AI in the nonprofit sector: Insights from our charity leaders' breakfast

While the nonprofit sector is sometimes unfairly characterised as slow to embrace new technology, yesterday's gathering proved quite the opposite. The enthusiasm with which charity leaders are approaching AI – thoughtfully balancing innovation with mission impact – demonstrates just how forward-thinking this sector can be.

The room was buzzing with representatives from organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support, RNID, Guide Dogs, Young Lives vs Cancer, Concern Worldwide UK, Amnesty International, Leukaemia UK, St John Ambulance, Sue Ryder, Parkinson's UK, Muslim Aid, Anthony Nolan, Guide Dogs, Mencap, Unicef, Blood Cancer UK and International Rescue Committee – all united by a shared mission to understand how AI can accelerate their impact.

Expert insights from our panel

We had four remarkable leaders share their perspectives:

Ha Cole, Chief AI Officer for Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft, discussed McKinsey's Three Horizons framework, noting how many nonprofit leaders over-invest in short-term solutions when they should be balancing across all three horizons. She highlighted that even big corporations like Microsoft are still learning – it's a two-way street where nonprofits and tech companies can learn from each other. Most encouragingly, she shared that the UK nonprofit sector is actually ahead of Europe and much of Asia in AI adoption.

Dr Cath Biddle from Breast Cancer Now brought practical insights from the frontline, where clinicians are already actively asking for AI-enabled efficiencies. She outlined Breast Cancer Now's clear organisational priority: using AI as an assistive tool while maintaining human oversight of any outputs. This approach stems from real-world examples where incorrect AI data posed risks to users. Her perspective on AI as a horizontal enabler across organisational strategy, rather than just an operational tool, resonated with attendees.

Paul Smith, CIO at Amnesty International, shared the unique challenge of an organisation whose mission includes advocating against many of AI's potential pitfalls – from privacy concerns to systemic bias. He introduced a powerful offensive vs defensive framework: using AI to accelerate Amnesty's mission while simultaneously managing reputational risks. Within Amnesty, he's identified three distinct user groups, from digital natives to those who simply want tools to help with their jobs, emphasising the importance of bringing everyone along on the journey.

Suzy Madigan from CARE International highlighted her groundbreaking collaboration with Accenture, bringing together 12 countries to assess AI opportunities and risks. She emphasised that progress in AI can't be achieved without collaboration across private and public sectors. Her message was clear: we must ensure development and governance is equally shared with communities in the Global South, and civil society must be included in decisions about what these new tools should be for. Her call to remain "critical thinkers" prompted agreement from Ha, who previewed Microsoft's upcoming "AI 1-2-3" training programme aimed at building critical thinking skills in this space.

Key Themes

The discussions revealed several crucial insights for charities considering their AI journey:

• Start small, learn fast: The consensus was clear – don't wait for perfect solutions. Start with small experiments and learn from them.
• Create safe spaces: Organisations need environments where staff can openly discuss AI's potential and concerns without fear.
• Think horizontally: AI isn't just a technical tool; it's an enabler that can transform every aspect of an organisation's work.
• Keep humans at the centre: While AI offers exciting possibilities, human oversight and critical thinking remain essential, especially when working with vulnerable populations.
• Champion inclusive design: As we develop AI solutions, we must prioritise accessibility and inclusivity for all users. This means considering diverse needs across age groups, abilities, languages, and cultures - from supporting elderly service users to ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities and adapting to different cultural contexts.

You can't replace in-person connection

These breakfast events have always been close to our hearts at Torchbox. While we adapted to virtual gatherings post-COVID, there's an undeniable magic in having everyone in the same room. The energy, the spontaneous conversations, and the connections made over coffee can't be replicated through a screen. 

Join the conversation

This breakfast event was just the beginning of many conversations about AI in the nonprofit sector. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities to amplify social impact through thoughtful AI adoption.

We're already planning our next event, and if you'd like to join future discussions, please get in touch with me on LinkedIn. Together, we can ensure that AI development in the nonprofit sector remains ethical, inclusive, and focused on creating meaningful change.

Special thanks to our incredible panel and all the charity leaders who joined us and contributed to such rich discussions.