The increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how nonprofits operate and improve their efficiency. In February, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) sponsored a training hosted by Coastal Intelligence, geared toward helping nonprofit organizations better understand how innovative technology tools can be used to advance their missions. Alongside local nonprofit leaders, SBF Staff had the opportunity to practice research, prompting, project feasibility, scenario planning, and more.
The Collaboration for Social Impact (CSI) offers expertise in professional and leadership development, capacity building grants, and advocacy to support the broader community. This training contributed to SBF’s goal of equipping nonprofits with the knowledge and resources they need as they work to fulfill their missions. The workshop also helped organizations explore AI’s potential uses and consider how to apply them in ways that align with their own values—including ethical considerations such as environmental footprints and data privacy.
During a conversation with Mark Sylvester, co-founder of Coastal Intelligence, and Anne Whatley, Director of CSI, they shared the heart-first, human-first approach behind the training. “We really want to help activate more conversation amongst the sector on how to use AI as a tool for achieving their mission,” says Whatley. “Organizations are curious, but they haven’t had a chance to think about it in a more systemic way.”
There are many resources available to help non-profits understand AI’s potential role, strategize their implementation, and learn about potential challenges that may arise.
Many well-established organizations are taking varied approaches to offer nonprofits a new perspective on data-driven decisions. Author Beth Kanter’s book The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World and Nonprofits & Artificial Intelligence: A Guide are two projects that provide the context that AI can be applied and where to start. The Patrick J McGovern Foundation (PJMF) took a different approach by creating a Learning Hub with case studies, coursework, and toolkits to support organizations at any stage of their journey. The Honnold Foundation has also made their Nonprofit Resource Guide more relevant by incorporating rich information on AI governance and cost-effectiveness.
Please refer to SBF’s Nonprofit Resource list to find up-to-date resources as they become available.
By: Mia Ogebee
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