaud AI – Chat tasks, select the Chat with Blackbaud AI task permission.

5. Select Save.

6. Navigate to User management and assign the role to users who need access.

For full details, see Manage Security Permissions for Blackbaud AI – Chat.

If you want users to create action plans directly from a new opportunity record — for example, from the Undergiving queue in Prospect Insights Pro — you need Prospect Insights Pro set up in your environment.

When a user saves a new opportunity from Prospect Insights Pro, a prompt appears offering to create an action plan. This launches Chat for Blackbaud AI with the opportunity already in context.

If your team will only create action plans by opening Chat for Blackbaud AI directly, this step is optional.

For details on setting up Prospect Insights Pro, see Prospect Insights Pro.

Before creating your first action plan, we recommend completing the Chat for Blackbaud AI Quick Start Guide. It walks you through how to write effective prompts, refine responses, and get the most out of AI-assisted workflows.

See Chat with Blackbaud AI Quick Start Guide.

Before your fundraisers use action plans, take a few minutes to explain what to expect:

• What an action plan is: A sequence of cultivation steps — talking points, emails, meeting prep, check-ins — generated by Chat for Blackbaud AI and tied to a specific opportunity. The plan works backward from an ask date so each touchpoint builds toward the solicitation.

• How it fits their workflow: After the plan is confirmed, each step appears as an action on the opportunity record. Fundraisers work through the actions the same way they manage any other task — no new tools to learn.

• What they can customize: The AI suggests steps, but fundraisers can edit, reorder, or remove steps in chat before confirming. Plans aren't locked — they reflect the relationship, not a rigid script.

• When to use it: Anytime they create a new opportunity or pick up a prospect and want a structured path to solicitation — especially for larger asks or unfamiliar portfolios.

You can share this page or the Quick Start Guide as a starting point for your team.

Training: This video demonstrates how Prospect Insights Pro customers can use a new modal to create an Action Plan from an Opportunity in a queue.

Now that you have access and context, create a plan tied to one of your opportunities. An action plan gives you a clear sequence of steps — from first outreach to solicitation — so you always know the next touchpoint.

From a new opportunity in Prospect Insights Pro:

1. Create an opportunity from a Prospect Insights Pro queue (such as Undergiving).

2. After you save, a confirmation prompts you to create an action plan.

3. Select Create an action plan for this opportunity. Chat for Blackbaud AI builds a cultivation sequence based on the opportunity details — including ask amount, expected date, and constituent history.

From Chat for Blackbaud AI directly:

1. Open Chat for Blackbaud AI while viewing an opportunity record, or reference the constituent and opportunity in your prompt.

2. Ask it to create an action plan — for example: "Create an action plan for my opportunity with [Constituent name] with an ask date of [date]."

Review the suggested steps. If something doesn't fit your relationship with the prospect, tell Chat to adjust — for example, "Remove the phone call and add a second email touchpoint." When the plan looks right, confirm to add the actions to the opportunity record.

For the full walkthrough, see Action Plans.