Philanthropy has always been about people, connections, and the desire to improve the world. The rising integration of artificial intelligence (AI) raises a new question: Can AI bolster philanthropy’s ability to build connections and better communities?
According to Seth Lindsey, AI & Process Improvement Efficiency Specialist at El Pomar Foundation, the answer is yes. AI is not here to replace people, but to amplify them. Lindsey has taken on this new position at the Foundation to lead AI integration, develop advanced tools, and help El Pomar stay ahead of the evolving technology landscape.
Lindsey says one of the most exciting things about bringing AI into philanthropy, and the third sector at-large is what he calls ‘capacity reallocation’:
“The term I keep finding myself coming back to is capacity reallocation… understanding that everyone has a maximum capacity, AI allows you to reallocate your time and effort rather than believing you can magically make more of it.”
The reality is that all nonprofits must complete repetitive daily tasks, taking away capacity from more meaningful and relational work. The integration of AI can shift that burden away from employees or volunteers and allow them to focus on something else.
“And that something else can be creative initiatives, strategic thinking, or human-to-human interactions,” Lindsey highlights.
However, the road to integration comes with its own challenges.
As Lindsey explains, “AI is only as good as the data its given,” and for many smaller organizations with inadequate websites (or no website at all), integrating AI also includes building an online presence.
Without knowing where to start, this can be a daunting task. The key for nonprofits is to just start small: experimenting with where AI tools can make a difference in their organization. Whether that be drafting donor communications, summarizing reports, or generating informative content, AI can become a quiet partner that increases efficiency for many organizations that are stretched thin.
This information gap also presents an opportunity for funders, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations to step in to provide training or programming focused on supporting AI integration.
The future of AI in philanthropy is about using its tools to alleviate some of the stressors on employees and allow them to rededicate that energy to the things that make us human. With our ‘reallocated capacity,’ we can build interpersonal connections with our community and better support those in need. AI is about giving people more time to be people.
The promise of AI isn’t just in efficiency. It’s in what that efficiency makes possible.
