NEWSBYTES

Nonprofit leaders share AI concerns

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere these days, including in nonprofits. A recent survey by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Project Evident explores the current use of, interest in and opportunity for AI in the social and education sectors. The survey’s results show that AI already has a considerable presence there; nearly half of funders and nonprofit respondents said their organizations use some type of AI. And three out of four funders and nonprofits believe their organizations would benefit from using AI more.

The most common barrier to adoption is bias in AI systems, followed by challenges in envisioning how nonprofits can use the technology and a lack of internal expertise. In addition, nonprofits also are concerned about the cost.

How Microsoft’s digital skills resource can help nonprofits

Microsoft has opened a Digital Skills Resource Hub that features curated resources from across Microsoft Philanthropies, Worldwide Learning, Education, LinkedIn Learning and many other Microsoft teams and partner organizations. The hub is intended to help nonprofits thrive in an age of AI.

The site offers a wide variety of training materials for nonprofits, educators and community organizations. Covered topics include AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, productivity, digital literacy and cloud skills. The hub also includes the newly released AI Trainer Toolkit.

Microsoft provides links to other valuable resources, too. You can find information on free technology grants and LinkedIn scholarship opportunities, as well as case studies involving actual organizations.

Fundraising through in-person events proves profitable

A survey conducted by fundraising and technology company OneCause found that 75% of nonprofits that hosted all in-person, or a combination of in-person and virtual, fundraising met or exceeded their 2023 event fundraising goals. “The 2024 Fundraising Outlook: Insights to Shape Sustainable Success” collected input from almost 1,000 nonprofit professionals representing a cross-section of organization sizes, budgets and industries.

Forty-one percent of those that exclusively held virtual events raised less than budgeted in 2023, up from 30% in 2022. Eighty-three percent of respondents plan to host at least one in-person event in 2024. About one in three plan to hold at least one hybrid event — blending in-person and virtual components.

In terms of successful types of in-person events, auctions remained the strongest performer. Golf outings continued to provide a high return on investment, but fewer respondents described them as “very successful.” Runs, walks and rides saw a slight increase in the number reported as very successful.