What's Good in Tech: What’s Actually Happening with AI in the Social Sector?

[Originally delivered to inboxes on June 24, 2025. Subscribe here to read it first.]

Survey Says: AI is Here and Helping

We wanted to know how nonprofits are actually using AI. So we asked them. In partnership with academic researchers, we surveyed hundreds of organizations. Here are some early findings:

• 84% of respondents are already using AI for internal ops
• 53% of AI-powered nonprofit respondents saw improvements in key metrics, like impact, engagement, or efficiency

It’s a sign of where things are headed, but the road’s still bumpy. Nonprofits told us they need funding, technical support, and a community to share what works. Stay tuned for the full report this fall.

Inspired by Those AI Stats?

Maybe you're wondering what AI could do for your nonprofit. We're here to help you find the answer. Fast Forward is launching free AI and Data Bootcamps this August: expert-led courses designed to help early-stage tech nonprofits strengthen their technical foundation and make smarter product decisions.

Dive into algorithms with our AI Bootcamp (August 20–22) or turn numbers into insights with our Data Bootcamp (August 27–29). Six hours of virtual learning, zero cost, maximum impact.

Applications close June 30. Apply for one or both!

Putting Powerful Tools in the Right Hands

In some of the world's most underserved regions, AI-powered nonprofits are quietly transforming healthcare — one smartphone at a time. TriplePundit featured two orgs from our most recent Accelerator cohort who are leading this charge. Visilant is equipping health workers in India with smartphone attachments that use AI to diagnose eye conditions, saving patients 8 hours of travel time and freeing up doctors for complex cases. Meanwhile, VectorCam is tackling malaria in Uganda by helping health workers identify disease-carrying mosquitoes in seconds.

(Curious to see what other organizations were in the cohort? Watch their five-minute pitches from Virtual Demo Day.)