Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we’re unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.

Shift 5 / Beyond the Prompt: AI Fluency is the New Digital Literacy for Nonprofits

AI is everywhere right now and for a lot of nonprofit leaders, it feels equal parts exciting and overwhelming. In this episode, Woodrow Rosenbaum Chief Data Officer, GivingTuesday) and Elizabeth Kelly (Head of Beneficial Deployments, Anthropic) bring in a refreshing, human-first conversation about what it actually means to build AI fluency in the nonprofit sector.

This isn’t about becoming a prompt expert or chasing the latest tool. It’s about learning when AI can help, when it can’t, and how to use it responsibly in ways that strengthen trust, decision-making, and mission impact. Together, they unpack why AI fluency is quickly becoming the new digital literacy and how nonprofits can move forward without fear, hype, or burnout.

You’ll walk away with practical insights on how to:

Shift from “should we use AI?” to “how do we use it responsibly and well?”
Build AI fluency as an organizational muscle, not a one-time training
Start small with AI by improving one painful workflow at a time
Put guardrails in place around privacy, bias, and human review
Avoid using AI just to do the same work faster and instead focus on better outcomes
Create shared learning and trust so teams experiment without fear

If you’ve been waiting for permission to go slow, ask better questions, and lead with intention, this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

Understanding AI Fluency and Its Importance (02:17)
The Role of Data in Nonprofit AI Adoption (05:10)
Real-World Applications of AI in Nonprofits (07:40)
Launching Claude for Nonprofits (10:38)
Building Trust and Responsible AI Use (13:24)
Governance and Oversight in AI Implementation (16:27)
Elizabeth + Woodrow One Good Thing (22:54)

Dive Deeper:

AI Fluency Course (Anthropic)

Fundraising.ai

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/675

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