AI for nonprofits has the potential to ease resourcing challenges across the sector. But only if it's implemented in a structured, secure, and carefully considered way. In this blog post, we help nonprofit organizations identify use cases, vet software vendors, safeguard against security risks, and roll out their AI implementations sustainably.
The nonprofit sector already has one foot firmly planted in the world of artificial intelligence, with one third of communicators saying they use generative AI tools every week.
Though the use cases vary, there are some notable trends:
This rapid uptake of AI is an encouraging step for the industry, but it’s not without its risks.
Why? Because a majority of nonprofits are adopting the technology completely blindly. In fact, 76% have no AI strategy at all and 80% still lack any formal acceptable use policy.
This raises a number of security and authenticity concerns. Without any guardrails in place, employees and volunteers may inadvertently breach confidential beneficiary data or publish inaccurate communications. Both of which could impair your hard-earned reputation.
The implementation of AI for nonprofits should never be handled sweepingly. It requires structure and careful planning. Only then can AI glean the benefits you’re looking for, coupled with the security you need.
If you're at the early stages of your AI adoption journey, we’re here to offer some guidance and structure.
In the following 8 steps, we’ll help you identify use cases, build a strong business case, and implement AI sustainably.
43% of nonprofits rely on just one member of staff to make all IT and AI decisions. Less than a third consult multiple staff members.
Time constraints and funding shortages are rife in the industry, making it difficult to dedicate more resources to these projects. But AI is no small or inconsequential thing. It deserves the attention of a dedicated team.
By enlisting the help of employees and interested volunteers across your multi-site organization, you can:
If possible, try to get one of your board members in on the project, too. This will give your project added momentum — something that will be especially useful for step 4 of this article.
With your team assembled, you can now explore the possibilities of AI.
Begin with a self-assessment. What are the current challenges and needs of your organization? If communicators struggle to find time for storytelling or publishing company updates, generative content generation will be an apt use case. If you’ve noticed an increase in non-compliance across your teams, perhaps an AI policy management chatbot could be the solution that gets everyone aligned.
Looping in your wider business will ensure no stone is left unturned. Send out surveys to your employees and volunteers and pinpoint any challenges you might have missed.
While it can be all too easy to get carried away with AI, it’s important to prioritize use cases that make a tangible difference to your people, beneficiaries, and operations.
There’s nothing worse than buying a new tool only to discover your current tech stack already has all the functionality you were looking for.
To avoid putting more strain on your budget, take the time to evaluate your existing software. Vendors are rapidly adding more and more AI functionality to their products. A quick call with your account manager will help you expand your use cases, get to grips with new capabilities, and avoid under-utilization.
If you require new tools, subscriptions, or development work, you’ll need to get the approval of your board first. (They control the allocation of resources across your locations, after all.)
Build a business case centered around real and mounting problems in your organization. How can AI alleviate pressures, such as employee burnout, slow decision making, and non-compliance? Are staff members already harnessing open-source AI tools that may be impacting data security?
Communicate the use cases you highlighted in step 2 and demonstrate their intended value. Paint a picture of what your nonprofit will look like with AI in its toolkit. The grass can be greener on the other side, you just have to convince the powers that be.
At this point, you’ll also need to think about how you’ll manage the AI project post-approval. Determine KPIs, milestones, and any additional resources needed to complete the project. Speak with your board and decide upon the best way to inform them of your progress as you go — whether that’s via internal comms tools, video calls, or email newsletters.
Gotten the thumbs-up from your board of trustees? If so, the next task on your list will be to find potential AI contenders.
During this step, you need to balance shiny features with security, trust, costs, and usability. Yes, the platform should be able to handle your priority use cases… But not at the expense of everything (and everyone) else. It’s crucial you find a solution that’s secure, easy to use, and aligns with your cost expectations.
When searching for the perfect vendor, find the answers to the following questions:
AI isn’t all sunshine, rainbows, and rabbits-jumping-on-a-trampoline. Many open AI platforms come with their fair share of security risks — something nonprofit organizations are guilty of glossing over.
As it stands, 80% of nonprofits do not have an AI acceptable use policy. This means their employees, board members, and volunteers have no rules or guardrails in place to protect them from the dangers of AI. It’s akin to leaving all the windows and doors open in your house at night.
To prevent any security incidents, liaise with your IT team (and external cybersecurity experts if needed) to create a watertight acceptable use policy.
This should cover everything your employees need to know before they tiptoe into the realm of AI. What tools are they permitted to use? What use cases are (and aren’t) acceptable for these tools? What data are they not allowed to feed into AI tools? Will their AI-generated content require approval from managers before publication?
These policies and guidelines are essential for compliance and operational consistency.
We’d recommend sharing them via an accessible and trackable policy management application to ensure team members read and understand them.
Cement the AI rules and security best practices outlined in your policies with clear, engaging learning pathways. This will give your employees the confidence to use any new technology efficiently and safely.
The best way to deliver this training is via a learning management system (LMS). By building standardized courses and learning pathways, you eliminate the need for repetitive (and time-consuming) in-person training. Employees, volunteers, and board members can self-service the training in their own time — and you can track participation and test results within just a few clicks.
For best results, we’d advise incorporating your AI policies and handbooks into your LMS courses. A nonprofit management software like Claromentis can help you achieve this.
Slow and steady is the smartest approach when handling any digital transformation project. You don’t want to overwhelm your teams with an influx of new AI-driven processes or expectations. Nor do you want to risk the chances of operational bottlenecks or non-compliance.
So start small. Begin with one use case, roll it out gently, evaluate its effectiveness, and then branch out. For instance, you could start by generating biweekly news updates that cover multi-site achievements and upcoming events. After each release, monitor the content’s reception.
How do internal stakeholders and donors engage with the news articles? Are there more or less comments and likes than your human-generated content? How much time has AI saved your communications teams? Have AI-generated news articles directly impacted your fundraising efforts? If the content doesn’t perform as expected, make small adjustments and measure their impact. It may be your prompts weren’t effective enough, or your AI imagery didn’t resonate with your audience.
The ever-stretched nonprofit sector is a prime candidate for AI. The right technology, harnessed in the right way, can enable your busy teams, buy back more time, and help you engage new and existing supporters at scale.
In a climate of shrinking resources and rising community demand, this kind of augmentation is invaluable.
If you’re at the beginning of your AI journey, we’d recommend exploring our AI-powered nonprofit management software.
Available at a discounted rate for charitable organizations, Claromentis comprises three powerful platforms in one; a feature-rich intranet; a SCORM-compliant LMS; and a no-code business process automation platform. Our native AI tools include:
All of our AI features are built using Google Vertex — a secure platform that does not process your data unless explicitly given permission. So you can empower your teams without worrying about your data being mishandled.
To find out more about our all-in-one nonprofit management software, book a quick discussion call with one of our experts. We’d be delighted to show you around the solution and answer any questions you may have.