Nonprofits are chronically under-resourced and understaffed – always asked to do more with less. But, safe, accessible, off-the-shelf AI tools can have a meaningful impact on your nonprofit operations today.
The AI for Nonprofits Sprint, launched in Fall 2024, gives nonprofit staff, at every level and in every department, the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of AI through online training, peer learning, and hands-on support. It’s not just about tools; it is about building the mindset and structures that will allow nonprofits to harness AI thoughtfully and effectively.
“The AI for Nonprofits Sprint has been at the forefront of equipping nonprofits to use AI effectively. Their excellent materials helped shape OpenAI Academy’s own approach, and has helped thousands of mission-driven organizations to take their first steps with AI.”
Our comprehensive 4-step plan addresses the entire AI adoption journey:
1. Baseline AI Use Survey:
We administer our validated assessment tool to understand each organization’s unique starting point, identifying both challenges and opportunities.
2. Staff AI Use Guidelines:
We give teams ready-to-use templates to establish clear, ethical boundaries for AI implementation that protect both staff and constituents while enabling innovation.
3. Organization-Wide Kick-Off:
A focused 90-minute training introduces all staff to AI fundamentals, creating a shared foundation of knowledge and excitement across the organization.
4. Facilitated Peer Learning:
Our 4-6 month structured program establishes AI discussion groups of 5-10+ staff (organized by role or function) who commit to using AI 1-2 hours weekly and sharing learnings monthly via facilitated Zoom discussion sessions.
What You Will Gain:
Our model works because it focuses on an achievable goal: bring 50%+ of your nonprofit staff to AI literacy so that they use low-cost, off the shelf AI tools as effectively as they might use email or a spreadsheet. This approach builds trust, boosts efficiency, and provides a solid foundation for deeper and more transformative uses of AI in the future.
- Ability to apply for access to complimentary ChatGPT Plus Licenses for staff, valued at up to $1,200, depending on need and availability.
Our Track Record:
Our team has already provided AI literacy training and support to
- 139 nonprofit organization members with 45,000 employees, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, NPower, and the World YMCA
- 38,000+ nonprofit staff have taken our AI 101 training course
- The AI for Nonprofits Sprint: NYC Cohort is funded by philanthropy, and our nationwide program is backed by funding and support from OpenAI, Robin Hood Foundation, Tow Foundation, and many others.
What We Ask of Your Organization:
- Identify a core champion, an “AI for Nonprofits Leadership Fellow”, who will serve as the main liaison to the Sprint team and receive organization-wide recognition and celebration, including a certificate of completion, social media badges, and more.
- Pay a $500 registration fee–this investment ensures organizations are fully engaged while maintaining broad accessibility across the nonprofit sector.
- Commit to “whole-organization” participation. Engage your entire full-time office-based staff in the Sprint programming, encouraging them to fill out the baseline survey, attend the one-time virtual training, etc.
Eligibility and Deadline:
This cohort is open only to NYC-based 501c3 nonprofits.
The Application Deadline is February 13th, 2026 (5pm EST).
Case Study:
“Because of our engagement with the AI for Nonprofits Sprint, JASA is in a completely different place with artificial intelligence than we were a year ago. While we already had an AI policy in place, the sprint gave us the additional momentum needed to spread this work across multiple departments in a practical way. Through what my colleagues and I learned and experienced, we have been able to create and mobilize an AI Task Force that is helping us better approach AI strategy and thoughtfully consider how AI impacts our clients and participants. Our participation in the sprint’s survey also gave us a valuable profile of our staff’s current use of AI and their appetite for adopting new tools, which has been instrumental in shaping our next steps. This sprint gave us the structure and confidence to begin identifying ways AI could add value in each of our departments. We especially appreciated the hands-on guidance and opportunities to collaborate with peers across the nonprofit sector.”
– Wayne Francis, COO at JASA
Learn more about the national Nonprofits for AI Sprint program here.
Interested in learning more before you apply?
Join one of our Info Session for NYC Nonprofits where the Sprint team will walk through the 4-step process and answer questions from prospective participants. Register here:
Tuesday 1/27 10am https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m_zXYr2hSOq1CIPrbVZssA
Wednesday 2/11 2pm https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/W70XCe38SZ-9u9FcOGdMtw
Apply Here
Thank you to our Outreach Partners for connecting us across NYC
