We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

675. Shift 5 — Beyond the Prompt: AI Fluency is the New Digital Literacy for Nonprofits - Woodrow Rosenbaum, GivingTuesday + Elizabeth Kelly, Anthropic

28 snips

Jan 19, 2026

Guest

Elizabeth Kelly

Guest

Woodrow Rosenbaum

Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday, and Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic, dive deep into the essential topic of AI fluency for nonprofits. They discuss how understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations can transform organizations without overwhelming them. The conversation emphasizes building AI fluency as a core skill, using practical examples of how nonprofits can enhance workflows and scale services. They also address critical factors like privacy and ethical AI use, ensuring that technology supports nonprofits' missions responsibly.

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INSIGHT

AI Fluency As New Digital Literacy

AI fluency is the new form of digital literacy for nonprofits, not just prompt engineering.
It requires knowing strengths (drafting, summarizing, pattern finding) and where human judgment stays essential.

INSIGHT

Outcomes Over Productivity Gains

Nonprofits risk using AI to do the same mediocre work faster instead of improving outcomes.
The sector should evaluate how tools shift outcomes, not just workflows.

ANECDOTE

Real Nonprofit Wins With AI

Elizabeth shares nonprofit wins where AI unlocked scale, like identifying $1.2B in benefits for 70,000 households.
She also cites organizations working 10x faster or synthesizing evidence in minutes to scale crisis response.

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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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