Getting Started with Agentforce: Salesforce’s AI Solution

If you’ve ever run an annual fundraiser, coordinated a program launch, or balanced grant deadlines and donor meetings, all  in the same week, you’ve probably thought, “There’s got to be a better way.” There is—and that way is AI and Salesforce Agentforce.

AI is a force multiplier, helping your team do more of what matters most. Whether it's summarizing a donor's engagement history, drafting personalized emails, or guiding volunteers through onboarding, AI lets your staff focus on people, not paperwork.

But to get real value from AI—especially inside Salesforce—you need to lay the groundwork. The best time to start? Right now.

What Is AI, Really?

AI refers to systems that can mimic certain kinds of human thinking—analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and generating responses. But today’s AI isn’t a sci-fi superbrain. It’s more like a talented intern: fast, capable, and always improving—but only if you give it clear direction and access to the right information.

Think of AI as a digital teammate who helps you scale services without scaling headcount. And when used within Salesforce, this intern-level AI becomes even more effective by securely working with your organization’s data.

The Five Waves of AI: Where Are We Now?

AI didn’t arrive all at once. It’s evolved in waves, each unlocking new capabilities. Understanding where we are now helps nonprofits take the right steps to prepare and benefit.

Wave 1: Predictive AI

This is the foundation. AI models analyze past behaviors to predict future actions—like estimating how likely a donor is to give or which volunteers are most engaged. Salesforce has long offered predictive tools to help nonprofits prioritize and personalize their outreach.

Wave 2: Generative AI (Copilots)

Think ChatGPT—but with access to your internal systems. Generative AI creates content based on your prompts. Inside Salesforce, this can mean summarizing case notes, drafting reports, or composing personalized thank-you emails using your own data.

Wave 3: Agentic AI (Agents)

 This is where we are today. AI doesn’t just suggest actions—it can take them. Agentic AI interacts with your systems and people, performing real tasks like updating records, replying to constituent questions, or launching follow-ups. Salesforce’s new Agentforce capabilities allow nonprofits to automate and personalize at scale.

Wave 4: Robotics

 This future wave brings AI into the physical world—think autonomous delivery or robotic assistants. For most nonprofits, this is still distant, but exciting.

Wave 5: Artificial General Intelligence

This is the AI of movies—human-level reasoning across all tasks. We’re far from this point. Today’s AI is great at specific tasks and getting better every day.

The Intern Test: Is Your Org Ready?

AI thrives with clarity. If you handed your CRM and a process guide to a smart intern, would they be able to do the work? Or would they get stuck? That’s the intern test—and it’s a great way to evaluate whether you’re ready for automation.

Here’s what you need in place:

• Clean, structured and unstructured data: AI needs clear data inputs to produce quality outputs. That includes both fields in Salesforce and content like PDFs or FAQs.
• Clear workflows: Consistent, repeatable processes are easiest to automate. If your team does something five different ways, AI won’t know which one is right.
• Defined outcomes: What does “done well” look like? Just like an intern, AI needs to know when it got it right—and how to course correct when it didn’t.

Agentforce for Nonprofit Cloud: Smarter Help, Right Inside Salesforce

Salesforce’s Spring ’25 release brings Agentforce to Nonprofit Cloud, ushering in a new era of smart, action-oriented assistants that work right within your CRM.

Here’s  a small sampling of what’s possible:

• Instantly summarize donor records and program histories
• Draft thank-you emails, event reminders, and progress reports
• Translate content for multilingual outreach
• Create records, send alerts, or follow up automatically
• Answer questions from volunteers or staff using natural language
• Support constituents directly through embedded chat experiences

And because this all happens inside Salesforce, your data stays secure. The Einstein Trust Layer helps manage privacy, retention, grounding, and bias so you can use AI confidently without exposing sensitive data or relying on external platforms.

Why This Moment Matters

AI is advancing fast. By preparing now, you ensure that your mission, your values, and your team shape how AI and Salesforce Agentforce supports your work—not the other way around. You’re not just keeping up—you’re setting the pace for what’s possible.

Galvin: Your AI and Salesforce Agentforce Partner

At Galvin, we’ve spent the last year diving deep into AI—from earning certifications to configuring Agentforce in real-world orgs. But more importantly, we’re here to meet you where you are.

We don’t just plug in new tools. We collaborate, clarify your goals, and make sure your data and workflows are ready to support intelligent automation. Because when change is done right, it doesn’t just save time—it helps you reach more people, more meaningfully, without burning out your staff.

Let’s talk about what AI can unlock for your team.

WANT TO TALK WITH OUR CONSULTING TEAM?

We’d love to work with you on your Salesforce needs. Our team of certified Consultants can work closely with your team to close more deals. Call us at 317-297-2910 or complete the form below.