As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integral to grant writing, concerns about data privacy are at the forefront for many organizations. Balancing the efficiency of AI tools with safeguarding sensitive information is crucial. This article explores how organizations can navigate privacy considerations effectively while leveraging AI tools in grant writing.
1. Understanding Privacy Nuances
Data privacy with AI tools isn’t a one-size-fits-all issue. Much of the information included in grant applications—such as organizational history, services, and public-facing descriptions—is already available in the public domain, such as on websites or marketing materials. These types of data generally pose no privacy concerns when processed through AI tools.
However, other information, such as financials, client demographics, or proprietary details, may require stricter safeguards. A nuanced approach to privacy allows organizations to maximize AI benefits without compromising sensitive information. In case you’d like to dive deeper into all things AI and grant writing, get our AI Toolkit here. We expounded everything you need to know about grant writing and AI.
2. Creating a Data Privacy Policy by Information Categories
Since a tailored data privacy policy is essential, build your own data privacy policy by category of information. You can do that by breaking down the application into major sections and assessing the sensitivity of each category. Essentially, if you think of every major chunk of a grant application, these are what you have:
| Type | Description | Privacy |
|---|---|---|
| Partners | Partners, Suppliers, Vendors, etc. | CHECK WITH CLIENT - no adverse effect. Preference if competitive advantage |
| Team | Founders, key team members, and resumes | NO ISSUE - publicly available on Linkedin |
| Success Metrics | Track record to date i.e. sales, customers | SENSITIVE - do not share - Solution: Make up #s to LLM doesn’t get real. Fix or write by hand. |
| Financials | Financial performance (P\&L, Balance Sheet) | SENSITIVE - do not share - Solution: AI to generate budgets from scratch. Use fake #s for inputs. Fix or write by hand. |
| Historic Funding | Investors, private or government funding | SENSITIVE - do not share - Solution: Use fake #s for inputs. Fix or write by hand. |
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3. Leveraging Privacy Features in AI Tools
AI tools have evolved to address privacy concerns. You can link out the privacy policies of AI tool recommended for grant writers. For example, tools like ChatGPT now allow users to toggle off data-sharing features, ensuring that your input is not used for training purposes.
Stay updated on the latest privacy policies of the AI tools you use. Many organizations provide summaries and direct links to these policies, which can help clarify how your data is handled. Need a breakdown of each AI tool and their policies? Check out our AI toolkit to boost your AI game today!
Final Thoughts
Privacy is a manageable concern in grant writing with AI tools when approached strategically. By categorizing data sensitivity, using appropriate privacy settings, and staying informed, organizations can leverage AI while maintaining trust and compliance.
AI is not only a tool for efficiency but also an opportunity to reevaluate how data is managed, ensuring a balance between innovation and privacy. Embrace the tools, but do so thoughtfully and responsibly.
As you’d expect, this is just a tip of the iceberg. We have lengthy conversations about privacy with AI tools in the Global Grant Writers Collective. Hence, we built this toolkit on AI in grant writing to help you catch up. Join the collective today to participate in the fun!
