Episode 95: Building Ethical, Transparent AI Models for Fundraising with Daniel Basco

August 12, 20262 min read

Overview

Today, let’s explore how good data, clear goals, and trust are the real keys to getting value from AI.

Meet Daniel Basco, Senior Director, iWave & Data Intelligence at Kindsight.

Starting the conversation, Daniel shares his career journey from public policy and economics to data science and fundraising. He talks about his work with governments, nonprofits, and now Kindsight, where he leads data science and AI product development.

The conversation explores how AI and machine learning have improved over the years, making it easier to test ideas and work faster. Daniel explains why organizations need clean, reliable data and why it is important to understand how AI reaches its conclusions. He also discusses the need to reduce bias and use AI ethically.

Furthermore, Daniel talks about the benefits of combining different data sources to improve results and how AI can help nonprofits make better decisions and improve daily work. He discusses the importance of teamwork, experimenting with new ideas, and continuing to learn as AI evolves. He also shares how he uses Claude to communicate ideas more clearly, brainstorm faster, and save time in his daily work.

Cover art for episode 95: Building Ethical, Transparent AI Models for Fundraising with Daniel Basco

Episode highlights

01:47 Daniel's Career Journey
07:12 Challenges and Evolution in AI and Machine Learning
11:26 Data Utilization and Predictive AI in Nonprofit Sector
18:17 Transparency and Trust in Nonprofit AI Models
29:01 Future of AI in Nonprofit Sector
35:23 Personal Reflections and Favorite AI Tools

Tips and tools to implement today

Prioritize data quality before using AI.
Combine first- and third-party data for better insights.
Choose transparent AI models you can explain.
Test ideas quickly with iterative AI workflows.
Use AI to improve workflows, not just automate tasks.
Collaborate across teams to maximize AI's value.
Use Claude to speed up communication and brainstorming.

Favorite quotes

"I would say speed is the biggest thing. We can iterate so much more quickly." - Daniel Basco
"We can come up with new ideas, test them out, build synthetic data, and run through. The pace is so much different." - Daniel Basco
"You have to understand the core basics, and that does go back to understanding the math." - Daniel Basco
"Understanding the statistical principles we're operating with, understanding the assumptions we're making, so you then understand why we're seeing these differences." - Daniel Basco
"The part that I love about Kindsight and part of the reason I joined was just their history of transparency. They've been so open about what their models are, what the underlying data is, how those calculations are done." - Daniel Basco
"At the end of the day, it really boils down to how good your data is. How good are you feeding these models? To then, how well are you predicting going forward?" - Daniel Basco
"I still think you have to look at bias as a whole, and that's less of do I have this particular data element, and more do I have somebody who understands the system." - Daniel Basco