AI Will Reshape Our Sector — But Most Nonprofits Are Nowhere Near Ready!

By 2030, AI will reshape the world as we know it—changing how we live, work, govern, and give. But as I look across the nonprofit sector, I find myself asking a pressing question: Is the sector truly fit for a future where AI plays a central role?

Many organisations are still in firefighting mode—reacting to shrinking donor budgets, navigating localisation transitions, or simply trying to survive. In the Global South, the digital divide remains vast. For many small and medium-sized nonprofits, the idea of investing in AI sounds like an unaffordable luxury.

But here’s the truth: AI is not a luxury. It is an inevitability. Four Ways AI Will Transform Our Sector:

By 2030, AI will upend:
• Staffing – Automating routine tasks, supporting decision-making, and redefining roles.
• Governance – Offering real-time data to boards, improving risk management and strategic planning.
• Fundraising – Hyper-personalising donor engagement, forecasting giving trends, and automating stewardship.
• Programme Delivery – Analysing impact in real time, adapting interventions quickly, and scaling services in ways we’ve never imagined.

Yet despite this shift, how many boards are discussing AI in their strategy sessions? How many CEOs are budgeting for digital readiness?

Start Where You Are – Without Breaking the Bank

At New Global Markets (NGM), we’ve started speaking with AI experts across the UK, India, and Africa to identify affordable, accessible tools that organisations can actually use. Here are five accessible ways to get going—beyond ChatGPT:
1. Grant Prospecting with AI
Tools like Instrumentl, Grantable, or Foundation Directory AI speed up identifying aligned funders and automate first drafts of proposals.
2. Smart Donor Stewardship
Use free or low-cost CRM platforms (e.g. HubSpot for Nonprofits) that leverage AI to segment donors and personalise communication automatically.
3. Data-Driven Decisions
Tools like Power BI, Tableau Public, or Looker Studio allow even lean teams to visualise programme impact and refine delivery based on real-time data.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
Use light tools like TolaData, ActivityInfo, or AI-enabled Excel plugins to capture outcomes and track trends over time.
5. Content and Comms
Canva AI, Lumen5, and Pictory are making it possible to create powerful visuals and videos with minimal staff and no agency fees.

If you’re a nonprofit leader, the question isn’t whether to embrace AI—it’s how soon. Boards should be asking:
• How do we upskill our teams?
• Are our policies and systems AI-ready?
• What collaborations do we need to bridge the digital divide?
• What does ethical, inclusive AI use look like?

At NGM, we’re committed to helping organisations explore and test what’s possible—sustainably and affordably.

What’s your organisation doing to get ready for the age of AI?

Keith Kibirango MCIOF(Dip)
CEO, New Global Markets