The new funding advances Project Evident’s efforts to provide technical assistance to community-based nonprofits in AI adoption and implementation

Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, announced its support for Project Evident’s continued work to equip practitioners—the leaders and program staff at nonprofits—nationwide with technical assistance, hands-on workshops, and a range of capacity building support to advance artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and usage across the sector. The initiative, which aims to enhance practitioner efficiency and impact, is part of Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund—a commitment to helping one million people in the U.S. learn AI skills. 

This collaboration marks an exciting new era in how prominent tech leaders, like Google, are providing tools for practitioners and their community members to become critical players within the field of AI. With Google.org’s support, Project Evident is partnering with local community foundations in five key cities– Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Columbia, SC; New York, NY; and San Francisco, CA –leading a program we call the AI Opportunity Accelerator. This program will take place over an approximately 12-month period. The AI Opportunity Accelerator is kicked off with a “Discovery Day,” where local practitioners will attend a day of programming and AI training. After that, participating nonprofits will have access to a range of technical assistance and capacity building support, including in-person working sessions, webinars, office hours, and coaching–all at no cost to them. They’ll be able to develop an AI adoption roadmap tailored to their organizational priorities and capabilities and one that they can readily implement. They will also have the opportunity to be part of a peer learning community with other nonprofit organizations.

The first half of trainings will emphasize AI for productivity while the second half of trainings will focus on AI for program delivery. Throughout our trainings we will bring in other field leaders, technical experts, and AI-powered nonprofits to discuss safe and responsible AI practices as well as offer deeper dives on AI use functions that are of greatest interest to the organizations involved.

“Building AI literacy among practitioners and their stakeholders helps enhance their proficiency with this technology and advocate for how AI can be designed and used most effectively,” shared Simon Morfit, Senior Director of OutcomesAI at Project Evident. “Project Evident sees the AI Opportunity Accelerator as one way to strengthen the voices of nonprofits and the communities they serve in the important ongoing conversation about AI’s role in society.”

Project Evident’s recently released report, “Funding the Future: Grantmaker Strategies in AI Investment,” found that some grantmakers are cautious about investing in AI related grants. Grantmakers have an opportunity to quickly upskill their understanding – to help nonprofits improve their efficiency and impact.

“Our research shows that practitioners–nonprofit leaders and staff–are adopting AI at a rapid pace, and grantmakers have an opportunity to shape the role of AI in civil society,” said Kelly Fitzsimmons, Founder and CEO of Project Evident. “Practitioners are at the center of everything we do, and our collaboration with Google.org is giving more practitioners access to support and tools that allow them to use AI for more efficient and impactful work.”

Project Evident is also partnering with Tech:NYC Foundation, another Google.org recipient of the AI Opportunity Fund. This initiative is another valiant effort from a peer organization working to help practitioners with tailored technical assistance to accelerate AI adoption and implementation. The need and desire for AI adoption and implementation in the nonprofit sector are evident, and we are excited to forge a path for practitioners and the communities they serve to become AI champions and, in turn, realize better, more equitable outcomes and enhanced efficiency.

About project evident

Project Evident harnesses the power of data, evidence, and technology to create greater impact. We are at the forefront of next-generation evidence practice in the social and education sectors. Project Evident enables practitioners (nonprofits, districts, and state education agencies) and their funders to make better use of these resources by advancing an inclusive R&D approach and embracing scalable, ethical, and cost-effective technology, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful and equitable outcomes.

Contact

Annette Raveneau
Senior Director, Communications
araveneau@projectevident.org