How to Connect with Other Nonprofits About AI

Whether you have questions no one on your team can answer, or you're curious how other nonprofits are actually using AI day to day, you don’t have to navigate this new frontier by yourself! A growing community of nonprofit staff, leaders, and volunteers are asking the same questions and are eager to compare notes.

Getting Out and Learning in Your Community

From using websites that allow you to see groups meeting in your area to traveling across the country for large-scale conferences, there are a variety of ways to connect with others about AI. We've done some research and here are a few places to begin your search for this community: 

Meetup and Luma: Both platforms are go-to hubs for finding local gatherings, and they're a great place to start if you're not sure where to look. Search for AI-related events in your city and you'll likely find coffee chats, Zoom meetings, panel discussions, and informal learning sessions where people gather to trade ideas and ask questions.

AI organizations: There are numerous AI community-centered organizations with the mission of bringing people together to help one another navigate the technological shift of AI. For example:

• AI Tinkerers hosts both online and in-person events in cities across the United States
• AI for Good Colorado hosts in-person meetups focused on ethical AI exploration 
• AI for Nonprofits Portland hosts a monthly meetup specifically for people in nonprofits
• AI LA has a broad range of events in the Los Angeles area
  
  … just to name a few!

Larger conferences: If you're looking for something bigger, a quick search can turn up major AI-focused conferences worth attending. Additionally, many conferences in the sector (such as NTC) now include a roster of AI-focused talks and workshops, so always keep an eye out on the schedule. Large-scale gatherings allow you to learn from a wide range of speakers and connect with people across sectors. Here are a few examples we found in our search:

• FundraisingAI Global Summit is centered around responsible AI for nonprofit impact.
• Good Tech Fest is specifically designed for leveraging technology for social impact.
• AI for Good Global Summit is focused on AI applications for global challenges.
• AI Rising has a goal of making AI accessible for everyone.
• Austin AI Alliance is a gathering for advancing awareness, development, and responsible usage of AI.

Claude Community Events: Hosted by members of the Claude Community, these events bring together people who are actively using Claude in their work, including many folks in the nonprofit space. You can find upcoming events at luma.com/claudecommunity.

Between meetups, community-hosted events, and larger conferences, there's no shortage of ways to get in a room (virtual or otherwise) with people thinking about the same things you are.

The Value of Talking to Others

It's easy to underestimate how much a single conversation can help. Here's what you stand to gain by connecting with other nonprofits about AI:

• You'll realize you're not alone. Chances are, someone else in the room has felt what you’re feeling. There's real relief in learning that other people are figuring this out right alongside you.
   
• You get to be honest about pain points. It's easier to admit what isn't working when you're talking to peers who understand the constraints of nonprofit work, rather than a vendor trying to sell you something.
   
• You'll pick up practical tips. Nonprofits are resourceful by necessity. Talking to others in the sector means learning tricks and shortcuts from people who've had to be savvy with limited budgets and time.
   
• You'll understand where things are headed. AI is moving fast. Staying connected to a community helps you understand the broader landscape,  so your organization can prepare instead of react.
   
• You'll simply meet good people. Sometimes the value is just that: meeting others who care about the same work you do.

No matter where you're at in your AI journey, we're always here for a chat.