Accelerating Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the Nonprofit Sector

IBM is a leading technology company that provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. In 2016, the IBM Research arm launched the Science for Social Good initiative, with the mission of using data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle emerging social and environmental issues. IBM tasked the team with investigating ways to scale the adoption of AI tools in the nonprofit sector. The team reviewed the literature on AI and its relationship to the nonprofit sector, interviewed nonprofits and foundations to understand the field’s current landscape and trajectory, and evaluated the nonprofit sector in terms of its receptiveness, preparedness, and need for new technologies. The team then provided IBM with strategic recommendations for how best to pursue its goal of scaling AI in the nonprofit landscape.