Now Is the Time for Nonprofits to Lean into AI

I just returned from an intense four day training on AI for Executives at the MIT Sloan School of Management and I am convinced that nonprofit professionals must begin learning more about the benefits of using artificial intelligence (AI) and lean into the many uses.

The nonprofit sector, often characterized by its dedication to social good and resourcefulness, stands at the cusp of a technological revolution. AI is rapidly evolving, offers powerful tools that nonprofits can leverage to enhance their mission effectiveness, optimize operations, and ultimately, amplify their impact on the communities they serve.

Embracing AI isn't just a trend; it's becoming a necessity for organizations striving to maximize their reach and efficiency in a world grappling with complex social challenges.

One of the most compelling advantages of AI for nonprofits lies in its ability to streamline operations. AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry, donor communication, and grant application research. This frees up valuable staff time, allowing them to focus on higher-level strategic initiatives, program development, and direct service delivery.

By minimizing administrative burdens, AI facilitates a more efficient allocation of resources, ensuring that a greater portion of donations directly benefits those in need.

Furthermore, AI unlocks new opportunities for personalized engagement. Through AI-powered chatbots and targeted marketing campaigns, nonprofits can tailor their communications to individual donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. This personalized approach strengthens relationships, increases donor retention, and fosters a stronger sense of community around the organization's mission.

AI also offers the potential to dramatically improve data analysis and impact measurement. Nonprofits often collect vast amounts of data, but analyzing it effectively can be a challenge. AI algorithms can identify patterns, predict trends, and uncover insights that would be impossible for human analysts to find. This improved data analysis can enhance program evaluation, allowing organizations to better understand their impact and make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

Understanding the Risks

Just as there are many benefits to using AI, there are also risks. The primary risk is the possible breach of sensitive information by untrained staff, be it client data, donor information or organizational files. However, there are remedies to help mitigate these risks.

1. Train all users effectively.

2. Do not upload sensitive or confidential information into any AI solution.

3. If there is a concern, look into using a enterprise system in which the organization maintains control of the information and the AI solution has a policy of not using the organization's data in any way.

Another risk is the risk of the risk of information bias. AI can only and wthat has been programmed into the system. Therefore there are bound to be biases from programmers leaning on their personal experiences and knowledge, as well as images and data online that the solutions draw from. For example, most images and information of Chief Executive Officers are of white males, so if you prompt the AI solution to provide an image of a CEO, what generally comes up is an image of a white man.

The third most concerning risk is false or incorrect data. When an AI solution produce false data, it is referred to as a "hallucination." AI is not fully reliable yet, so any data must be checked by a human being. One way to reduce the hallucinations is to instruct or prompt the AI solution to provide links to references used in your research or to simply upload your own references to be analyzed or summarized by the solution. Over time, this should become less of an issue, but I would always check anyway, just to be sure.

To start the learning journey, here's a free Google AI Essentials Course that Goodwill Industries is offering, just scan the QR code to register and get started:

The integration of AI into the nonprofit sector is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a strategic imperative. By embracing AI, nonprofits can operate more efficiently, engage more effectively with stakeholders, gain deeper insights into their impact, and achieve their missions more effectively. However there are still risks, so do your homework, seek training and become knowledgeable or risk getting left behind.