Carolyn Woodard explores what it really means for a nonprofit to adopt AI responsibly and effectively with Cheryl Contee, co-founder of BrightWorks AI and Change Agent AI and co-author of the Amazon bestseller AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause. Cheryl is a pioneering technology entrepreneur recognized by Fast Company, Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, and The Root 100, and has appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, and the BBC.

The conversation reframes AI not as a threat to nonprofit jobs but as a way to multiply capacity in organizations that are already stretched thin. Cheryl and Carolyn dig into practical strategies for getting started, what makes a good AI workflow, and why the most successful nonprofit teams approach AI as an ongoing learning journey rather than a one-time implementation.

This episode covers:

Why the question for nonprofits is no longer whether to use AI — it is already embedded in your email, CRM, and productivity tools — but how to use it responsibly and creatively in service of your mission.
How to identify the right starting point: pick one workflow you dislike, test one or two tools against it, and share what you learn with your team.
Why humans must stay in the loop, especially for high-stakes decisions, sensitive interactions, and anything requiring lived experience, nuance, or accountability.
Leadership habits build an AI-ready culture, including normalizing experimentation, creating a prompt library, and documenting what works.
Common pitfalls to avoid: chasing every new tool, skipping staff training, ignoring ethical considerations, and expecting immediate transformation.

Resources Mentioned:

AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause — Cheryl Contee and Darian Rodriguez Heyman — https://www.amazon.com/AI-Nonprofits-Putting-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1394298412/
BrightWorks AI — https://brightworksai.com
Change Agent AI — https://thechange.ai
Skej AI scheduling assistant — https://skej.com
There's an AI for That — https://theresanAIforthat.com
NTEN — https://nten.org
TechSoup — https://techsoup.org

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