Why “Working Smarter with AI” Matters for Every Nonprofit Right Now
Nonprofits are being asked to do more than ever, often with fewer people and tighter resources. Important mission‑driven work gets buried under emails, meetings, and administrative overload. Working Smarter with AI highlights a major shift happening across the sector — one that helps organizations reclaim time, reduce burnout, and refocus on what truly matters. AI Is Changing How Work Gets Done AI isn’t a future concept anymore. It’s already helping teams streamline tasks, cut through busywork, and stay focused on mission‑critical work. This isn’t about working faster — it’s about working smarter. Digital Debt Is Draining Teams Email overload, nonstop meetings, and constant information flow are holding staff back. AI can take on routine tasks so people can spend more time on creativity, strategy, and impact. Refocus on Mission‑Driven Work From summarizing documents to drafting content and analyzing information, AI tools remove the tedious parts of work and help teams reconnect with their purpose. AI as a True Productivity Partner Tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot support staff right inside the apps they already use. Whether it’s clearing inboxes, drafting grant proposals, or building presentations, AI gives teams a head start — and nearly 90% of users say it helps them feel more fulfilled. Built on Responsible AI Responsible AI ensures fairness, transparency, and privacy. It keeps people in control and supports staff rather than replacing them. A Better Way of Working AI gives nonprofits the opportunity to rethink how work happens — reducing burnout, boosting creativity, and helping teams stay focused on advancing the mission. Want to dive deeper? Get the free e‑book: Working Smarter with AI
Discontinuation of M365 Business Premium Grant Deeply Disappointing,Harmful to Small Nonprofits
As a Microsoft CSP partner supporting multiple nonprofit organizations, I am extremely disappointed by the decision to discontinue the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant. This change disproportionately affects small nonprofits that rely on these tools to fulfill their missions with limited resources. The justification that this is about “alignment” or “sustainability” is disingenuous. Let’s be honest—this is a revenue-driven decision that undermines Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to empowering nonprofits. Removing access to essential tools like Office desktop apps and Intune from the grant program forces small organizations into paid plans they cannot afford, jeopardizing their operations and security. Microsoft has built goodwill in the nonprofit sector over the years. This move erodes that trust. I urge you to reconsider this decision or at least provide a longer transition period and more flexible options for small nonprofits. Please do better. The nonprofit sector deserves more than a corporate cost-cutting maneuver disguised as a strategic realignment.
Free course: Unlocking AI for Nonprofits
With support from Microsoft, NetHope has launched a new free, CPD-certified course series - Unlocking AI for Nonprofits - designed specifically for nonprofit professionals. The series will help nonprofit teams build practical and responsible AI skills, no technical background required. The four learning pathways include: AI Basics – Learn what AI is and why it matters for nonprofits Applications of Generative AI – Explore time-saving tools for content, reporting, and data Advanced Applications: Microsoft Copilot and Beyond – Help your team adopt AI with clarity and confidence Responsible Use of AI – Understand ethics, inclusion, and organizational safeguards We’ve had more than 1,000 enrollments across the series to date – don't miss out! Courses are free and available through August 31, 2025. https://nethope.org/programs/unlocking-ai-for-nonprofits-enroll-in-our-new-ai-skills-course-for-nonprofits/?utm_medium=forum&utm_source=microsoftnonprofit&utm_campaign=msaiskillsjul&utm_content=unlockingai
AI in IDD
Here is a little bout how I am using AI in IDD. Our licensed Co-Pilot, has proven to be incredibly productive and time-saving, especially in reviewing documents for errors against regulations, identifying discrepancies between various care plans for the same individual, analyzing and summarizing documents for relevant information in investigations (reducing the closure time from 90 days to 7), suggesting corrective actions for internal/external audits, trending data sets (such as surveys, assessments, and audits), and proposing opportunities and solutions in light of the regulations. AI can audit documents, policies, and procedures with extreme accuracy against 6400 and 6100 regulations (PA regs). We have recently implemented this solution to streamline and audit our Medicaid billing process prior to submission. It enables us to identify billing errors, uncover unbilled days we should be billing for, and flag days we should not be billing - significantly reducing the time required for this process from 30 hours to 4 for a months' worth of billing. For systems that are not directly compatible with AI integration, we leverage AI to develop macros that process raw data exports. This allows us to extract precisely the information we need in seconds, rather than spending hours on manual analysis.Let's Connect - Share Your LinkedIn Profile
Hello all and welcome. Someone suggested on the kick-off webinar that it would be great to have a place for folks to share their LinkedIn profiles if they were willing to do so. I suggested starting a thread on here. 😀 I suggest just adding a comment below to add yours and I'll share a link to this thread in the follow up email (if you're here you likely already received the email. 😁). I'll start - here is my profile link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petraeimiller/Build, Deploy, & Manage AI with Azure AI Foundry
Microsoft's Unified AI Development Platform Imagine an Enterprise organization with multiple departments which need to create new AI solutions to streamline operations while boosting customer experience. Each has different objectives and goals they are trying to achieve with AI. Marketing wants to analyze customer engagement on social media, Finance aims to spot fraud, and Operations plans to predict when machines need repairs. Teams have different subscriptions, resource groups, storage, etc. per department. Resource management can be tedious to say the least while sharing data safely, with the added complexity of provisioning things accurately. That is where Azure AI Foundry comes in. Azure AI Foundry is a unified platform allowing organizations to have a centralized hub where they can manage their AI development with the tools and features they need. Nonprofits can now step into the world of AI and build their own solutions for their organization and the communities they serve. Azure AI Foundry is accessible to developers and beginners alike, making AI implementation cost-effective for organizations of any size. In this blog we will cover How you can get started with Azure AI Foundry. Before we begin, there are some prerequisites that need to be made before you start your journey. Prerequisites & Azure Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Acquiring an Azure Account Azure AI Foundry is integrated into Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure. To use the platform, you will need an Azure Account. You need to be assigned the role of Owner or have your administrator assign you the appropriate role. You can learn more about Azure AI Foundry roles in the Role Comparison Between Foundry Projects and Hub Based Projects. Nonprofits can take advantage of Microsoft’s Nonprofit $2000 Azure Sponsorship Credit Subscription. You will need to be an approved participant of Microsoft’s Nonprofit Offers Program. To learn more about how you can get started please see the following blogs: Getting Signed Up with Microsoft Nonprofits Program | Microsoft Community Hub Claiming Azure Credits | Microsoft Community Hub Azure Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Access Control and identity management are crucial steps in safeguarding your sensitive data. Organizations that deal with global privacy compliance standards understand the necessity of securing and hardening their environment. Microsoft aims to empower clients with security tools and measures built in Azure to help secure access to their resources. One of these tools is Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) which applies built-in roles with limited access and permissions to resources based on their job function, known as Role Based Access Control (RBAC). This follows a security principle called The Principle of Least Privilege. For example, a Business Analyst may need access to Customer Relationship Management software (CRM) to record interactions with stakeholders, allocate budgets, and manage financial records. The Business Analyst would need administrative access related to worked performed. However, they would not need access to creating resources such as virtual machines since that is out of the scope of their role. This ensures security best practices to prevent access to highly sensitive data. Azure AI Foundry has roles designed for developers, managers, and users. By assigning specific roles, such as reader or manager, organizations can ensure that only authorized individuals can view or modify critical AI tools and data. Keep this in mind when granting access to users. Below is a comparison of the features and capabilities of the two project types within Azure AI Foundry: Foundry Project and Hub Based Project. Disclaimer: Some roles may limit functionality in the Azure AI Foundry portal. For example, if a user cannot create a compute instance, that option will not appear in the studio. This prevents access denied errors. Types of Projects Foundry Project Hub-based Project Built on Azure AI Foundry resource Agents Azure AI Foundry Models Azure AI Foundry API Agents Project files (upload and start experimenting) Project-level isolation of files and outputs Evaluations Playground Hosted on Azure AI Foundry Hub Agents (preview) Create if features are not available in Foundry project Azure AI Foundry Models (Connections) Azure AI Foundry API Agents (Connections) Project-level isolation of files and outputs Evaluations Playground Prompt flow Managed compute Azure Storage account & Azure Key Vault Role Comparison Between Foundry Project & Hub Based Project Foundry Project Azure AI User: Azure AI User This role grants reader access to AI projects, reader access to AI accounts, and data actions for an AI project. This role is automatically assigned to the user if they can assign roles. If not, this role must be granted by your subscription Owner or user with role assignment privileges. Azure AI Project Manager: Azure AI Project Manager This role lets you perform management actions on Azure AI Foundry projects, build and develop projects, and grants conditional assignment of the Azure AI User role to other user principles. Azure AI Account Owner: Azure AI Account Owner This role grants full access to managing AI projects, accounts, and grants conditional assignment of the Azure AI User role to other user principles. Hub-Based Project Owner: Full access to the hub, including the ability to manage and create new hubs and assign permissions. This role is automatically assigned to the hub creator Contributor: Users have full access to the hub, including the ability to create new hubs, but cannot manage hub permissions on the existing resource. Azure AI Administrator (preview): This role is automatically assigned to the system-assigned managed identity for the hub. The Azure AI Administrator role has the minimum permissions needed for the managed identity to perform its tasks. For more information, see Azure AI Administrator role (preview). Azure AI Developer: Perform all actions except create new hubs and manage the hub permissions. For example, users can create projects, compute, and connections. Users can assign permissions within their project. Users can interact with existing Azure AI resources such as Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, and Azure AI services. Azure AI Inference Deployment Operator: Perform all actions required to create a resource deployment within a resource group. Reader: Read only access to the hub. This role is automatically assigned to all project members within the hub. Playgrounds, Agents, & Models Oh My! Model Catalog Investing in AI can be expensive, from overhead to capital expenditure. Adoption and development can be costly for many organizations with tight budgets. Nonprofits that want to venture in AI development are met with the challenge of balancing budget with performance and navigating the ever-evolving AI landscape. Nonprofits need the ability to evaluate and test drive models before making the major investment to develop AI projects. Azure AI Foundry now makes it easy to compare models and benchmarks for the latest AI models. Choose from a comprehensive collection of models from Open AI, Meta, Mistral, Grok, Cohere, and more. Track your model's quota usage to stay within limits. Fine-tuned AI Models Create tailored experiences with fine-tuned AI models by utilizing base models from Azure AI Foundry and adapting your own data to create an experience to cater to your audience. For nonprofits and businesses alike, fine-tuned models offer a practical path to maximize impact without the need for intensive computational resources or expertise. Whether optimizing for customer support, document summarization, healthcare analysis, or content generation, fine-tuning ensures AI solutions are more effective and aligned to user needs. Playgrounds Playgrounds are a workspace where you can work on GPTs, Assistants, Real-time audio, Images, and Completions. Playgrounds are a great way to test and compare models before making a full commitment to adopting them. Built-in tools let you quickly benchmark and evaluate what works best with your needs. You can choose from a variety of the latest models from OpenAI and third-party vendors. Setup is made simple with just a few clicks by picking your model. Chat: A chat playground lets users work with AI chat models in real time. Assistants: The Assistants’ playground is designed for experimenting with AI-driven assistants tailored to a wide range of tasks. Real-time audio: The Real-time Audio playground provides an interactive space to experiment with advanced audio-based AI models. Images: The Images playground offers an intuitive environment for working with state-of-the-art image generation and analysis models. Completions: The Completions playground allows users to test text generation models by providing prompts and adjusting settings for tasks such as content creation, summarization, or code generation. As you can see, you have many options to choose from. Create agentic bots for customer interactions or develop a chatbot for end users using specific organizational knowledge such as FAQs and documents with citations. The sky is the limit, with Azure adding new features and capabilities to improve user experience. Developers can also get started with templates and use IDEs like Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code. Now, let us talk about how you can integrate your data to refine and improve your workflows. In the next section we will discuss how you can connect your data to your customized solutions. Connecting Data Sources Connecting your data storage to Azure AI Foundry’s playground assistants, fine-tuned models, batch pipelines, and evaluation workflows is direct and straightforward. You can link storage accounts, databases, Azure blob storage, uploaded files, and Azure AI Search to supply datasets for training, testing, or real-time use. Built-in connectors and APIs make integration simple, while role-based permissions control access. Data lineage and versioning help track and manage information, ensuring your assistants and models use accurate, reliable inputs before applying additional security and governance tools. Compatible Storage Types Azure Blob Storage Azure AI Search Azure Cosmo DB for Mongo DB Uploaded Files URL/ Web Address JSON Governance & Security Azure AI Foundry provides tools to ensure the security of projects. One such tool is Role Based Access Control (RBAC), which we spoke about early. However, Azure AI Foundry integrates a security framework designed to protect sensitive data and comply with industry standards. It employs a combination of tools, governance controls, and continuous monitoring to assist organizations in developing AI solutions securely. Users can set up controls like content filters and block lists. Security recommendations are available through Windows Defender XDR integration, offering protection against data leakage, data poisoning, jailbreaks, and credential theft. Additionally, compliance policies from Microsoft Purview help maintain security measures. Security & Governance Features Compliance Security Framework Private Endpoints & Network Isolation Role Based Access Control Guard rails & Controls Data Encryption Microsoft Purview Defender XDR Integration Taken together, robust governance and security features offer organizations peace of mind, ensuring that their AI projects are not only innovative but also responsibly managed and protected against emerging threats. As organizations scale their AI initiatives, understanding and managing resource usage becomes equally important. This is where quotas come into play, helping teams allocate resources efficiently and maintain optimal performance as they build and deploy AI solutions. Managing Token Quotas Azure AI Foundry provides comprehensive tools that empower teams to monitor and manage token quotas across a diverse range of model consumption patterns. Whether your workloads are categorized as Global standard, Global provisioned, Global batch, Data zone standard, Data zone provisioned, Data zone batch, standard, or Regional, the platform allows for granular visibility into resource allocation and consumption. This centralized tracking ensures that organizations can proactively identify usage bottlenecks, optimize deployment strategies, and stay within defined limits, all while supporting efficient scaling and sustaining high performance for their AI solutions. How to Get Started Get started by visiting Azure AI foundry at https://ai.azure.com. Begin leveraging Azure AI Foundry, organizations should first explore the platform’s intuitive interface and robust documentation, which offer step-by-step guidance for onboarding teams of any size. Users can discover a suite of developer SDKs, prebuilt templates, and ready-to-deploy chatbot solutions that expedite the setup process. Engaging with these resources enables teams to rapidly prototype, customize, and scale AI solutions according to their unique requirements. Additionally, organizations are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive educational content and support channels provided, ensuring a smooth transition from initial exploration to full-scale AI deployment. With these tools and resources at their fingertips, teams can confidently embark on their AI journey, transforming innovative ideas into impactful outcomes. Hyperlinks Introducing Azure AI Foundry - Everything you need for AI development Build your own copilot with Azure AI Studio (Part 1) | Microsoft Learn Role-based access control in Azure AI Foundry portal - Azure AI Foundry | Microsoft Learn QuickStart: Get started with Azure AI Foundry - Azure AI Foundry | Microsoft Learn How to configure a private link for an Azure AI Foundry hub - Azure AI Foundry | Microsoft Learn Azure OpenAI Service - Pricing | Microsoft AzureUnderstanding the Fundamentals of AI Concepts for Nonprofits
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern technology, driving innovation across various sectors. Nonprofits, too, can harness the power of AI to enhance their operations and amplify their impact. In this blog, we'll explore fundamental AI concepts, common AI workloads, Microsoft's Responsible AI policies, and the tools and services available through Azure AI, all tailored for the nonprofit sector. Understanding AI Workloads AI workloads refer to the different types of tasks that AI systems can perform. Here are some common AI workloads relevant to nonprofits: Machine Learning: This involves training a computer model to make predictions and draw conclusions from data. Nonprofits can use machine learning to predict donor behavior, optimize fundraising strategies, and analyze program outcomes. Computer Vision: This capability allows software to interpret the world visually through cameras, video, and images. Applications include identifying and tracking wildlife for conservation efforts or analyzing images to assess disaster damage. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP enables computers to understand and respond to human language. Nonprofits can use NLP for sentiment analysis of social media posts, language translation for multilingual communities, and developing conversational AI like chatbots for donor engagement. Anomaly Detection: This involves automatically detecting errors or unusual activity. It is useful for fraud detection in financial transactions, monitoring network security, and ensuring data integrity. Conversational AI: This refers to the capability of a software agent to engage in conversations with humans. Examples include chatbots and virtual assistants that can answer questions, provide recommendations, and perform tasks, enhancing donor and beneficiary interactions. Responsible AI Practices As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure it is developed and used responsibly. Microsoft's Responsible AI policies emphasize the importance of fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. These principles guide the development and deployment of AI solutions to ensure they benefit everyone and do not cause harm. To learn more about Microsoft Responsible AI Practices click here: Empowering responsible AI practices | Microsoft AI Azure AI Services for Nonprofits Microsoft Azure offers a suite of AI services that enable nonprofits to build intelligent applications. Some key services include: Azure Machine Learning: A comprehensive platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. It supports a wide range of machine learning frameworks and tools, helping nonprofits analyze data and make informed decisions. To learn more or get started with Azure Machine Learning click here: Azure Machine Learning - ML as a Service | Microsoft Azure Azure AI Bot Service: A service for building conversational AI applications. It provides tools for creating, testing, and deploying chatbots that can interact with users through various channels, improving donor engagement and support services. To learn more or get started with Azure AI Bot Service click here: Azure AI Bot Service | Microsoft Azure Azure Cognitive Services: A collection of APIs that enable developers to add AI capabilities to their applications. These services include vision, speech, language, and decision-making APIs, which can be used for tasks like image recognition, language translation, and sentiment analysis. To learn more about the various Cognitive Service please click here: Azure AI Services – Using AI for Intelligent Apps | Microsoft Azure Conclusion AI has the potential to transform the nonprofit sector by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and providing valuable insights. By understanding AI workloads, adhering to responsible AI practices, and leveraging Azure AI services, nonprofits can unlock the full potential of AI to better serve their communities and achieve their missions. Embrace the power of AI to take your nonprofit organization to new heights and make a greater impact. For a deeper dive into the fundamental concepts of AI, please visit the module Fundamental AI Concepts. This resource will provide you with essential insights and a solid foundation to enhance your knowledge in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence.Harmonizing Creativity: AI-Powered Music Making with Copilot and Suno
In the ever-evolving world of music production, technology has opened doors that once seemed closed. The future is now, and it’s powered by AI tools that make the songwriting and melody-making process more accessible, innovative, and, let’s be honest, a whole lot of fun! Two such groundbreaking tools—Copilot and Suno AI—are revolutionizing the way we create music. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just dipping your toes into songwriting, these tools are about to change the game for you. The Power of AI in Songwriting Songwriting can sometimes feel like a battle with your own brain—chasing after that perfect phrase, that killer melody, only to find yourself stuck in a loop of frustration. Here’s where AI steps in. Copilot and Suno AI aren’t just about automating tasks—they are about enhancing your creativity, helping you tap into new sources of inspiration, and pushing your music to places you might never have gone on your own. Copilot: The Lyric Writing Partner You’ve Been Waiting For Copilot is a tool that acts like an extension of your creative mind. Think of it like a songwriting buddy who never runs out of ideas, can offer fresh perspectives, and isn’t afraid to suggest bold ideas. Whether you're stuck on the first line of a song or looking for a catchy chorus, Copilot can help. Here’s how it works: Brainstorming Ideas: If you're looking to write lyrics about a specific theme or emotion, just input a few keywords, and Copilot will help generate lyrical suggestions. It’s like having a starting point when you’re feeling creatively dry. Building Structure: Sometimes, knowing how to start is half the battle. Copilot can suggest various song structures, from verses to choruses, bridges to intros. Need a fresh perspective on how to build your song? Copilot has you covered. Wordplay and Rhymes: For the wordsmiths out there, Copilot’s ability to play with words and rhyme schemes is an invaluable tool. You can experiment with different lyrics and find the perfect word combinations you wouldn’t have thought of yourself. The magic of Copilot isn’t that it just writes lyrics for you—it pushes you in new directions, offering suggestions that fuel your own creativity, letting you fine-tune and shape your ideas in real-time. Suno AI (Third-Party Tool): The Melody Maker While Copilot handles your lyrics, Suno AI is your musical partner, capable of crafting melodies that align with your lyrics, setting the perfect mood for your song. Suno specializes in melody generation, so if you're stuck at the piano or guitar, unsure how to bring your lyrics to life, Suno can suggest harmonic progressions and melodic lines that enhance the emotional weight of your song. Imagine trying to write a soulful ballad but feeling disconnected from the right melody. With Suno AI, you input your lyrics and the emotional tone you want to convey, and it generates musical ideas that match that vibe. Whether you're aiming for a catchy pop hook, a somber indie tune, or something experimental, Suno adapts to your needs. Suno AI also allows for customization. You can refine the generated melody, adjusting it to fit the mood you’re trying to create. The beauty of Suno lies in how it bridges the gap between theoretical music knowledge and practical creation, offering melody ideas that might take a human composer hours to create. How Copilot and Suno Work Together: The Dream Team Now, imagine combining Copilot and Suno AI in one seamless workflow. You start by crafting your lyrics with Copilot, brainstorming themes or digging into emotional topics. Once you have the lyrics, you turn to Suno AI, inputting the mood and vibe you want for the melody. Here’s an example: You’ve written lyrics about love, inspired by a joyful moment you shared with someone special. Copilot has helped you perfect the words, but something’s still missing. You need a melody that captures the excitement and warmth in your lyrics. You turn to Suno, telling it you want an upbeat, cheerful melody. In an instant, Suno creates a bright, lively piano progression that fills your lyrics with energy and joy, bringing the words to life with an infectious sense of happiness. The result? A fully formed song that feels both emotionally authentic and musically cohesive, all thanks to the synergy between AI tools. How to Get Started: To start with the lyrics: Go to copilot.microsoft.com Choose the experience you are looking for: Work or Personal. Type in your prompt. For example, “Write me a rap song about using M365. Adding a melody to the song: After you have generated and are happy with the lyrics, go to www.suno.com. Sign in if you have an existing account or create a free account by clicking on either "Create" or "Library" on the left-hand tab. 3. Once in Suno, toggle the "Custom" button and add your lyrics from Copilot in the "Write with Suno" box. Next, select your style of music, from pianist to female vocalist to country—they've got it all. Give your song a title and click “Create.” Suno will create two versions of your song in your song's library. 7. Example songs I created about M365: https://suno.com/song/853d0113-b36f-407a-b533-18b8ab27d681?sh=yn9LWYlho00RILtt https://suno.com/song/c4584819-ae68-4812-860b-897eb2d0367d?sh=Ewzn7SJ03VCYnuSm So, there you have it! With Copilot and Suno AI by your side, the world of music creation is at your fingertips. Whether you're crafting heartfelt lyrics or composing captivating melodies, these AI tools are here to elevate your creativity and make the process a breeze. So, grab your mic, fire up your laptop, and let Copilot and Suno AI help you create your next hit. Happy songwriting! For additional tips and resources, be sure to follow our Nonprofit Community | Microsoft Community Hub for blogs, updates, and expert advice on maximizing your nonprofit tools.We Want to Hear From You!
As we build this community together, we’d love to hear from you—what topics are you most interested in exploring? Are there specific challenges, technologies, or ideas you'd like us to focus on in future sessions or roundtable discussions? Let us know what you’d like to see and who you’d like to hear from, and we’ll work to bring in the right voices and insights.
