Recent Discussions
How valuable would a Nonprofit Check Plus API be for validating nonprofit status?
Would a Nonprofit Check Plus API make it easier for an organization to verify a nonprofit before making a donation or starting a partnership? I would like to know why people specifically prefer to use it and the advantages if any. Are there alternatives to the same means?
Leaping to Ai in Africa with less Internet infrastructure
Sayapafrica.org is the organization that I founded in California with a mission to assist, rebuild and help communities in 15 African countries. Our main issue is the connectivity. On the other hand, we would like to train and connect with our 6000 volunteers on the ground. We opened also STEM academies for African kids to learn to code and all want to try AI but with offline capabilities. Help help help
Integrate MS AI into our 3rd party app
Is there a way to integrate AI (copilot) into our 3rd party app? Our app is used by large number of users to access technical content. They have to navigate through tons of content which is not very efficient. The AI for example could based on the user profile, push matching content on the top. This is just one example, there are many more. I am not sure whether MS NP division has any dedicated team who collaborate with NP organisations like us on such needs, is there a way to contact someone there? Luckily, I found this community while looking for ways to contact MS. I can already see some interesting discussions in different sections.Nonprofit Boards & AI Governance
Last week, had a great conversation with ZoeAmar and one thing we talked about was the need for nonprofits to add people to their boards experienced in ethics and who understand the technology. How are you making your board and governance "ai-ready" ? https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/nonprofit-community-blog/the-story-so-far-with-nonprofits-and-ai/ba-p/4055241Iceberg Ahead: The Unseen Data Divide in AI
85% of AI's training data comes from the global north, highlighting the digitalization gap of the global south. This imbalance is more than just a discrepancy; it represents a profound division that risks distorting AI's applicability and effectiveness across different global communities. As development professionals, how can we tackle this digitalization divide to ensure AI truly represents a diverse range of human experiences? What innovative strategies can you implement to integrate the unique cultural and digital landscapes of the global south into the AI development process?Introducing an AI Framework for an Equitable World
Huge thank you to our webinar presenters from NTEN, Institute for the Future, and Project Evident. We'll add resources mentioned in the online event here: Watch the recording on LinkedIn Learn about NTEN Learn about Institute for the Future Learn about Project Evident We have a list of AI resources available to your organization: https://aka.ms/nonprofitcommunity/AIoffers Use the NTEN Equity Guide for Nonprofit Technology as a regular part of your strategy discussions, policy review processes, and as a resource for evaluation. https://www.nten.org/change/equity-guide-for-nonprofit-technology Sign up for IFTF’s “Three Horizons of AI” course here: https://www.iftf.org/foresightessentials/for-individuals/ai-horizons/ Learn more about AI interest and use in the social sector https://projectevident.org/news/inspiring-action-ai-report/ Learn what to prioritize to get ready for AI in your organization https://projectevident.org/resource/ai-readiness-diagnostic/ Find responsible AI tools, principles, and frameworks from Microsoft here Responsible AI Tools and Practices | Microsoft AI What did you learn from the session? And what questions does the framework raise for your AI adoption journey? If you watched the webinar, please share your feedback: aka.ms/NonprofitSurveyQuestion for small nonprofits
If you work for a small (5-20 people) nonprofit or charity organisation, what types of information are you capturing using Excel spreadsheets (or paper)? This might include your volunteers, program participants, donors, assets, clients, etc. What other data are you managing? Have you tried finding off-the-shelf solutions to help you with managing it?Interesting question posed to me yesterday
Since MS's Nonprofit Global Leaders Summit, I have been talking to many people in our organisation about the benefits of Gen AI and trying to allay fears that it is going to take their jobs. However, yesterday a person getting started with her career asked me an excellent and very valid question that I did not know how to answer. I thought I would bring it to this community to see if anyone had thoughts or ideas on how to respond to it. This person is a creative person. The question: "I understand that AI can help me do my job. However, I get immense job and self-satisfaction from the creative process and knowing that I am the one who created the content, design, whatever it might be. If I offload that to AI, where does the job satisfaction come in?" Thoughts?
AI Bots, tutors, mentors -What's your dream?
AI bots, tutors, mentors, counselors, etc. could be a game changer for education across the world. What's your vision? What would be needed from these types of tools to make them truly successful? What challenges are there? What concerns? Thanks for sharing your ideas!!Trevor Noah: Q&AI
Trevor Noah and Kate Behncken, CVP, Microsoft Philanthropies, talk about the role of curiosity and questions in the midst of the big changes and challenges that AI transformation brings. How are you fostering a sense of curiosity and a growth mindset at your organization? Respond to Trevor's insights and add your own ideas and questions here! Thanks for being a part of the Summit.
What is the due diligence for verifying nonprofits?
I know that before donating, funding, or partnering with a nonprofit, a few minutes of due diligence can prevent costly mistakes. But what steps can one take to verify that a nonprofit is legitimate, financially transparent, and actually doing what it claims? Are there AI and API tools one can use for this?What did you learn at Impact Summit in NYC? Explore - Adapt - Adopt!
On May 8, nonprofit innovators gathered in NYC to learn about transformation across the nonprofit world - and how tools like AI can support growth and capacity. If you attended the session "Redefining productivity for nonprofits with AI" with Devi Thomas and Brandonlon Bartlett, tell what you thought! What takeaways and insights did you get from the table discussions based on the Explore-Adapt-Adopt frameworks? Watch for the virtual Impact Summit coming on May 15 - and keep the conversation going here!Microsoft 365 Solutions for Faith-based Organizations
The loss of Charlie Kirk last week is a deeply tragic moment for faith-based communities who have been inspired by his leadership and vision. In times of grief, organizations often seek meaningful ways to honor such legacies and continue uplifting their missions. The Microsoft 365 platform offers a powerful foundation for faith-based organizations to build applications that support connection, outreach, and growth—for example, church management systems, volunteer coordination tools, secure prayer request platforms, community engagement apps, event scheduling, and digital resource libraries. With Microsoft 365 Copilot and related AI-driven solutions, Christian organizations can streamline communications, create safer virtual spaces, and foster collaboration, helping communities come together, heal, and move forward with renewed purpose and unity. The key question though is how to do all this in a cost-conscious manner? Many of the faith-based charitable organizations that I provide volunteer assistance for are cash-strapped as it is, and with Microsoft starting to pull back its support for 501c(3) organizations, how are others approaching this dilemma? Is there a AI community dedicated towards non-profit organizations?Leveling up on AI Skills Session Credential Reminder!
Calling all participants in our day 1 breakout session: "Leveling up on AI Skills: Hands-on with real world cases and roll out plan!" As a reminder, for attending the session you are eligible to redeem a credential that can be shared on your LinkedIn profile. Please complete this form by February 9th to receive yours! Redeem your badge here: aka.ms/SessionBadge To revisit the IYF Demo page: Aka.ms/CopilotDemoIYF To access the announced Digital Skills Resource Hub: aka.ms/DigitalSkillsHub Thank you again for such great engagement and participation during and after the session! We look forward to continuing the conversation in the Digital Skills discussion space: Digital Skills - Microsoft Community HubWhat is step 1?
I am curious after attending Day 1 of the nonprofit global leadership summit where people feel like they will begin the AI journey with Microsoft? There are so many tools, so many starting points, and so many different ways to start solving real world problems; where do we begin? Is this clear to you yet? If so, I'd love to hear how you are thinking about making a wise 'first play' with AI & Microsoft. I am inspired, but wondering where and how to begin. Thanks!
Recap Global Summit with Copilot!
On January 31 and February 1, 2024, Microsoft hosted its first-ever Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit in Bellevue, Washington. The summit was a two-day event that brought together nonprofit executives from around the world to learn, share, and collaborate on how to leverage technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for their missions. The summit featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, how-to sessions, demos, workshops, and networking opportunities with leaders across the nonprofit community. Some of the highlights included: Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, welcomed the attendees and shared Microsoft’s vision and commitment to empower nonprofits with technology and AI. Trevor Noah, Comedian, TV Host, and Author, entertained the audience with his witty and insightful Q&AI session, where he asked and answered questions about AI, ethics, and social impact. Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Professor and Co-Director of Stanford’s Human Centered AI Institute, inspired the attendees with her keynote on how to design and use AI for good, with a focus on human values, diversity, and inclusion. Hadi Partovi, Founder and CEO of Code.org, shared his story and passion for computer science education and how nonprofits can use AI to scale their programs and reach more people. Lauren Woodman, CEO of DataKind, moderated a panel of nonprofit leaders who shared their experiences and best practices on how they are using AI to enhance their work in areas such as fundraising, marketing, and program delivery. Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow at Microsoft, introduced the Nonprofit Community, a new online platform where nonprofits can connect, learn, and access exclusive resources and opportunities from Microsoft and its partners. Afua Bruce, Author of The Tech that Comes Next and Founder and Principal of ANB Advisory Group, closed the summit with a call to action for nonprofit leaders to embrace technology and AI as a catalyst for change and innovation. The summit also launched the Nonprofit Community, a new online platform where nonprofits can connect, learn, and access exclusive resources and opportunities from Microsoft and its partners. The Nonprofit Community is a place for nonprofits to share their stories, challenges, and best practices, as well as get support and feedback from peers and experts. If you missed the chance to attend the summit, you can still watch the recordings of the virtual sessions by visiting the summit website and using the code VIRTUAL. You can also join the Nonprofit Community platform to learn, connect, and collaborate with the nonprofit community and Microsoft. The Microsoft Tech For Nonprofit Global Conference was a unique opportunity for nonprofit leaders to join the inspir AI tion and discover how to harness the power of technology and AI for social good. We hope you enjoyed the summit and we look forward to seeing you at the next one. 🙌 Here are few clicks;
Recent Blogs
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