In this Nonprofit AI Podcast midweek check-in, Carolyn explores what it means to have agency in the age of AI. With so much pressure to adopt new tools, it can feel like nonprofits have no choice — but Carolyn makes the case that you and your organization have more power than you think, both in the tools you choose and the advocacy you pursue.

The conversation covers the environmental and community impacts of AI infrastructure, and what nonprofits can actually do about it. Carolyn discusses:

• Why individual AI use matter less than local and collective advocacy around data center regulation.
• Advocacy looks different in different locations where data centers are going in at a furious pace. Water issues? Electricity costs? Sites? Your advocacy should be local too.
• The community impacts of data center siting are complex — Carolyn gave just one example of institutional racism and the displacement over time of historic Black landowners in Northern Virginia.
• Creative policy models from Europe that nonprofits can advocate for in their own communities.
• You can align your AI tool choices with your organization's values — and why that matters.
• An update on Anthropic's lawsuit against the Department of Defense over its supply chain risk designation.

As AI infrastructure expands so quickly, Carolyn encourages nonprofits to stay engaged — using AI intentionally while advocating for the communities and values they serve.

Resources Mentioned:

• Webinar: AI Reluctance for Nonprofits, Josh Peskay and Kim Snyder, Meet the Moment: https://www.roundtabletechnology.com/news-and-events/webinar-library/thank-you/ai-resistance-for-nonprofits
• TechSoup AI Training: https://techsoup.course.tc/catalog/exploring-ai-with-microsoft-tools
• Anthropic vs the Pentagon to date: https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/09/anthropic-sues-defense-department-over-supply-chain-risk-designation/
• https://www.npr.org/2026/03/09/nx-s1-5742548/anthropic-pentagon-lawsuit-amodai-hegseth

_______________________________
Start a conversation :)

• Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/
• email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com
• on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening.

If you have wondered about the real difference between using a free tool like ChatGPT and an enterprise-level solution like Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini, this episode will provide much-needed clarity. While the potential for efficiency is high, many nonprofit leaders are rightfully concerned about data security and how to ensure they are using these models safely.

In part one from their recent webinar, Community IT Outreach Director Carolyn Woodard is joined by Chief Technology Officer Matt Eshleman to demystify the current AI tool landscape, particularly for data security.

In part two, Matt and Carolyn go over ways to tell you are logged in to your official account or not, the importance of continuous and iterative staff education, and how (and why) to get started creating AI policies to share with staff.

They were only able to answer a few questions from registration and the audience during this webinar; you can find more questions answered on our reddit community page: https://www.reddit.com/r/NonprofitITManagement/ or in the transcript on our website here: https://communityit.com/webinar-how-to-use-ai-tools-safely-at-nonprofits/

Whether you are already using AI daily or are just beginning to explore its possibilities, this discussion offers a professional and grounded look at how to navigate these tools securely.

_______________________________
Start a conversation :)

• Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/
• email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com
• on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening.

In this Nonprofit AI Podcast, Carolyn explores the complex intersection of nonprofit values and AI vendor ethics. Following a high-profile public dispute between the Pentagon and major AI providers, we look at what these corporate decisions mean for organizations that prioritize mission-aligned technology.

The conversation covers the practical side of AI safety, moving beyond the headlines to answer urgent questions from our recent webinar. Carolyn discusses:

• The ethical ripple effects of the Anthropic and OpenAI rivalry regarding government contracts.
• Why enterprise-level licenses are the primary recommendation for protecting sensitive nonprofit data.
• How to navigate privacy when using AI for board meeting transcriptions and note-taking.
• Practical steps to turn off model training in freemium tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.
• The existential question: Is adopting AI truly inevitable for the nonprofit sector?

As AI continues to disrupt education, health, and environmental sectors, Carolyn discusses the importance of intentionality—whether your organization chooses to opt in or opt out.

Resources Mentioned:

• Community IT Subreddit Webinar Q&A: https://www.reddit.com/r/NonprofitITManagement/comments/1rekaqk/qa_how_to_use_ai_tools_safely_at_nonprofits/
• LinkedIn Guide: Turning off AI model training from Kim Snyder, AI for Nonprofits Trainer at Tech Soup and Meet the Moment
• Upcoming: Part two of our AI safety webinar series with Matt Eshelman. Full video here: https://communityit.com/webinar-how-to-use-ai-tools-safely-at-nonprofits/

_______________________________
Start a conversation :)

• Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/
• email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com
• on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening.