Part 4 of Deed’s AI for Social Impact Series

Finding the right nonprofit shouldn’t require knowing the perfect keywords.

That’s why we built DiscoverAI, an AI-powered upgrade to Deed’s nonprofit search experience that helps users discover nonprofits based on the intention of their search, rather than exact keywords. Whether someone logs into Deed with a specific organization in mind or a general desire to do good, DiscoverAI makes it easier to find the right cause, faster.

The Challenge with Traditional Search

Traditional search relies on exact keyword matching. That means someone searching for “save the trees” might miss nonprofits listed under “environmental conservation,” or a search for “kittens” might fail to surface animal shelters categorized as helping “felines.”

When this happens, people don’t assume the search is limited; they assume the nonprofit doesn’t exist. The intent to give is there, but the technology creates friction at the moment it matters most.

DiscoverAI closes that gap.

Search That Understands Meaning

Instead of matching only the words a user types, DiscoverAI understands the idea behind a search. Deed users can now use natural language, broad concepts, or imperfect phrasing and still discover relevant organizations.
For example, users can search for:

🔎 “Nature lover”
🔎 “Nonprofit related to feeding people in the German capital”
🔎 “Something connecting veterans to dogs”

And DiscoverAI knows what they mean, surfacing nonprofits aligned with those causes even if the wording doesn’t exactly match.

How It Works

Behind the scenes, Deed has combined AI with proven search techniques:

✅ Each nonprofit is represented by what it actually does, not just the keywords on its profile

✅ Searches run through both keyword-based and meaning-based systems

✅ Results are intelligently ranked to prioritize relevance and discovery

Existing search features remain intact and are now enhanced with semantic understanding.

A Better Experience, Without Extra Effort

A Better Experience, Without Extra Effort

💡 Typos and synonyms are handled automatically
💡 Vague or exploratory searches return meaningful results
💡 Zero-result pages are significantly reduced
💡 Discovery expands beyond the same familiar nonprofits

Search feels more intuitive, flexible, and forgiving, because the Deed platform now understands what users are trying to find.

Why It Matters

The biggest value of search is discovery.

Users may find impactful grassroots organizations they didn’t know existed simply because the search experience understands the type of cause they care about. DiscoverAI removes friction from giving and ensures that when someone feels an impulse to do good, the technology helps rather than hinders.

DiscoverAI is a meaningful step toward making nonprofit discovery more human, more inclusive, and more effective.

🧠 DiscoverAI Is Just One of Deed’s AI Tools

DiscoverAI is one of many tools within Deed’s ImpactAI suite, our evolving AI toolkit for social impact leaders and CSR teams. Deed’s ImpactAI is being designed to make your giving and volunteering programs more efficient and engaging through automations that can:  

• Surface insights from your historical data, such as the best time of year to launch a fundraiser based on past engagement

• Create templated events with AI-generated descriptions and recommended actions

• Automate repetitive admin tasks so your team can focus on strategy

🚦 Ready to Improve Nonprofit Discovery and Drive Action?

DiscoverAI is already live with select Deed partners who have opted in. If you’re ready to streamline donation-matching and unlock more giving potential, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Contact your Partner Success Manager to activate DiscoverAI
👉 Not yet on Deed? Request a demo below to see it in action!

The future of workplace giving is smarter, faster, and more human—with AI built to support, not replace, the changemakers behind it.