I recently had the privilege of presenting a workshop titled "A Power Breakfast with Liz Ngonzi," in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals. The workshop focused on exploring the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the social impact sector. This article aims to share insights and experiences from the session, showcasing how nonprofits worldwide can harness AI to address their challenges effectively.

The Power Breakfast commenced with introductions from participants representing a diverse range of organizations. Some expressed intrigue about AI's potential while voicing concerns about data privacy and ethical implications. Others shared their experiences with AI, highlighting its capabilities in optimizing resource mobilization, streamlining processes, and personalizing donor engagement.

As the workshop presenter, I shared my journey with emerging technologies, particularly AI, underscoring its transformative potential in the social impact sector. I introduced generative AI, which generates new and creative content. Demonstrations showcased how generative AI can generate business ideas, manage emails, create impactful proposals, and optimize time and content creation, ultimately benefiting more lives.

To provide a structured approach to leveraging AI, I introduced our CARE Approach for Amplified Impact. This acronym stands for:

Throughout the session, I provided practical demonstrations of AI's use in the social impact sector. Examples included optimizing email subjects and content, analyzing post-event survey data, responding to donor requests for reports, and even generating images for storytelling.

The session also addressed the ethical considerations of AI, emphasizing the importance of transparency, fairness, and alignment with organizational and personal ethics. I emphasized the responsible use of AI, ensuring data privacy and security while leveraging its benefits.

The Power Breakfast concluded with a call to action, urging participants to further explore and leverage the power of AI in their work. I provided them with a curated list of resources, including ChatGPT prompts for fundraising and accessible Generative AI tools to amplify storytelling and fundraising efforts (please see the screenshot above). Additionally, resources from The International Social Impact Institute, such as thought leadership, events, and courses, were offered to support participants in leveraging generative AI for greater impact. The consensus was that AI is indispensable, and professionals must understand and leverage it to drive social impact.