The nonprofit world has always been powered by purpose, but too often it’s slowed by a lack of time, tools, or technical resources. As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, many nonprofit leaders are asking the same question: How do we use this responsibly — and where do we even start?
According to Cheryl Contee, co-author of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause and a member of the Senior Executive AI Think Tank, the answer starts with curiosity, not code.
“Nonprofits don’t need an army of engineers to use AI effectively,” Contee says. “They just need clarity on where it can save time, reduce friction, and help people focus on what matters most — their mission.”
A Career at the Intersection of Tech and Impact
Contee has spent her career bridging the worlds of technology and social good — co-founding digital agencies for mission-driven organizations, leading social impact companies, and working on issues from civil rights to climate change.
Her latest collaboration with Darian Rodriguez Heyman, AI for Nonprofits, grew out of a simple observation: social sector leaders were being left behind in yet another wave of technological transformation.
“When AI moved from science fiction to real life, we saw fear take hold,” she says. “People would tell us, ‘We’re not planning to use AI — it’s too risky.’ But AI is already everywhere. The question isn’t whether to use it, it’s how to use it wisely.”
The Reality Check on AI Adoption
Contee describes the nonprofit sector’s relationship with AI as “curious but cautious.” Many organizations are dabbling with tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity to draft content or conduct research, but most remain in “wait-and-see” mode.
“The biggest misconception,” she says, “is that AI is only for big organizations with huge budgets. In reality, small and midsize teams can benefit the most.”
From grant writing and data analysis to multilingual translation and donor segmentation, she explains, “AI can act like a tireless team of interns who never need coffee breaks.”
That democratization of capability — turning overworked teams into empowered ones — is exactly what Contee and Heyman hope to accelerate. Their book functions as both a field guide and a playbook, designed for leaders who want to drive more impact without burning out.
Where Nonprofits Can Start
Instead of tackling AI at the organizational level all at once, Contee advises a focused approach: “Pick one pain point — maybe grant writing, content creation, or survey analysis — and try an AI tool to help. Start small and strategic.”
Her co-author calls the book a “Swiss Army knife for the AI-curious.” It includes frameworks, use cases, and action steps for busy professionals. The goal is to help teams start smart, not scared.
Practical examples abound. One community organization used AI to transcribe and translate interviews from immigrants, surfacing insights that shaped local policy. Another used it to summarize dozens of grant reports, pinpointing the strategies that delivered the strongest outcomes.
“These aren’t shiny moonshots,” Contee says. “They’re human-centered, accessible applications that make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Ethics and Guardrails
Still, Contee is clear about the need for ethical boundaries. “With great data comes great responsibility,” she says with a grin.
Bias, privacy, and mission drift top her list of concerns. Because AI systems learn from human data, they can reflect human flaws — sometimes in invisible ways. For nonprofits working with vulnerable communities, that risk is amplified.
Her advice:
- Keep humans in the loop for all sensitive decisions.
- Prioritize transparency and consent.
- Choose vendors and tools that make ethics a core feature, not an afterthought.
- Train staff early, so fear doesn’t fill the gap where knowledge should be.
“Automation should never replace empathy,” she says. “It should amplify it.”
Looking Five Years Ahead
If nonprofits fully embrace AI, Contee sees a sector defined by faster impact, healthier staff, and more equitable outcomes.
“If they don’t, the digital divide will only widen,” she warns. “We’ll risk burning out the very people dedicating their lives to positive change.”
She encourages nonprofit executives to focus less on the technology itself and more on how it can extend human capacity. “You don’t have to be a techie to lead in this space. You just have to be curious — and willing to experiment.”
About the Authors
AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause is co-authored by Cheryl Contee, a social impact tech leader and member of the Senior Executive AI Think Tank, and Darian Rodriguez Heyman, a longtime nonprofit strategist and author of Nonprofit Fundraising 101.
