How AI Can Work For Nonprofits

How AI Can Work For Nonprofits

Growing data shows that a majority of nonprofit leaders are interested in or are currently using AI for their organization. Many leaders are curious and recognize its potential, but hesitate because they don’t know where to begin or are not sure how AI can further their missions. For small or mid-sized organizations that operate with limited staff and rely heavily on volunteers, the right AI tools can strengthen core work without distracting or skewing their mission.

What can AI do for nonprofits? 

Most people who work at nonprofits are experts in their nonprofit’s field. Whether it is coral reef restoration or community-centered rehabilitation services, leaders, staff, and volunteers know or are rapidly learning about that issue. Many of the impact areas nonprofits work in have serious and time-pressing needs. Taking time to learn how to do administrative or analytical tasks essential for the functioning of the organization can range from time-consuming to deeply frustrating, especially when the organization does not have the capacity to hire someone who is an expert and is solely focused on that work. 

This is the true value of AI for nonprofits: Removing the administrative and analytical burdens that often pull people away from the work that matters most. There are many AI tools that have been specifically built for nonprofits, like PlanPerfect, that take time-consuming tasks, such as creating SWOT analyses or conducting fundraising prospect research. The AI tools that have been created by people who understand nonprofits and have designed resources specifically for them are doing exactly this: freeing up human time for human-only tasks. When AI lifts administrative burden, volunteers and staff have more capacity to do what they are already experts in and what they joined the organization to do. 

How to choose an AI tool

Choosing the right AI tools is important and often difficult to navigate. Consider where you feel frustration in your day that distracts from your work. Are you reading through hundreds of surveys and interviews? How much of your time is spent writing grants? Think of what is stopping you from engaging in the work you care most about, and start looking for resources to lessen those burdens. 

When evaluating tools, an effective technique is to look into the backgrounds of the founders and contributors to the service: Do they have a background in nonprofits? Do they have experience with fundraising, community engagement, or social impact work? Tools created by people who understand the sector’s constraints and values are more likely to align with nonprofit needs, uplift the organization’s values, and deliver trustworthy and relevant outputs. 

I wrote a longer article about choosing the right tools; you can find it here. 

Implementing AI tools

For a nonprofit’s staff and volunteers, AI training is crucial. Those using AI for the nonprofit must understand the function they are serving, how they work, and where their limits lie. AI, especially untailored Large Language Models, can produce inaccurate or biased outputs, so users should be equipped to review, question, and edit what these systems generate. This training doesn’t need to be complex: even foundational knowledge empowers teams to use AI safely and effectively. Additionally, many services built for nonprofits offer meetings or training on how to use their services best for your organization. 

This training and the use of AI also offer valuable professional skills for volunteers. As more employers across industries expect familiarity with AI tools, volunteers who learn to use them gain transferable experience. This is especially meaningful for young people, those changing careers, or individuals wanting to strengthen their resumes. 

AI will never replace the heart of nonprofit work. It can not replicate the knowledge, creativity, or care that staff and volunteers bring to their organization. It can create more space for that work to flourish. Embracing AI thoughtfully, dedicating time to training, and choosing tools built for nonprofits can help organizations expand their impact by allowing people to focus on the work they do best and that moves the mission forward.