What the Fundraising 328: How Nonprofits Can Use AI Without Amplifying Bad Culture with Tim Lockie
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Sep 29, 2026 Tim Lockie, a human-centered technology and AI expert and founder of The Human Stack, explores why nonprofit tech projects fail when culture and habits remain unchanged. He compares tools to instruments in an orchestra, champions “first chairs” to guide teams, and examines belonging, shame, and human judgment in technology adoption. AI’s biggest risk? Amplifying broken systems at remarkable speed.
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Technology Problems Usually Start With Culture
- Technology rarely fails because of the software; organizational culture and mindset usually create the problem.
- Tim Lockie calls this the “human stack,” arguing existing teams, budgets, and tools could solve many nonprofit technology issues within 12–18 months.
Buying Software Does Not Change The Future
- Vendors often imply that buying an easy-to-use product will automatically create better outcomes.
- Organizations then underinvest in training and face predictable adoption failures because the promised behavioral change never happens.
Nonprofits Need Orchestration More Than More Tools
- Nonprofits should view their 30–70 software tools as an orchestra whose success depends on coordination, not isolated adoption.
- Organizations often spend under 3% of technology budgets supporting the staff who play those instruments.