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I had a blast chatting with Alexandra Pittman, PhD on Humanitarian AI Today. We unpacked this year's AI for Humanity Report and advice for nonprofits navigating responsible AI. The AI-powered nonprofits we surveyed aren't using AI blindly. They name privacy, misinformation, and data exposure as top concerns. To them, how AI is used matters as much as what it can do. Surveyed nonprofits put this principle into practice by consulting their communities, integrating beneficiary feedback, and asking whether AI is even the right tool to use for what they're trying to accomplish. AI-powered nonprofits believe AI can help the most underserved communities thrive. I believe they'll set the standard for responsible AI, in the nonprofit sector and beyond. Listen to our conversation here: https://lnkd.in/ekV6yQZz

In philanthropy, courage can mean backing an idea before you have all the answers. That’s on my mind as I head to the National Forum on Family Philanthropy this week. In my work, I see AI-powered nonprofits using technology to reach more people in vulnerable communities. I also hear from grantmakers who want to support this work thoughtfully, but aren’t always sure where to start. At my workshop, I’ll share what Fast Forward has learned from working with AI-powered nonprofits. We’ll talk about how to: - Ask whether AI is the right tool for the problem - Assess a solution’s impact, feasibility, and responsibility - Identify where funding can make the biggest difference Thank you to National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) for inviting me and making space for this conversation. If you’ll be there, please reach out. I’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

“What should we build with AI?” instead of just “What can we build?” is a question AI-powered nonprofits have been answering the whole time. I recently teamed up with Candid to unpack our 2026 AI for Humanity Report, and the takeaway is pretty clear: nonprofits build AI for the people, not the hype. Too many orgs are stuck at the pilot stage. Building an AI prototype is cheaper than ever, but the heavy lifting—maintenance, governance, long-term infrastructure—still costs real money. When we underfund the unglamorous work, we miss out on scaling solutions that actually help people. We can build an AI future we actually believe in. We just have to fund the foundation. Check out the full article here 👉: https://lnkd.in/eXbRsW2k

We asked 119 AI-powered nonprofits in 20 countries what AI has changed for the people they serve. 80% say outcomes improved. What holds them back is capital. 90% have a plan to scale, and only 24% have the resources to get there. 77% say multi-year, unrestricted funding would help most. See the full findings and recommendations for funders in the 2026 AI for Humanity Report, with support from Google.org.

Nonprofits are the most trusted institutions in the U.S., ahead of small businesses, the courts, and government. Skepticism toward AI keeps rising. The 2026 AI for Humanity Report shows how 119 AI-powered nonprofits protect that trust. 76% collect ongoing feedback from the people they serve, and not one said it hides its AI use. See what they've learned and what they're asking funders for.

While writing a new whitepaper, Realizing the Reset, Maggie Johnson, Kevin Barenblat, and I came to a conclusion. More nonprofits are using AI than ever. But AI costs a lot to build. Even more to govern and maintain responsibly. The real cost is more than tokens — it's the humans that build with AI and make it work, ethically and efficiently, for end users. If grantmakers want to see AI used to benefit humanity, now is the time to learn and invest. According to the 2026 AI for Humanity Report, 90% of responding AI-powered nonprofits say they have a plan to scale. But 24% report having the resources to do so. Without resources and capacity, nonprofits can't realize the full extent of AI's benefits. Philanthropy can close the gap between AI's potential to transform the social sector and the sector's capacity to use it responsibly. The timing matters, because AI is reshaping philanthropy too. New wealth and giving strategies are coming out of the AI industry. This is a once-in-a-generation technological shift. If you're a grantmaker interested in funding AI, read Realizing the Reset. In this whitepaper, we provide recommendations on what to prioritize and how to put your capital work. Our hope? That you'll have the AI know-how to fund the future: https://lnkd.in/e7YzD3zg