Turning AI Opportunity into Strategy: How Nonprofits Can Chart Their Path Forward

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Turning AI Opportunity into Strategy: How Nonprofits Can Chart Their Path ForwardAuthor of the article:Research finds 70 percent of nonprofit leaders and staff believe their organizations are missing meaningful AI opportunities, while only 8 percent report having an AI implementation roadmap.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountBoston, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the social sector, but many nonprofit organizations are still determining how it can best advance their mission. Survey research released today by The Bridgespan Group and NTEN finds that 70 percent of nonprofit leaders and staff believe their organizations are missing meaningful opportunities to use AI, while only 8 percent report having a one- to two-year AI implementation roadmap.To help organizations move from uncertainty to strategic action, Bridgespan has released Choosing Your AI Path: A Framework for Nonprofit Leaders to Make Strategic Choices, a new report that helps nonprofit leaders identify where AI can strengthen organizational capacity, advance mission, and shape responsible AI development and governance.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“The goal isn’t to help every nonprofit become an AI organization,” said Nate Wong, Bridgespan partner and co-author. “It’s to help leaders make informed, strategic choices about where AI can strengthen their work, where it introduces risk, and where their voices are needed to shape how AI evolves.”Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, the framework encourages organizations to focus on where AI can create the greatest value based on their mission, strategy, capacity, and the needs of the communities they serve. Drawing on Bridgespan’s work with nonprofit organizations and funders, interviews with leaders across the social sector, and the survey research conducted in partnership with NTEN, the report provides a practical approach to making thoughtful, mission-aligned decisions about AI.The report introduces three strategic dimensions for action:Augment: using AI to improve internal operations, reduce administrative burden, and enable new ways of working.Advance: using AI to strengthen, scale, or create programs and services that improve outcomes.Advocate: helping shape responsible AI governance, policy, and accountability so emerging technologies better serve communities and the public interest.The report features examples from organizations including the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Living Goods, the Center for Employment Opportunities, and the James Irvine Foundation, illustrating how nonprofits are using AI to improve operations, expand services, and help shape the broader AI ecosystem. It also explores governance, privacy, human oversight, and community engagement practices that support responsible AI use, while recognizing that choosing not to adopt AI may be the right strategic decision for some organizations.“Too often, conversations about AI become polarized between enthusiasm and concern,” said Derek Brine, Bridgespan partner and co-author. “We developed this framework to help leaders cut through that noise and make deliberate choices about where AI can create value—and where caution may be needed.”This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.As a companion resource, Bridgespan has also released Choosing Your AI Path: Applying the Framework for Nonprofits, a set of practical worksheets that help organizations assess where AI is affecting their work and field, identify a primary area of focus, and determine practical next steps.About The Bridgespan GroupThe Bridgespan Group is a global nonprofit that collaborates with social change organizations, philanthropists, and impact investors to make the world more equitable and just. Bridgespan’s services include strategy consulting and advising, sourcing and diligence, and leadership team support. We take what we learn from this work and build on it with original research, identifying best practices and innovative ideas to share with the social sector. We work from locations in Boston, Delhi, Johannesburg, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, and Washington, DC.Ryan Wenzel The Bridgespan Group 646.573.3006 ryan.wenzel@bridgespan.org Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.