Guiding the Future of Generative AI in Philanthropy: Purpose, Policy, and People

Written By Jennifer Amdur Spitz

Reflections from the CMF + TAG Conference in Detroit

I. Introduction: A Sector on the Edge of AI Transformation

AI is no longer optional—it’s operational.

This year’s Responsible AI in Philanthropy conference, co-hosted by the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) and the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), offered a powerful snapshot of where our sector stands. Attendees heard from funders, technologists, and sector leaders navigating multiple forms of AI—from backend grant management tools to frontline communication assistants.

And here’s the tension: while 81% of foundations say they’re using AI, only 30% report having a policy in place to govern that use. That gap isn’t about lagging documentation. It’s a risk to trust, transparency, and mission alignment.

We’re beyond the moment of exploration. Responsible AI is a leadership issue—and one that must center people, purpose, and policy.

 

II. Wake-Up Call #1: We’re Using AI—Without Guardrails

Jean Westrick, Executive Director at TAG, shared results from their 2024 State of Philanthropy Tech survey. The numbers are striking: 71% of foundations are using generative AI to take meeting notes. 67% are using it to draft emails or reports. But just 30% have written guidelines on how, when, and why AI can be used.

Jean Westrick, Executive Director of Technology Association of Grantmakers, announces a new AI certificate will be coming soon for foundation leaders.
 

Chantal Forster, AI strategist at Warren West Advisors, pointed out another red flag. Up to 60% of philanthropic staff are using free versions of ChatGPT outside of any formal system. She calls it “shadow AI”—and it’s real. The risk is more than operational. It’s ethical. Are staff introducing bias without realizing it? Is confidential data being exposed? Without guardrails, we can’t answer those questions.

 

III. Wake-Up Call #2: Policy is Power

Policies aren’t red tape. They’re trust-building tools that let us lead clearly and inclusively. They ensure experimentation doesn’t outpace responsibility. And yet, most nonprofits are behind.

As Ted Siefer, Nonprofit Quarterly, April 7, 2025, “How Nonprofits Can Create Ethical AI Policies,” wrote,

"More than half of nonprofits are using AI in some capacity, according to a recent report by the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Yet less than 10 percent of nonprofits have any kind of policy governing the use of AI. This is not just a casual oversight. The lack of rules and guardrails in place can expose nonprofits—and the vulnerable communities they may serve—to some of the unsavory aspects of AI, like algorithmic bias and privacy violations, not to mention legal risk."

We created the Voxley AI Policy Assistant to help close that gap. It’s a free tool that helps nonprofit leaders explore sample policies, ask practical questions, and get a draft started. If you’re unsure how to begin, this is the place.

 

IV. Wake-Up Call #3: Train Everyone

Chantal put it plainly: “Meet people where they are.” AI tools shouldn’t sit in the hands of comms teams or innovation leads alone. This shift is affecting every role across your organization -— from program officers to operations, from development to evaluation.

Mike Wright, CTO at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, made the case for cross-functional teams. “We’re just waking up to the modernity of our sector,” he said. “IT and program officers need to be in the same room.”

At Voxley, we believe in aligned empowerment—training tools that reflect your voice and values. Our generative AI assistant is like a super-competent number two: fully briefed on your mission, your messaging, and your workflows. It can help anyone on your team draft correspondence, prep reports, research topics, analyze studies, update templates, prepare for meetings, or brainstorm ideas with you —- all with clarity and consistency.

 

V. Beyond the Bolt-On: Why the Future is AI-Native

The tech vendors at the conference shared smart tools—most of which were AI bolt-ons to existing grant management systems. That’s valuable. But the future lies in something more foundational.

Voxley is a nonprofit-ready, AI-native service and platform designed to centralize and activate your organization’s knowledge. We’ve partnered with the developers of a powerful AI-native business app to adapt it for mission-driven teams.

Voxley uses your actual content—your strategy, brand, and voice—to train a private assistant that aligns with your mission. It operates as a closed corpus system: your data remains contained and secure, while the platform selectively leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate responses, surface relevant information, and drive workflows.

The LLMs don’t “learn” from your data or take it with them. They serve as temporary engines that process your information without storing or transmitting it externally. This keeps your knowledge safe, proprietary, and uniquely yours.

The result? AI that speaks in your voice, understands your context, and accelerates workflows—from grant writing to board updates—without compromising trust or brand alignment.

As Mike Wright reminded us, “Engage doesn’t mean endorse.” AI is here. Now is the moment to shape how it fits into your organization.

 

Voxley helps small and mid-size organizations use AI safely and strategically—turning your voice, values, and content into a secure, on-brand assistant; learn more at Voxley.ai.

 

VI. Responsible AI is Human-Centered AI

At Voxley, we see generative AI as a collaborative tool that should reflect the people, values, and purpose of your organization. It’s not about automation for its own sake—it’s about clarity, consistency, and the freedom to focus on work that requires human judgment and care.

Your AI policy becomes more than a document—it becomes the foundation for everything we build together. During setup, we use your policy and strategy to train your assistant on what matters most. We start by structuring your communications, goals, and workflows into Vox Blocks—your organization's living knowledge base. This is how we ensure your assistant works in your voice, reflects your values, and delivers relevant output every time.

Training is hands-on and supported. Depending on your service level, we offer organization-wide training, department-specific onboarding, and 1:1 coaching. We also establish a monitoring and review cadence—checking for accuracy, tone, and alignment over time.

Voxley integrates with your existing tools, allowing your assistant to help publish content, generate insights, or support internal communication workflows. The goal? A secure, AI-native workspace where your whole team can move faster, without compromising trust or quality.

 

VII. Learning Together: The Power of Community and Conversation

One of the best parts of the conference? Being in the room together. These are complex questions, and nobody has it all figured out. But the willingness to share, listen, and explore was energizing.

I was inspired by the work happening at the Kresge Foundation, Song Foundation, and Black Tech Saturdays. I appreciated the leadership of CMF and TAG in convening these conversations. And I was reminded how critical it is that we shape this moment together, not in isolation, but as a community.

 

VIII. What’s Next: A Path Forward for Nonprofit AI

Every organization is somewhere on the AI learning curve. You may be just beginning to explore what generative AI can do—or already seeing shadow AI emerge across departments. You might have a policy drafted, or simply a few thoughtful conversations underway. That’s the right place to start.

You don’t need a treatise to move forward. A simple, low-lift policy can set the guardrails. More importantly, talking about AI across your organization—not just within a single department—is how trust and alignment grow.

If you’re ready to explore how AI could serve your mission, Voxley is here to help.

 

Tools to Explore and Engage:

  • Voxley AI Policy Assistant — A free, generative AI assistant trained on a curated corpus of 30 nonprofit-generated reports, templates, guides, studies, and best practices. We didn’t write the materials—we created a tool to make them searchable, contextual, and ready to support your next policy draft. All results come with citations. Ask the assistant to outline policies, research facts, or to provide feedback on your drafts.

  • NTEN’s AI + Ethics Resources — A strong foundation for understanding equity, privacy, and ethics in nonprofit AI use.

  • Responsible AI’s Policy Template — a practical, customizable framework designed to help organizations establish clear, ethical, and effective policies for AI use across their operations.

 

When You're Ready to Go Further:

Voxley offers service tiers to meet you where you are:

  • Quick Start — Minimal lift setup with workspace configuration, assistant training, and brand alignment.

  • Full Setup + Training — Comprehensive onboarding, tailored training using your communications and strategy documents, and live support.

  • Ongoing Partnership — Fractional Communications Officer support to evolve your Vox Blocks, integrate new content, and ensure your assistant stays in sync as your organization grows.

Voxley is new—but it’s built on proven infrastructure already trusted by business. We’ve adapted it for nonprofits: secure, human-centered, and easy to integrate into your systems and workflows.

 

Join Our Nonprofit AI Learning Cohort

We’re forming a small learning cohort for nonprofit and foundation leaders—from lean teams of fewer than 15. Together, we’ll explore practical, human-centered uses of AI in your work, supported by structure, shared learning, and peer connection.

Whether you're experimenting with tools, drafting your first AI policy, or simply curious about how to make AI useful for your mission, this is a space to learn and grow—together.

This cohort is designed to foster collaboration across roles, organizations, and experience levels. Because navigating change is easier—and more impactful—when you’re not doing it alone.

If this sounds like a fit, we’d love to hear from you. [Fill out our interest survey] to tell us where you are in your AI journey and what you hope to gain. We’ll use your responses to build a group that’s aligned, diverse, and ready to take this step with care and intention.

Voxley is here to support you—from policy to practice. Let’s take this journey together.

 

Closing Thought

“We are the people people. But AI is being shaped by the profit people.” — Chantal Forster

At Voxley, we believe purpose-driven organizations deserve purpose-built AI. That means policy-led, human-centered tools that support—not steer—your mission. Let’s lead this era of transformation with intention, equity, and clarity. Because in a world being reshaped by AI, our values should shape the tools we use.

Jennifer Amdur Spitz