On LinkedIn, a volunteer engagement consultant in British Columbia, Canada, Karen Knight, wrote

AI is impacting volunteer engagement more and more every day, so I’ve finally given up waiting to understand it before writing about it and the challenges we’re all facing with it.

and then linked to her blog, which is a frank, brutally honest narrative about her frustration at not understanding artificial intelligence tools. I was blown away by the excellent questions she asked and how she framed her frustration.

I have been working on a resource for a while now, in preparation for a workshop I’m doing in August, but I was push to finish it early because I was so inspired by her blog.

Dos & Don’ts of Using Artificial Intelligence at Nonprofits.

This new resource is not a list of AI tools for nonprofits. There are plenty of people and companies out there doing that. Instead, it’s a list of things nonprofits, non-government organizations (NGOs), community groups, government agencies and other mission-based initiatives need to consider and policies those organizations need to clarify before staff start using more AI tools than they are already, and that you need to think about regarding the AI tools staff are using now. Otherwise, you won’t be making fully-informed decisions, and you may be replacing authentic, human presentations and interactions at a time when authentic human-to-human connections have never been needed more. 

Instead of listing AI tools, I’ve focused on when nonprofits should, and should NOT, use AI in their work, to give them an understanding that they can use to ask more specific questions of those trying to push them into using AI, as well as to guide them in their use of AI no matter what tools they choose. I have no doubt that there is going to be disagreement on what I am proposing.   

I’ve been helping nonprofits understand new tech since the 1990s. I am a plain language person (I loathe tech and corporate jargon) and believe in my bones that if users can’t use a tech tool easily and appropriately, it’s poorly designed and they shouldn’t be forced to use it. I also believe that nonprofits should always keep human connection, human rights and the emotional attachment humans have to a mission, to a cause, at the heart of their work.  Know those two things as you read this resource.

Also see:

• Don’t let AI bury your nonprofit in search results; here’s what to do.
• If you’re promoting AI to nonprofits, be SPECIFIC about benefits. No more generalizations!
• My highlights from the 2025 Human Development Report from UNDP (the theme is artificial intelligence).
• Artificial Intelligence – friend or foe for nonprofits?
• Nonprofits, don’t cede creativity or curiosity or customer relations to AI, & keep your use of AI ethical.
• Horrific experience with AI: a warning for others.
• Be careful using Canva, since their graphics are starting to all look the same.
• Schedule social media posts? use with caution.
• No app can substitute for actually talking with people.

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