488. Harnessing AI for Good: AI in the Nonprofit Sector - Justin Spelhaug and Erik Arnold
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Overview
Meet Erik and Justin. These tech visionaries from Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact team are peeling back the layers of AI's transformative potential in the nonprofit sector. From its potential in donor engagement and fundraising to enhancing program effectiveness, AI can amplify the impact of nonprofit organizations. Erik and Justin are sharing their advice on getting started with AI tools and highlighting the importance of responsible and ethical adoption of these emerging technologies🤖While technology is central to the discussion, the human element remains paramount. AI can be a co-pilot helping nonprofit leaders make an even bigger impact. Tune in so you can meet this AI moment without fear and maybe even with excitement 🤗
💡 Learn
A look at AI’s impact on nonprofits overall
Case studies of nonprofit orgs using AI
Tips and tools for getting started with AI
Today’s Guests
Justin Spelhaug, Vice President & Global Head and Erik Arnold, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact
“It’s about creating smarter, more efficient nonprofit leaders. It’s not about replacing.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Justin and Erik’s story and journey to where they are today (3:00)
Microsoft Tech for Social Impact Overview (6:00)
What opportunity exists for nonprofits today (10:00)
AI’s impact on Fundraising, Donor Engagement and Programs (13:00)
Following Responsible AI Principles (20:00)
Common challenges nonprofits might face when adopting AI (31:00)
Where can nonprofits get these resources (40:00)
Building community around AI for nonprofits (41:00)
Powerful stories of philanthropy in Justin and Erik’s lives (43:00)
Justin’s One Good Thing: Have a growth mindset. (48:00)
Erik’s One Good Thing: Think about how you need to train yourself, train your team, and how it’s going to impact your donors (48:45)
How to connect + learn more (50:00)
Impactful Quotes
“Everybody in Tech for Social Impact has their own story and that's what makes the team so special. They're all a great group of people with with very mission-driven attitude.” -Justin
“What's been breathtaking and surprising, I think for for many of us has been the speed at which foundational models or language models or what is known as GPT has really come to the fore and and the very unique problems that it's able to solve.” -Justin
“We've gone through his hype cycle where where AI was first going to save the world. And then it was gonna destroy the world. I think people are now in the stage of how do we use it usefully?” -Justin
“The practical application of AI that we're seeing right now, I'm actually seeing more activity in the fundraising space more rapidly than I'm seeing in the program delivery space. It's happening in both areas. But I think everyone is recognizing, first of all, every nonprofit fundraises and so it's kind of a natural place for all of us to go.” -Erik
"We're already seeing some of these really practical use cases where people are experimenting with the technology." -Erik
“The humanity is the piece that's not going to be replicated, we're going to have a lot more ease with AI.” -Jon
“It's about creating smarter, more efficient nonprofit leaders. It's not about replacing.” -Justin
“Principles are great, but they're not really effective if it's just a poster on the wall.” -Erik
“Let's worry wisely about the fear and let's move appropriately on what some of the promises are.” -Erik
“Just get started, just start using it.” -Justin
CONNECT WITH ERIK + Justin
Erik on LinkedIn / Justin on LinkedIn / Microsoft for Nonprofits / Career Essentials in Generative AI Course by Microsoft and LinkedIn
Connect with Jon
Connect with Becky
CONNECT WITH WE ARE FOR GOOD
Join the We Are For Good Community
You can think of it as the after-party to each podcast episode 🥳
Say hi👇
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter
