11/19/2025
Our co-founders Kyle Barkins and Joe DiGiovanni recently led an intensive workshop at the Greater New Orleans Foundation on ethical AI adoption for the nonprofit sector. One of many full-day sessions we’re delivering to nonprofit networks nationwide. Thirty-five organizations filled the room, representing everything from arts organizations to healthcare providers to foundations.
The full-day session, "AI for Impact: Building Capacity with the Five Foundations for Ethical and Effective AI," focused on practical implementation rather than theory. Attendees worked through live AI demonstrations, analyzed real nonprofit use cases, and developed personalized action plans for their organizations.
Key Workshop Components:
The day covered essential groundwork: what AI actually is and how to use current tools in real time. Participants explored the ethical implications of AI integration, examinedWe worked through the Five Foundations for Ethical & Effective AI:
1. Governance & accountability – clear guardrails, roles, and oversight
2. Ethics, equity & community impact – centering vulnerable communities and reducing harm
3. Data, privacy & security – protecting people while still enabling insight
4. Workflow & automation design – using AI to remove friction, not add it
5. Change management & workforce readiness – bringing staff along, not leaving them behind
What Participants Gained:
• AI ethics policies tailored to their organizations
• Risk and governance frameworks leadership can actually use
• Equity checklists to stress-test AI use cases
• 90-day implementation roadmaps ready for immediate action
What Made This Different:
Rather than lecture-based learning, the workshop employed collaborative exercises. Organizations assessed their current capacity across five foundations, identified their biggest barriers to adoption, and created 30-day implementation plans. Participants left with specific next steps, not just inspiration.
The diversity of organizations in the room proved valuable. Arts nonprofits learned from healthcare organizations. Foundations shared insights with direct service providers. The cross-sector dialogue revealed common challenges around staff capacity, data management, and ethical considerations.
The Real Work Begins:
AI adoption is not about wholesale transformation. It is about strategic efficiency gains that allow nonprofit teams to focus on mission-critical work rather than administrative tasks. The workshop emphasized starting small, measuring impact, and building internal capacity gradually.
If your network or foundation would benefit from a structured approach to AI capacity building, contact us to discuss how we can customize this training for your community.
