Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday work, but many nonprofits are still struggling to figure out where it fits into their organizations.
New research from The Bridgespan Group and NTEN found that 70% of nonprofit leaders and staff believe their organizations are missing meaningful opportunities to use AI. Even more importantly, only 8% report having a one- to two-year AI implementation roadmap.
For NGOs and nonprofits, the message is clear: the challenge is no longer simply knowing that AI exists. It is understanding where AI can actually create value.
Why Are Nonprofits Missing AI Opportunities?
Many nonprofits are already experimenting with AI. More than half of the organizations surveyed reported using AI for activities such as document summarization, research, and administrative work.
However, only 4% said AI was meaningfully embedded across how their organization works. This suggests that many organizations are using AI as an occasional tool rather than making it part of a broader strategy.
For organizations working with limited budgets and staff capacity, this is understandable. NGOs often have to prioritize immediate program needs over technology planning.
But that can also mean missing opportunities to reduce repetitive work and give teams more time for their core mission.
What Should NGOs Do?
NGOs do not need to adopt every new AI tool.
A better approach is to start with specific problems.
For example:
- Can AI reduce time spent preparing proposals?
- Can it help teams organize project information?
- Can it support research and documentation?
- Can it make budgeting and planning easier?
- Can it help staff work with large amounts of information?
The Bridgespan framework suggests three broad paths for nonprofits: Augment, using AI to improve internal work; Advance, using AI to strengthen programs and services; and Advocate, helping shape responsible AI development and governance.
AI Adoption Should Start With People, Not Technology
At NGOs.ai, we believe the most useful AI adoption starts with the actual workflow of an NGO, rather than simply adding AI because it is trending.
For example, an organization struggling with proposal preparation does not necessarily need a complicated AI strategy. It may first need a practical way to reduce repetitive writing, organize project information, and create stronger first drafts.
At the same time, NGOs need safeguards. Bridgespan and NTEN found that 62% of respondents believe clear organizational AI guidelines would help them use AI more confidently, while 57% said their organizations had not yet assigned responsibility for AI oversight.
The Opportunity Ahead
The research shows that the nonprofit sector is at an important point in its AI journey.
The organizations that benefit most may not be those that adopt the most AI tools. They may be the ones that identify the right problems, build staff capability, protect sensitive information, and use AI where it genuinely improves their work.
For NGOs, AI adoption should therefore be viewed less as a technology project and more as an opportunity to work smarter, strengthen capacity, and create more time for the communities they serve.
The AI opportunity is already here. The next step for NGOs is deciding where it can make the biggest difference.
