5 Ways AI Can Make Your NYC Nonprofit Work Better: Lessons from Decoded Futures’ Design Day
“[AI] saves you so much time that it changes the scope of what is possible.”
Halfway through the second cohort of Decoded Futures at the Tech:NYC Foundation, let’s check in on how nonprofit leaders are incorporating AI into their operations and workflows, and what we can learn from them.
Decoded Futures, backed by Robin Hood, Google.org, and Salesforce, provides hands-on training sessions, expert-led workshops, and peer learning opportunities led by AI experts from New York tech companies, all geared toward helping nonprofits incorporate AI into their operations and give them AI agency.
Over the past few weeks, participants have explored AI’s potential, tested new solutions, discussed responsible and ethical use, and reimagined how they approach daily challenges. From automating repetitive tasks to enhancing decision-making, AI is already proving to be a powerful tool for these organizations.
Last week, the 21-strong cohort of NYC nonprofits participated in a Design Day, wherein each member was paired with a technologist to begin to create a solution to their nonprofit’s ‘AI-shaped problem.’
The unofficial goal of the day was to embrace “productive chaos.” That is, have folks get hands on keyboards, testing the capabilities and possibilities of AI, knowing there is no straight path to success. And the cohort is already seeing the potential of what can be achieved with the tech.
As one participant, who was skeptical of needing AI before the program, noted, “[AI] saves you so much time that it changes the scope of what is possible.”
Here are five key ways AI is already improving the workflows of Cohort 2, and how it can help improve yours:
1. AI can help write and communicate more effectively, saving time
One of the biggest resources for many nonprofits is time. There’s often too much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it.
Nonprofit leaders need to draft a slew of reports, proposals, and outreach materials. AI tools like ChatGPT can assist with content creation by generating first drafts, refining messaging, and ensuring consistency across communications.
One participant noted: “Even just doing the play-around stuff with AI, it’s already saving time for what we’re going to do. I started making a bot last week, and it’s cut the time in half.”
2. AI can handle customer and stakeholder inquiries
Nonprofits often receive a high volume of questions from donors, clients, and stakeholders. AI-driven chatbots and automated responses can help manage inquiries, saving staff time and ensuring timely responses.
One participant shared how AI has reshaped his training approach: “I’ve been doing finance training for years, but with AI, I can create ongoing, individualized coaching and Q&As in a way that was never possible before.”
3. AI can reduce repetitive administrative work
From grant applications to program logistics, administrative work can consume significant time. AI can streamline these processes by automating tasks like form-filling, scheduling, and data entry.
One nonprofit leader explained that he constantly has to balance making time for the grant application process with actually running the day-to-day operations. In Decoded Futures, he’s building a custom AI tool to assist with drafting grant applications based on past responses, enabling his organization to apply for more funding with fewer manual steps.
“I'm trying to find a way to increase my own bandwidth while also applying to more opportunities,” he said. “[I’m] using ChatGPT as a way for us to upload a database of knowledge we already have on grants we’ve won, and then use our responses to apply the new grants and quicken the time that it takes for us to create [an application].”
4. AI can help filter and evaluate information quickly
Reviewing large volumes of information — whether it’s applications, reports, or research — can be overwhelming. AI helps by categorizing, summarizing, and prioritizing data for faster decision-making.
AI tools can analyze past documents and highlight the most relevant details, allowing teams to focus on strategic decisions rather than data processing.
5. AI can support knowledge sharing and smarter decision-making
Whether it’s improving workforce training or making high-stakes decisions, AI can help organizations synthesize information and generate insights.
“I'm using [AI] as a thought partner,” one nonprofit leader noted.
Looking ahead: AI as a collaborative partner
As the Decoded Futures cohort continues to refine their AI-powered solutions, one thing is clear: AI isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about unlocking new possibilities. Whether by reducing manual work, enhancing communication, or helping organizations scale their impact, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for the social sector.
The AI solutions these cohort members are working on are still narrow — but eventually these solutions will likely grow.
As one nonprofit leader explained: “A big piece of this is what's the minimum viable product? The first version will save 50% of the time. And we'll keep carving down from there as we integrate.”
As we approach Demo Day on March 25, it will be exciting to see how these projects evolve and what lessons they continue to reveal about the future of AI-driven work.
If this sounds interesting to you, we’re opening applications for nonprofits and tech volunteers for Cohort 3 soon! Reach out to decodedfutures@technyc.org to learn more.