Nonprofit AI: Introduction with Carolyn Woodard

Community IT is starting a new series today: Nonprofit AI. Midweek we will share 10-15 minutes of updates about AI and nonprofits - including current news stories, tips, definitions, use cases, frameworks, and resources.Whether you are an AI novice wondering how to catch up quickly, or an AI early adopter always looking for a new tool you can use at your nonprofit, we hope you will join us every Tuesday for another quick update on what is going on in the world of Nonprofits and AI. Takeaways and resources from Ep 1:1. How AI Works: The Fast-Paced LibraryThink of a Large Language Model (LLM) like a super-fast librarian who has read almost everything ever written. When you ask a question, the AI doesn't "look up" a file; it predicts the next word in a sequence. It processes your request into small "packets" of data (tokens) that are sent to massive datacenters. There, billions of mathematical calculations happen in milliseconds to return a response that sounds human.2. Embedded AI vs. Prompting AIYou are already using AI, even if you haven't opened a chatbot.Embedded AI: This is "hidden" technology inside tools you use daily, like Google Search algorithms, GPS route optimization, or even your email’s spam filter.Prompting AI: This is "Generative AI" like ChatGPT or Gemini, where you actively start a conversation (a "prompt") to create something new, like a draft email or a report summary.3. Use Enterprise LoginsYou should use the Enterprise versions of tools like Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini (logging in with your work account) rather than the free, public versions. This should keep your data "walled off." This ensures your donor information or internal notes aren't used to train the public model or seen by anyone outside your organization.4. Policies are Your Starting PointWhile many nonprofits are still catching up on formal IT governance or employee handbooks, AI represents a unique moment to start documenting your "rules of the road." You don't need a 50-page document, but you do need clear guidelines for your team on what data can be shared with AI, who is responsible for fact-checking AI outputs, and how your organization discloses AI use. 5. It is Okay Not to Know EverythingYour role as a leader is to focus on strategy and ethics, not the underlying code. It is perfectly professional to say, "I'm still evaluating how this tool fits our mission," or "I need more information on the privacy implications before we proceed."Resources:What is Generative AI? – IBMAI for Nonprofits: What You Need to Know – In the Microsoft/TechSoup Digital Skills CenterAI Is Already in Your Nonprofit – Community IT InnovatorsAI Suitability Kit for Nonprofits - NetHopeArtificial Intelligence (AI) for Nonprofits – The Nonprofit Alliance _______________________________Start a conversation :)Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/email Carolyn at [email protected] LinkedIn on reddit/r/nonprofitITmanagementon the Community IT websiteThanks for listening.