Topic 12 of 15 · Digital, data and AI
AI for nonprofits: AI policy, data and digital tools
Free tools on AI for nonprofits, from AI policy templates to responsible data and digital security for nonprofits and NGOs.
- 12 resources
- 12 free
- 5 tools and templates
- 4 sub-topics
Every nonprofit is now a digital organisation, ready or not. The risks are real (data breaches, careless AI use) and so are the gains when tools are chosen well.
This shelf covers digital basics, handling data responsibly, deciding where AI helps and writing a policy for it, and keeping your systems and people safe online.
You need this shelf if
- Staff are already using AI tools and you have no policy
- You hold sensitive data about the people you serve
- You don't know how mature your data practice is
- You or your partners face online surveillance or attacks
Key questions for leaders
- What are staff already using AI for, and do you have a policy? Nonprofit AI Policy Builder →
- Where could AI save your team real time, and where should you avoid it? The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Suitability Toolkit for Nonprofits →
- What personal data do you hold, and would you be comfortable if it leaked? Responsible Data Handbook →
- How mature is your data practice, and what would move it up a level? Data Maturity Assessment →
- Are your accounts, devices and communications secure enough for the risks you face? Security in a Box: Digital Security Tools and Tactics →
What's on the shelf
12.1 Digital strategy and skills
- 12.1C155
The Charity Digital Code of Practice 2025
A voluntary code of good practice that helps UK charities benchmark digital progress and make digital decisions. It sets out 8 principles: leadership, user led, culture, strategy, data, skills, risk and ethics, and adaptability. Separate editions exist for charities with income above and below £1 million. The 2025 update adds a data principle, AI guidance across all principles, tips on buying digital tools, and stronger cyber security and accessibility sections.
Start hereCurrentKey manual or guideFree
12.2 Data management
- 12.2C157
Responsible Data Handbook
A handbook on the ethics and risks of collecting and using data about people in international development work. It follows the project lifecycle: designing a project, managing data, getting, understanding and sharing data, and closing a project. Chapters can be read alone or in sequence. A team of 12 practitioners wrote it in a 3-day book sprint. It is free under a CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree - 12.2C156
Getting Started with Data-Driven Decision Making: A Workbook
A short workbook that takes a nonprofit manager from a question to a simple process for using data in decisions. 9 worksheets guide the user to define an action question, decide what it means for the organisation, list what could be measured and what data exists, choose metrics, set a process for using them, and write an implementation action plan. Managers complete it alone or with a team.
ClassicTool or templateFree - 12.2C158
Data Maturity Assessment
A free online self-assessment that gives a snapshot of an organisation's data and AI maturity. It scores 3 areas: purpose, practice (data quality, security, ethics and infrastructure) and people (leadership, talent and culture), plus a separate AI score. Results come in a shareable format for talks with colleagues and funders, with recommended guides and resources for next steps. It is aimed at social impact organisations, government agencies, funders and universities.
CurrentTool or templateFree with sign-up
12.3 AI use, policy and governance
- 12.3C160
Nonprofit AI Policy Builder
A free online tool that helps a nonprofit draft its own AI policy covering governance, data privacy, risk management and ethics. Users share their mission and AI use, choose a light, standard or advanced policy, and answer tailored questions. The tool uses generative AI to draft the policy, which the team then edits and publishes. A draft takes about 20 minutes and needs no sign-up.
Start hereCurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C159
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics for Nonprofits: Toolkit
A workshop kit that helps nonprofits design, deploy and use AI responsibly. This first part focuses on the principle of fairness. It contains a facilitator guide, a master slide deck, case studies, key AI and machine learning terms, AI ethics concepts and an example Miro board. Participants learn AI ethics basics, then apply fairness to humanitarian and international development use cases.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C161
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Suitability Toolkit for Nonprofits
A toolkit that helps nonprofits judge whether an AI or machine learning solution is a good fit before they build, buy or use it. It aims to build in-house ability to assess AI options, anticipate problems and make informed decisions, with attention to transparency, data governance and traceability. It is meant for project managers, developers and system operators in nonprofit organisations.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 12.3C162
Choosing Your AI Path: A Framework for Nonprofit Leaders to Make Strategic Choices
An article and framework that help nonprofit leaders decide how to use AI. It sorts choices into 3 dimensions: augment internal operations, advance mission and programmes, and advocate on AI governance and policy. Each dimension has field examples, strategy elements and low-cost no-regrets actions. A section sets out what institutional funders can do for grantees. Companion worksheets help teams apply the framework.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 12.3C163
Pursuing the Promise of AI
A guide for African nonprofits on using AI in their programmes. It sets out 4 stages of AI adoption: explore and prepare, prove and learn, embed and operate, and sustain or scale, each with guiding questions. It draws on interviews and a focus group with over 40 nonprofits, social enterprises, funders, experts and intermediaries. It describes the type of funding needed at each stage, from risk-tolerant early capital to patient operating support.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree
12.4 Digital security
- 12.4C166
Security in a Box: Digital Security Tools and Tactics
A free online toolkit on digital security for civil society groups at risk. It has 2 parts. Tactics guides explain basic practices such as strong passwords and protection from malicious software. Tool guides give step by step instructions to install, set up and use security software and services. A global network of activists, trainers and security experts helped build it. Users follow the guides to secure devices, accounts and communications.
Start hereCurrentKey online resourceFree - 12.4C164
Digital Security & Grantcraft Guide
An introductory guide that helps funders judge whether grantees face digital security threats and how to support them. It explains the difference between passive monitoring and remote intrusion and suggests a case-by-case approach in 3 steps: triage, recalibration and reaction. It gives 7 questions for funders to ask about grantees' security systems, encourages short and long term security plans, and adds an annex on travel security.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 12.4C165
Enhancing Digital Security Awareness for CSOs in Africa
A publication on digital security for civil society organisations and journalists in Africa. It describes how these groups have moved over 20 years from print-based activism to digital tools that help them hide their identities and contact sources quickly. It argues that media and civil society groups need to adopt new technologies to stay effective, and sets out to raise awareness of digital security practice among them.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree
Related project ideas
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Digital security training & policy
“Staff use weak passwords, share sensitive files over personal channels, and have no shared understanding of digital risks — your organisation is more exposed than you realise.”See project
Responsible data use policy
“You collect sensitive data from beneficiaries and partners but your storage, access, and consent practices are inconsistent — and you are not confident you could defend them.”See project
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