A full, modular programme designed for non‑technical staff, volunteers, trustees, and community leaders.
Small charities and non‑profits increasingly rely on digital tools for fundraising, communication, safeguarding, and service delivery. AI can help them work smarter, reduce admin burden, and improve community impact—if used safely and ethically.
Audience:
Charity staff, volunteers, trustees, community organisers, youth workers, and small social enterprises.
Duration:
3 hours (or 3 × 1‑hour sessions)
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
Understand what AI is and how it applies to charity operations.
Identify practical, low‑cost AI tools that support small organisations.
Apply responsible AI principles to protect beneficiaries and data.
Recognise risks, limitations, and ethical considerations.
Use AI to improve efficiency, communication, and service delivery.
Three modules build from understanding to practical use to governance and safety.
This module introduces AI in simple terms and connects it to real charity operations.
Key Topics
What AI is and how it works
Types of AI relevant to charities: automation, machine learning, generative AI
Everyday AI in charity settings
Why small charities can benefit despite limited budgets
Myths and misconceptions about AI
Charity‑Specific Examples
AI translation for multilingual communities
AI chat assistants for answering common questions
AI tools for grant writing, report drafting, and admin tasks
AI for donor management and engagement
AI for accessibility (speech‑to‑text, text‑to‑speech)
Learning Activities
Icebreaker: “Where does your organisation already use AI without realising?”
Group mapping: Identify current digital tools and where AI might already be embedded.
Demonstration: Show a simple AI tool for summarising meeting notes or drafting emails.
Take‑Home Actions
Identify one admin task that could be automated
Explore AI translation or accessibility tools
Review current digital tools for hidden AI features
This module focuses on real, actionable applications that small organisations can adopt immediately.
Core Use Cases
Communications: drafting newsletters, social media posts, event descriptions
Fundraising: writing grant applications, donor segmentation, campaign ideas
Operations: scheduling, meeting summaries, volunteer coordination
Service Delivery: multilingual support, accessibility tools, safeguarding alerts
Data Management: cleaning spreadsheets, analysing survey results
Community Engagement: chatbots for FAQs, automated reminders, personalised messaging
Low‑Cost or Free Tools
AI writing assistants
AI translation tools
AI meeting note generators
AI design tools for posters and campaigns
AI spreadsheet helpers
AI chat assistants for websites or WhatsApp groups
Learning Activities
Hands‑on exercise: Draft a fundraising email using AI.
Scenario workshop: Use AI to summarise a safeguarding policy into plain language.
Group challenge: Improve a charity poster using an AI design tool.
Take‑Home Actions
Choose one AI tool to pilot for 30 days
Create an internal “AI use checklist”
Identify tasks that should not be automated (e.g., safeguarding decisions)
This module ensures safety, trust, and compliance—critical for organisations working with vulnerable groups.
Core Principles
Transparency: beneficiaries should know when AI is used
Fairness: avoid bias in decision‑making
Privacy: protect personal and sensitive data
Accountability: humans remain responsible for outcomes
Safety: avoid harm, misinformation, or inappropriate content
Security: protect systems from misuse
Inclusivity: ensure AI supports all communities
Safeguarding: AI must never replace human judgment
Charity‑Specific Risks
Sharing sensitive data with AI tools
Biased outputs affecting vulnerable groups
Over‑reliance on AI for safeguarding or casework
Misinformation generated by AI
Lack of digital literacy among volunteers
Donor trust issues if AI is misused
Governance Essentials
Create an internal AI policy
Define what AI can and cannot be used for
Train staff and volunteers on safe usage
Keep human oversight for all critical decisions
Document AI‑assisted processes for transparency
Learning Activities
Risk spotting: Identify unsafe uses of AI in charity scenarios.
Policy workshop: Draft a simple AI policy for your organisation.
Role‑play: Responding to an AI‑related mistake (e.g., incorrect translation).
Take‑Home Actions
Implement a “no personal data into AI tools” rule
Add AI safety to volunteer onboarding
Review safeguarding procedures in light of AI tools
A light assessment reinforces learning.
10 multiple‑choice questions
3 short scenario questions
Group reflection on how AI could support their organisation
Attend full session
Participate in activities
Complete assessment
This training aims to:
Reduce admin burden on small charities
Improve service delivery and accessibility
Strengthen digital confidence among volunteers
Support ethical and safe adoption of AI
Protect vulnerable beneficiaries
Increase organisational resilience and efficiency