65 | Your AI Journey... WHERE Can AI Serve Your Mission?
Introduction
Next up in this 5 W’s series is where.
I’m going to use this as a prompt to explore where in a nonprofit organization’s myriad activities AI could serve the mission:
“Where could we do things better with AI?”
If you think about this question, it may be an unfamiliar concept. More typically, some specific driver comes from a strategic or operational need, prompting adopting new tech or changing processes. The triggers usually start from the mission—let’s pursue this new program, react to changes in policy or our community, leap on this great idea—and spur staff to figure out how to achieve the clear, mission-aligned objective.
Looking at what to do about AI, though, is very different. To use a familiar metaphor, we have a hammer and are looking for nails to hit, in contrast with the much more familiar situation where we’re going to build or remodel and need to be sure we have the right tools.
I’m convinced this is a prime drag on the uptake of nonprofits of AI technology. There’s this shiny, new, promising tool available to us that promises to make “everything” we do easier, but it’s up to us to figure out where to use it.
I’m thinking of my dad’s Swiss army knife. For years, I had it, sitting in a drawer with a bunch of screwdrivers, pliers, tweezers, and other tools for simple household repairs. I used those others regularly, sorting through the sundry flatheads, Phillips, Torx screwdrivers, and Allen wrenches.1 Had I just thrown the Swiss army knife in my pocket, I could’ve done many jobs more quickly, saving trips back to the kitchen “junk” drawer to find yet another tool I didn’t realize I’d need. A former colleague of mine always had his with him, and I remember him pulling it out many times for quick fixes in the office. The difference? I just never got in the habit of using it!
With AI, the Swiss army knife analogy has limits (AI really does have the promise to be much better than a Swiss army knife at lots of tasks). But the general idea feels right—to get value out of the tool, you must be comfortable with it and remember that it’s there. Oh, and practice figuring out where it’s a good fit for the job and where you need something better. Even if my dad’s Swiss army knife was well-worn from years of coming in handy, I wouldn’t have used it to assemble my new gas grill. I’d draw on my experience with more specialized tools (e.g., a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a ratchet set).
Let’s examine where AI—a Swiss army knife on steroids if you can become comfortable with where it’s the right tool for the job—might be put to use to advance your organization’s mission.
Internal Operations—AI’s Promise and Potential Pitfalls
There are many, many opportunities for AI to be applied in streamlining an organization’s work. This is the most fertile area for experimentation and for staff to lead in exploring new tools.
Please remember: Use of AI tools has associated risks of exposing confidential information. A well-designed and effectively communicated AI Acceptable Use Policy should arm your staff with the knowledge to avoid making a mistake by pasting/uploading information that should be protected!
Some possibilities to consider … but please share other things you’ve tried or plan to do in this issue’s Discord discussion!
External Relations
AI tools, particularly for writing and creating images, are well-proven for use in crafting external communications. This is another fertile opportunity for grassroots exploration of AI in your development/communications staff, with the usual cautions about hallucinations, bias, and other pitfalls of employing generative AI!
Direct Client Assistance
As I highlighted in the StrefaTECH article published on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, an often-overlooked opportunity for nonprofit organizations to advance their mission through the use of AI tools is in directly helping those they serve. Please share ideas on this topic to inspire others—here’s a link to our StrefaTECH Discord discussion!
The Bottom Line
The good news is that there are lots of places where AI can help advance a nonprofit organization’s pursuit of its mission. And that’s the bad news, too.
Don’t be overwhelmed! It’s never too late to start, and there’s help to plan your path. Just reach out!
And as you begin or expand your exploration and use of AI, please remember to always…
Make Good Choices
Postscript—Use of AI in Preparing Today’s StrefaTECH Article
Disclaimer: I’m making the bold move of sharing the raw, unadulterated AI conversations with StrefaTECH readership. Sometimes, my thoughts go astray; sometimes ideas don’t pan out. I’m trusting that you’ll just use these as insights into how AI might be helpful to you. And hey, if you have ideas for how I can improve my prompting/use of AI, please send me a note!
If you check out this issue’s ChatGPT conversation, you’ll see that there are lots of different types of screwdrivers! I stopped at the ones I have in my “kitchen junk drawers” … and candidly never heard of Robertson or Pozidriv!