5 Questions for Jenni Warren, Tech:NYC’s New Decoded Futures Program Director

“Bridging the gap between nonprofits and tech is crucial for ensuring that technological advancements reach the organizations that need them most.“

With more than 46,000 nonprofits in New York City, the sector plays an outsized role in supporting the City’s teachers, students, and workers.

Enter: Decoded Futures at the Tech:NYC Foundation, which builds bridges between nonprofits, tech providers, and intermediaries that work together to tackle NYC’s greatest challenges with AI. 

Decoded Futures is currently accepting applications for its second cohort of NYC-based education and workforce development nonprofits looking to upskill and scale their work with AI. We sat down with Jenni Warren, who recently joined as Decoded Futures Program Director, to learn more about her career, her passion for New York’s tech and nonprofit sector, and what folks can expect from the program.

What brought you to Tech:NYC?
JW: Tech:NYC’s vision of making New York the best place to live and work through strategic technological innovation drew me in. The organization’s commitment to Tech for Impact through applied AI for social impact and fostering collaborative pathways between technology and nonprofits is really exciting to me.

Why are you passionate about bridging the gap between nonprofits and the NYC tech ecosystem?
JW: I’m passionate about building collaborative pathways between nonprofits and tech because it creates opportunities to scale impactful solutions. Using innovations with AI, technology has the potential to free up nonprofits to address critical social challenges effectively and sustainably.

Why is it important to bridge this gap?
JW: Bridging the gap between nonprofits and tech is crucial for ensuring that technological advancements reach the organizations that need them most. It empowers nonprofits with tools and knowledge to create lasting impact while fostering inclusive innovation in the tech sector.

What sort of topics and information will the next Decoded Futures cohort cover?
JW: The next Decoded Futures cohort will focus on fostering fluency in applied AI and equipping nonprofits to navigate emerging technologies. We believe AI is like a language you learn by doing, so we'll include practical applications as well as important topics like strategies for scaling innovations sustainably and ethical use of AI.

What’s an AI tool you love to use?
JW: ChatGPT and Gemini are my go-tos. I love using AI tools that simplify workflows and increase effectiveness — I have created a number of GPTs that I use for brainstorming and fostering creative collaboration. Numerous is also really exciting!