Building Bridges with AI: Philanthropy’s Urgent Call to Lead
By: Rachel Kimber, Managing Director, Full Circle Impact Solutions
Philanthropic leaders today face an unsettling reality: AI is already shaping the sector—whether we engage with it or not. Nonprofit data is actively feeding large language models (LLMs), grantmaking processes are being streamlined by algorithms, and AI tools are influencing decision-making in ways funders don’t fully understand. Yet, many in philanthropy remain unaware of the extent to which AI is being used—or assume that ignoring it will somehow insulate them from its consequences.
The truth is stark: AI is here, love it or hate it, and we must either drive or be driven toward outcomes we may not agree with.
AI as a Crossroads: Leading or Losing Control?
The philanthropic sector sits at a crossroads. We can choose to shape AI’s trajectory, ensuring it aligns with our values of equity, trust, and human dignity, or we can allow external forces—corporations, policymakers, and unchecked technological momentum—to dictate AI’s role in our work.
Ignoring AI isn’t a strategy. It’s an abdication of responsibility.
Just as the introduction of seatbelts required advocacy, education, and policy shifts to become a standard safety feature in automobiles, AI needs philanthropy to step in as a governance leader. If we wait, the rules will be written by those whose interests may not align with equity, justice, or social good.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap: AI’s Impact on Philanthropy
For many funders, AI feels abstract, complex, and overwhelming. Yet, it is already influencing:
- Grantmaking & Decision-Making: AI tools are being used to review applications, analyze impact data, and detect trends in funding—but without transparency, they risk embedding biases into philanthropy’s core processes.
- Nonprofit Operations & Equity: Nonprofits are using AI to generate reports, automate compliance, and personalize donor outreach. Without oversight, smaller nonprofits may be left behind, deepening existing power imbalances.
- Data Governance & Privacy: Funders and nonprofits may unknowingly be feeding sensitive grantee data into AI systems without consent, raising ethical and security concerns.
The real danger isn’t AI itself—it’s allowing AI to shape philanthropy without philanthropy shaping AI.
Philanthropy’s Role: From Passive Observer to Active Driver
If philanthropy is to maintain its relevance and uphold its values, funders must take an active role in AI’s development and governance. This requires:
- Education & AI Literacy – Funders must move beyond fear and learn how AI works, how it is already being used, and where it presents risks and opportunities.
- AI Governance & Ethical Standards – We must set guardrails that prevent harm, protect nonprofit data, and ensure AI serves the social good.
- Funding AI for Equity – Investing in AI research, ethical AI tools, and responsible innovation can prevent philanthropy from becoming reactive rather than proactive.
- Collaboration & Policy Advocacy – Engaging with policymakers, technologists, and nonprofit leaders ensures that philanthropy’s voice is included in AI governance frameworks.
Conclusion: The Time to Act is Now
Philanthropy has always played a role in shaping society’s most pressing issues—from public health to climate action to racial justice. AI is no different. But it requires leadership, not hesitation.
If we fail to engage now, we risk ceding the future of philanthropy to forces that may prioritize efficiency over equity, automation over human connection, and profit over purpose. This is our moment to step up, not step back.
AI is not an existential threat. But a lack of philanthropic leadership in AI might be. The choice is clear: Drive, or be driven.