Why we turned Dominic Dezzutti into an AI chatbot
A beloved PBS host gets an AI twin—and nonprofits get a front-row seat to the next big leap in digital engagement.
Remember those stacks of AOL CDs we all used as coasters in the ’90s? We rolled our eyes—until dial-up suddenly ferried us into new worlds. The iPhone pulled a similar stunt a decade later, squeezing the Library of Alexandria into our back pockets. Today, artificial intelligence is teeing up another plot twist, and at EFM, we decided to greet it with curiosity, healthy skepticism, and just enough audacity to build a chatbot that feels like an old friend.
Enter Dominic Bot
If you’ve ever watched Dominic Dezzutti charm his way through a PBS pledge drive, you know the man is equal parts warmth, wit, and encyclopedic trivia. In other words, perfect chatbot material. So we trained an AI model on Dominic’s quips, favorite cookie recipes, and yes, his family’s secret ravioli technique. Ask him anything—from the best way to support local initiatives to whether oatmeal-raisin qualifies as a real cookie—and he’ll answer in Dominic’s unmistakable cadence (plus the occasional dad joke… we’re still debugging those).
Why a Chatbot, and Why Now?
The beauty of AI isn’t that it replaces humans; it scales the personal touch humans deliver best. Imagine a first-time visitor lands on your site at 11 p.m., curious about applying for a Google Grant. Dominic Bot can greet them by name, share impact stats, and—without a hard sell—offer a link to talk to an EFM team member. It’s micro-targeting without the creepy aftertaste.
Now imagine the same thing, except Dominic Bot lives on your website and answers questions about his favorite new project. What happened last week with that petition? When is the latest event? As Dominic Bot learns about the user, he tailors his messaging until he finds an appropriate time to ask if the user is a supporter. Then, he’ll provide a link with a personally tailored pitch for becoming a donor. It’s not hard to see these sorts of bots becoming the backbone of the future of fundraising.
Takeaway
Tech revolutions arrive first as curiosities, then as necessities. Dominic Bot is our way of showing that AI can be both—equal parts heart and code, ready to help nonprofits build deeper relationships at the speed of a conversation. Give him a whirl. Worst case, you’ll walk away with a solid ravioli recipe. Best case? You’ll glimpse the future of mission-driven storytelling—and it’ll feel as familiar as chatting with an old friend.
Ready to give Digital Dominic a spin? Tap the chat bubble down in the bottom-right corner and ask him your biggest nonprofit-marketing question—your next “aha” is one message away.