DigiShift 96: AI driven non-profits - a practical guide to Artificial Intelligence for non-profits

The AI shift is here. Is your organisation ready?

Charities face a familiar choice: adapt to a major technological shift or risk being left behind.

For this SCVO DigiShift, we are delighted to be joined by Steve MacLaughlin. Its been 6 years since we last caught up and lot has changed!

Steve will explore:

• How organisations can take their first steps with AI
• What responsible and effective AI use looks like
• How to navigate bias, privacy and transparency
• Why culture change matters as much as technology
• How AI can free people from repetitive work so they can focus on what humans do best

This is not a technical manual or a crystal-ball prediction. It is a practical guide for organisations that know AI matters but might not know where to begin, or whether they are getting it right.

The future of the sector is already being written. Make sure your organisation has a voice in the story.

Steve will draw on insights from his new book, AI Driven Nonprofits: A Practical Guide to Artificial Intelligence for Nonprofits, to examine how organisations can combine human purpose with the capabilities of AI.Expect a grounded and accessible session covering practical first steps, real-world examples, responsible use and the cultural changes needed to make AI genuinely useful. This is not about replacing people. It is about reducing drudgery and giving teams more time to concentrate on relationships, creativity and impact.

Steve MacLaughlin is the SVP, Product at Gobel and has worked for more than 20 years at the intersection of data, technology, and philanthropy. He is the bestselling author of Data Driven Nonprofits and AI Driven Nonprofits. MacLaughlin has been featured as a nonprofit and fundraising expert in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and on National Public Radio.

Anyone working at any level in a charity with an interest in digital skills in their workforce

Since March 2020, DigiShift has helped thousands of charities and non-profit organisations learn and collaborate. Run in collaboration between SCVO and Third Sector Lab, and supported by the National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland), DigiShift offers practical and actionable advice from digital experts.