Episode 64: Scott Brighton, CEO of Bonterra

Our guest on 'Tech Connects' is Scott Brighton, CEO of Bonterra, a software company focused on social good that helps nonprofits raise money, manage donor relationships, and report on impact outcomes while connecting them with funders looking to give money away.

We explore how AI is transforming the nonprofit sector—an area where efficiency demands are actually more intense than in for-profit companies. Scott explains how nonprofits operate under extreme constraints and why agentic AI represents a crucial breakthrough for organizations that can't afford additional staff but desperately need expanded capacity.

Here are some quick takeaways from this discussion for tech professionals working with AI or considering nonprofit sector applications:

Recognize Efficiency Imperatives in Mission-Driven Organizations: Nonprofits typically operate with just 20% overhead—equivalent to an 80% profit margin in for-profit terms. This creates urgent need for AI solutions that amplify human capacity rather than simply optimizing existing processes. Understanding these extreme efficiency requirements can inform how you design and implement AI systems for resource-constrained organizations.

Focus on Agentic AI for Capacity Amplification: The future lies in agentic AI systems that handle complete workflows independently, like researching and writing grant applications or managing donor relationships across multiple channels. These systems essentially create "new team members" for organizations that can't hire additional staff, representing a shift from task automation to organizational capacity expansion.

Address Data Challenges Through Strategic Partnerships: Smaller organizations often lack robust datasets needed for effective AI implementation. Rather than building from scratch, partnering with platforms that aggregate data across many similar organizations can provide immediate value while allowing entities to build their own datasets over time. Consider collaborative approaches to unlock AI benefits for traditionally underserved sectors.

Champion Transparent and Ethical AI Implementation: Organizations focused on social good are particularly concerned about AI transparency and bias removal due to their mission-driven nature and lower technical sophistication. Developing AI solutions that prioritize explainability and ethical considerations from the ground up will become increasingly valuable as AI adoption spreads to sectors where trust and transparency are paramount.

There was a lot more in this episode, of course, so listen in. Thank you for joining us—and remember, Dice is your best resource to find and hire the tech talent you need to fill your open roles, and for tech pros, the best place to grow your tech career.

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