(Updated August 2026)
Core Bridgespan resources
- Choosing Your AI Path: A Framework for Nonprofit Leaders to Make Strategic Choices—new report that introduces a framework, the “3As,” to help nonprofits consider how AI could improve their internal work, when it could be used to change programs to meet community needs, and their role in shaping broader norms, policies, funding decisions, or market dynamics surrounding it
- AI Can't Be Ignored: Exploring the Opportunities for Nonprofits and the Social Sector—anchor report with frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities, risks, and common nonprofit use cases (lots of embedded resources, so check the links throughout)
- Closing the Nonprofit Funding Gap in the Age of AI—case for funders to treat technology as a core operating cost
- Who is Shaping the Future of AI?—case for ensuring that people and communities historically excluded from technology decisions have a meaningful role in shaping how AI is designed, governed, and used
- Responsible Data, Technology, and AI Strategy—Bridgespan's technology strategy services
- Webinar: AI Can't Be Ignored (on demand)—six practical ways nonprofits can build AI capacity
- Public Interest Technology in the Age of AI: Lessons From a Decade of Field Building and Investment—conversation with the Siegel Foundation on lessons about investing in AI for social impact based on its decade of investment in public interest technology.
Learn More About Choosing Your AI Path
Field-level data and evidence
- TechSoup | State of AI in Nonprofits 2025 Benchmark Report—survey of 1,000+ nonprofits on AI adoption, barriers, and tool priorities
- Fast Forward | AI for Humanity Report—Fast Forward's showcase of nonprofits achieving real gains through AI
- Center for Effective Philanthropy | AI With Purpose—survey of 650+ nonprofit and foundation leaders on how they are approaching AI
- SSIR | Building Community Governance for AI—a case for community-led governance to make AI more equitable and accountable
- SSIR | Building a Solidarity Ecosystem for AI—an exploration of alternatives to corporate ownership of AI systems
- Jobs for the Future | Use Cases for Generative AI in Workforce Development—a catalog of AI applications for jobseekers and workforce professionals
- Code for America | Government AI Landscape Assessment—an assessment of how US state governments are preparing for and using AI, to improve public benefits access and accountability
Funder-specific resources
- Fast Forward | Tools for AI Grantmaking—collection of AI playbooks, practical interactive tools, and reports aimed at foundation leaders
- Project Evident | Grantmaker Strategies for AI Investment—funder perspectives on AI
- Google.org | AI Readiness Playbook for Funders—a 101-level AI playbook for funders seeking to adopt AI, particularly small- and mid-sized foundations
- Google.org and Fast Forward | The Philanthropic Reset—point of view advocating for funders to meaningfully invest in technology capacity
Getting practical — guides, playbooks, and tools
- Candid | Generative AI for Nonprofits: Practical Tips for Starting Small and Building Smart—getting started guide (by Bridgespan’s Nate Wong)
- Fast Forward | The Playbook on AI for Humanity—step-by-step implementation guide
- Fast Forward | Nonprofit AI Policy Builder—tool to help nonprofits create their own AI usage policy
- TechNYC and Decoded Futures | Prompt Cookbook—350+ sample AI prompts, sorted by task and complexity (by former Bridgespan fellow Jake Porway)
- NTEN | AI for Nonprofits Resource Hub—ongoing resource hub
- Patrick J McGovern Foundation | AI Use Cases—list of AI use cases in action at real nonprofits
- Board.Dev| Tech 28:28 Questions for Nonprofit Boards on Technology and Innovation—strategic conversation starters for boards and CEOs
- Board.Dev | TechGovernance Playbook—Guide to strengthening technology governance (broader than AI) at the board level
- TechSoup | Nonprofit Product Catalog—list of discounted and donated technology products available to nonprofits and TechSoup members
- Civic Tech Field Guide—crowdsourced collection of projects, tools, and organizations using tech for democracy, beyond AI
- Patrick J McGovern Foundation | Grant Guardian—AI tool to streamline the financial review process used by grantmakers and nonprofits
- Bloomerang | AI Tools for Nonprofits—overview of different AI tools available for different tasks
- The Communications Network | Working with Artificial Intelligence Toolkit—use cases, prompts, and articles on AI adoption
- Hive Mind | AI for Social Change Resource Library—multilingual, open-access collection created specifically for civil society organizations and activists
Adoption frameworks
- Project Evident | Equitable AI Adoption Framework—guides users through AI best practices that match their principles
- Patrick J McGovern Foundation | Learning Hub—resource database split into four stages of AI adoption (Curiosity, Exploration, Adoption, Impact)
- Board.Dev| Board Brief: AI Adoption + Policy—a three-month action plan to help nonprofit boards guide AI strategy, policy, and ethics
- CauseWriter | Technology Adoption Frameworks & Roadmap for Nonprofit AI—database of AI adoption frameworks with notes on picking the right one for your organization
- Hive Mind | Responsible AI Roadmap for CivilSocietyOrganizations (CSOs)—six-part practical series covering preparation, organizational principles, putting those principles into practice, governance ownership, AI policies, and risk assessment
Free courses with certificates
- Anthropic | AI Fluency for Nonprofits—Anthropic's free course for nonprofit professionals, co-developed with GivingTuesday; self-paced, certificate upon completion
- Anthropic | AI Fluency: Framework & Foundations—the foundational course for deeper grounding; also free with a certificate
- OpenAI Academy | Prompt Mastery—recommended prompting course
- Microsoft | Elevate for Changemakers—course for using Copilot (Microsoft 365 AI tool)
- LinkedIn | AI for Nonprofits: 5 Free Courses to Get Started—five free courses to help nonprofits build AI skills, including productivity, data, and strategy
- University of Wisconsin | AI Skills Access Passport—7 short videos providing a digital foundation to engage with AI tools
Case studies
- SSIR | Introducing AI-Powered Nonprofits (Series)—showcase of nonprofits using AI in climate, health, and education
- Policy Solve | Systems Change and AI—sample chatbot designed to help users think about systems
- The Class Consulting Group | AI for Volunteer Recruitment and Retention—sample breakdown of AI applied across the volunteer management process
Hands-on training organizations
Bridgespan, the AI for Nonprofits Sprint, Decoded Futures, OpenAI Academy, and university programs like the Data and AI for Social Good programs at University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University
