For nearly 40 years, TechSoup has worked alongside civil society organizations to strengthen their digital capacity. With over 1.5 million organizations supported in 234 countries and territories, TechSoup continues to help mission-driven teams use technology more effectively.
Nonprofits have always faced resource constraints, and in 2025 they are navigating an increasingly complex landscape. Global funding is tightening, and the pressure on nonprofit services continues to rise. According to the Urban Institute,1 many organizations face significant financial risk due to their dependence on government grants and contracts.
At the same time, digital and skills gaps remain a persistent challenge. In the U.S., 9 in 10 nonprofit employees report lacking the digital skills needed for the future.2 Less than half of nonprofits say their staff has the digital or data capabilities required for transformation, and 47 percent cite staff and volunteer skills as a top constraint.3 Investment in training is limited, with technology training accounting for only about 1 percent of nonprofit tech budgets.4 As a result, only 12 percent of nonprofits consider themselves digitally mature, while 92 percent of employees acknowledge they still lack future-ready digital skills.5
The strain is evident. More than 70 percent of U.S. nonprofits have seen demand for their programs increase, while nearly half report rising operating expenses and insufficient resources to keep up.6 This leaves many organizations in the difficult position of trying to do more with less.
Artificial intelligence is emerging as one way to help close this gap. With the potential to boost efficiency, streamline tasks, and expand impact, AI offers nonprofits new tools to manage growing pressures. Without the right training, support, and access, however, many organizations risk missing the opportunity to use AI in ways that strengthen their missions and build long-term resilience.
A responsible AI strategy starts with governance. Developing an AI policy helps nonprofits use technology ethically, minimize risks, and align innovation with mission.
Nonprofit leaders need clear, adaptable policy frameworks to manage risks like bias, privacy harms, and opacity while keeping humans in the loop. TechSoup offers model AI guidelines and templates to help nonprofits translate principles into day-to-day decisions, aligning this guidance with emerging global frameworks so organizations can anticipate potential risks while staying mission-driven.
Policies alone aren’t enough — staff members need the skills and confidence to use AI effectively. Yet most nonprofits cite limited budgets and time for training. TechSoup fills that gap with flexible learning models.
For individuals or small teams looking for expert-led learning with more scheduling flexibility, TechSoup offers a blended course combining weekly live sessions with self-paced online materials. Participants join a virtual cohort while accessing templates, videos, and curated resources on their own schedule.
More than 550 nonprofits have taken this course, giving it high marks for both depth and accessibility. The next course is planned for spring 2026.
Access the on-demand course and look for details on the upcoming instructor-led course soon.
For nonprofit professionals who prefer to learn on their own schedule, TechSoup offers self-paced training that makes AI approachable, regardless of technical background. These courses are designed to help individuals build practical skills, deepen their understanding of generative AI, and start applying what they learn in real-world scenarios.
One of the featured offerings is Exploring AI with Microsoft Tools, a four-part series that introduces the core concepts of artificial intelligence, with a focus on nonprofit applications. Participants begin with an overview of AI and generative tools, then move into ethical considerations and best practices for responsible use. The course also explores how to write clear prompts, think critically about AI-generated content, and use Microsoft Copilot to support everyday tasks like drafting emails, managing information, and planning programs.
For those looking for a more structured but still flexible experience, Human-Centered AI (Self-Paced Version) offers a course adapted from TechSoup’s six-week cohort-based training. It includes nonprofit-specific examples and tools that support thoughtful, values-driven AI adoption. This version is ideal for individual learners who want the same expert guidance in a more independent format.
Both courses offer a practical entry point for understanding how AI works today, how it’s evolving, and how it might reshape nonprofit operations in the near future.
TechSoup also hosts regular webinars to help nonprofit professionals stay up to date with AI trends and tools at no cost to attendees. These live sessions include practical use cases, sector perspectives, and follow-up resources.
Recent webinars:
Popular past sessions:
The hype around ChatGPT has introduced many nonprofits to AI, but true innovation goes far deeper. TechSoup’s State of AI in Nonprofits 2025: Benchmark Report on Adoption, Impact, and Trends, based on a survey of over 1,300 organizations, paints a fuller picture.
Key findings:
While experimentation is increasing, use of advanced AI — such as forecasting, personalization, and data-driven decision-making — remains limited. This signals a need for more hands-on training, peer learning, and sector-specific guidance.
Cybersecurity is also becoming a top concern. As organizations manage more sensitive data, AI tools that can help detect threats, prevent breaches, and improve digital protections are becoming increasingly important.
AI potential means little without access. Many nonprofits want to experiment but face cost barriers or worry about complexity. TechSoup bridges that gap by connecting them with affordable, AI-enabled technology from more than 150 partners.
Explore these featured offerings.
Included in Microsoft 365 nonprofit plans, Copilot brings generative AI into everyday tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. It helps nonprofit teams summarize meetings, draft proposals, rewrite content, and automate repetitive tasks, boosting efficiency across daily operations.
Power BI enables nonprofits to visualize data, track performance, and generate actionable insights. AI-driven features like smart narratives, natural language queries, and predictive analytics help teams make sense of complex data and tell compelling impact stories.
Otter offers real-time transcription, speaker identification, and smart summaries for meetings, interviews, and trainings. These AI-powered features improve documentation, accessibility, and internal communication.
QuickBooks automates routine financial tasks using AI, such as categorizing transactions, matching invoices, and forecasting cash flow. These features help nonprofits manage budgets and streamline reporting with minimal manual input.
Discounted Asana plans through TechSoup include automation rules and access to AI Studio (Advanced plans), which lets users build no-code workflows for task planning, approvals, and reminders, helping teams stay aligned and efficient.
Dell's Latitude laptops and AI-optimized hardware feature Intel® Core™ Ultra processors with AI-enhanced performance, longer battery life, and intelligent noise cancellation. They are ideal for hybrid or mobile nonprofit teams using tools like Copilot.
Cisco solutions offered through TechSoup include AI-enhanced tools for automating network management, monitoring threats, and optimizing bandwidth. These features reduce IT overhead and help nonprofits maintain secure, reliable infrastructure.
These tools offer nonprofits the following benefits:
AI is only as effective as the data behind it. Nonprofits must ensure that their information is clean, ethical, and actionable. TechSoup helps them build this foundation through analytics tools, training, and tailored consulting.
Through Microsoft Power BI, nonprofits learn to visualize data, track performance, and generate actionable insights. AI-driven features like smart narratives and natural-language queries help teams make sense of complex information.
For organizations needing deeper integration, TechSoup AI Services provide custom support for activities such as these:
By creating clear data frameworks, nonprofits move from reactive reporting to proactive strategy — using AI not just to analyze impact, but also to guide it.
As artificial intelligence becomes more present in daily life, TechSoup is helping nonprofits explore how to use it in ways that are practical, responsible, and aligned with their values.
AI can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Many nonprofit professionals are curious about how it might support their work, while others have already started experimenting with tools but want clearer direction. TechSoup offers resources and training that meet organizations where they are, with support grounded in real-world needs.
By fostering collaboration across sectors and advocating for responsible AI, TechSoup advocates for civil society playing a pivotal role in building a more inclusive, equitable, and ethically driven future. By offering a membership model to all nonprofits, TechSoup is helping the nonprofit sector to access, adopt, and optimize AI-driven technology.
TechSoup equips nonprofits with transformative technology solutions and the skills they need to improve lives globally and locally. Apart from TechSoup's marketplace of technology donations and discounts from over 150 technology partners, TechSoup offers education, connections to service providers, and events to support technology adoption.
AI transformation is a collective effort. TechSoup’s Quad community gives nonprofits a dedicated peer space to explore, ask questions, and share experiences with AI and emerging tech.
Highlights:
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your strategy, Quad offers a supportive environment for ongoing learning and exploration.
Nonprofits don’t need to be tech experts to benefit from AI. With the right tools, training, and community, they can save time, strengthen their work, and focus more on what matters most.
TechSoup’s combination of education, affordable access, policy support, and collaborative community empowers nonprofits to use AI ethically and effectively — helping them do more good, faster.
Visit techsoup.org to explore tools, training, and resources that can help your organization harness the power of AI responsibly.
1. Urban Institute. What Is the Financial Risk of Nonprofits Losing Government Grants? https://www.urban.org/research/publication/what-financial-risk-nonprofits-losing-government-grants
2. Workday. The Future of Nonprofits: 4 Steps to a Digital Evolution. https://blog.workday.com/en-us/future-nonprofits-4-steps-digital-evolution.html
3. Econsultancy. Digital progress “static” as nearly half of charities say staff skills a barrier: report. https://econsultancy.com/digital-skills-charities-2024/
4. NTEN. 2024 Nonprofit Digital Investments Report. https://www.nten.org/posts/publication/2024-nonprofit-digital-investments-report
5. Salesforce. Just 12% Of Nonprofits Are “Digitally Mature” — And They’re 4X More Likely to Achieve Mission Goals. https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/nonprofit-statistics-trends-2022/
6. Forvis Mazars. 2024 State of the Nonprofit Sector Report. February 21, 2024. https://www.forvismazars.us/forsights/2024/02/2024-state-of-the-nonprofit-sector-report