From Struggle to Strategy: How AI is Changing Nonprofits Forever
In this episode, Dr. Victoria Boyd dives into the powerful intersection of AI and the nonprofit sector. She explores how organizations can boost efficiency and impact by embracing AI tools and strategies. As the founder of the Philantrepreneur Foundation, Dr. Boyd shares how her mission is to build nonprofit capacity through education and resources. The conversation covers key challenges nonprofits face in adopting AI, the importance of leadership and education in nonprofit management, and real-life examples of how AI can transform fundraising and donor engagement. She also highlights upcoming events and tools designed to support nonprofits in their digital transformation journey.
Transcript
AI is here to stay.
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:And if you don't learn to adapt and accept, just like the boards, you won't survive and
you won't thrive.
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:You'll actually fall behind.
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:So in order to survive and thrive, you need to really look at AI and how it can become a
part of your operations for effectiveness and efficiency.
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:Welcome to the Las Vegas IT podcast.
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:My name is Shatoya and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr.
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:Victor Boyd.
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:I'm super excited to have this conversation and we've known each other for quite a while,
Victoria.
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:How's it going today?
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:Yes, we have known each other for quite some time and it is going fantastic.
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:We're both busy in our own little worlds, but most of the times we cross paths here and
there.
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:And here we are today talking IT and stuff like that, AI.
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:Fun stuff, a training topic that everybody wants to know about right now is AI.
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:And Victoria does have an event coming up which we're super excited about.
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:But can you just share with us a little bit more about your foundation that you've
started?
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:Absolutely.
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:Yes.
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:The Philanthropener Foundation has been around since we've been doing the work since 2012.
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:It was officially founded in 2014 when it was catching a lot of traction and a German
company saw the name and was trying to trademark it and steal it from us.
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:And so I was notified that a trademark had been filed, but I own the domain and things
like that.
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:And so anyway, I got
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:scared because I had at that time a podcast and a journal going, contacted the lawyer and
it ended up we got the trademark.
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:So we were very proud of that.
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:But the Philanthropic Foundation is quite unique because our mission is to build nonprofit
capacity through education awareness and resources.
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:That means we help other nonprofits build their infrastructure, systems, operations,
management.
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:And we do a lot of different training and support services for other nonprofits to have a
greater impact in the community.
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:Now, Philanthroponeur, the term, I'm always asked about that.
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:I taught nonprofit management at UNLV for about seven or eight years.
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:And I kept hearing myself over and over again saying, even though you're in philanthropy,
you have to think like an entrepreneur.
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:And the terms just sort of merged together into Philanthroponeur.
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:And it became my philosophy that even though you're a for-purpose business, you got to
think like an entrepreneur and think about revenue streams and systems and operations.
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:And I know what you get because you're into all of that stuff too.
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:So yeah, that's the foundation of it.
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:I'm the president and founder of it.
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:They have a nice small board, but we're really focused on just creating training resources
and building awareness about what they need to keep their eye on.
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:And right now it's AI and technology in the nonprofit sector because we're sort of falling
behind the business world in implementing and adopting some of those strategies.
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:and you say when falling behind, exactly what does that mean?
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:If you look at the data, which I do a lot of research, looking at the data of how many
businesses are adjusting and adapting to using AI within their business, those numbers are
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:growing rapidly every day.
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:The amount of nonprofits using it is much slower.
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:The pace and the percentage is much lower of them adopting it, even though the industry,
the AI technology is exponentially growing every day.
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:And it's not a trend.
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:It's not going to go away.
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:This is like the cell phone.
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:Yeah, you had the cord in the bag before, but the cell phone is here to stay.
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:AI is here to stay.
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:And if you don't learn to adapt and accept, just like the boards, you won't survive and
you won't thrive.
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:You'll actually fall behind.
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:So in order to survive and thrive, you need to really look at AI and how it can be a.
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:a part of your operations for effectiveness and efficiency.
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:And that's why I'm excited to put on our event.
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:Plus, the book that I'm writing, Nonprofit AI Playbook, will be released during that
summit.
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:So I'm really excited about what's coming up.
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:Awesome sounds very exciting.
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:What are some first of all will that link of your pot or your book be available for
purchase you said after David is that what I heard.
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:Yeah, it's going to be non-profit AI playbook.org.
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:It's not live right now because I'm still finishing the book.
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:Because it's a whole bundle.
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:It's not only the book, but there will be courses that go with it.
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:And I'm doing the foundations of AI at the summit.
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:I'm introducing the very first course.
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:And then afterwards, the book is set to be released on Amazon May 1st.
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:If you get the bundle of things, yeah, I'm promoting it.
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:You can get the digital copy right away with that bundle.
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:And that comes with the courses that will be dripped over a series of weeks, because there
will end up being about 10 courses to the whole package.
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:Because right now there's 13 chapters in the book.
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:And so I have to make sure I cover each chapter in a course.
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:After that, there will be supplemental courses that
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:will be like on very targeted subjects.
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:I know I'm doing one specifically just on voice creation and cloning and why you might
need that and things like that.
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:But there's so many sub, what I call subtopics that will be coming out.
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:And that's why the bundle actually puts you in a membership platform that you get these
drops throughout the year.
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:So it's exciting project.
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:I've been working on it.
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:I'm certified AI specialist.
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:I'm trying to take some of that.
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:knowledge, I got super interested in it and started using it myself.
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:And so then I said, you know, I just need to share this, but that's me.
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:I am a trainer and that's what I do.
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:So.
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:I just love that.
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:And yeah, so I'd love to for links for that so we can share that on the podcast.
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:You did mention that, you know, nonprofits are behind a nonprofit who's possibly behind
what's the first thing that they should do when it comes to getting started with AI.
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:Okay, they need to look at why they're behind.
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:What is the reason?
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:Are they scared?
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:Many are just scared to use it because it's new territory.
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:They're unsure if it will be ethical.
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:Oh, should we use it because we're a nonprofit?
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:You know, they need to stay transparent.
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:But we have a whole series or a training on how to be ethical with your AI usage.
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:I have an AI policy template that they can download.
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:So let's get rid of some of the misconceptions and myths.
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:And that's chapter two of the book.
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:It's busting off the myths that they have, and that's what holds them back.
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:They're scared to implement new strategies.
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:Many of them have the mindset, well, we've always done it this way.
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:Yeah, but how's that working out for you now?
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:So it's taking and stepping out of your comfort zone, but also
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:You're not trying to replace employees.
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:You're trying to make them more efficient.
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:The more efficient your staff, volunteers, and whoever's working with you in your
nonprofit, the more time they can spend on your mission, having impact in the community.
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:So they need to get over all of that.
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:And hopefully this training will give them the foundational pieces so they feel
comfortable using it.
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:And then as they
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:use it more and more, they're going to see how it can really be implemented in many
different areas of their organization.
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:I say start small, just learn one little task, and then start expanding to see how it can
go even bigger.
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:got it.
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:And then you know, what so you did mention, like what inspired you to get into this
direction of your business?
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:Well, I've always been in what I call the educational realm.
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:I taught dance for 28 years.
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:That was my career.
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:I was in a performing arts high school and taught dance.
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:So I've always wanted to teach, educate her, see other people reach their full potential.
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:Did that and was in education back in Michigan for 32 years and then moved out here West.
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:And then I was like, what am I going to do now?
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:Even while teaching though, I was involved in nonprofits.
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:I've been president, executive director, all the different positions within nonprofits.
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:have formed, merged and closed nonprofits.
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:So I knew intimately the workings and operations of nonprofits.
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:I then, when I came out here, I taught nonprofit management at UNLV and I saw such a big
gap of what
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:They still needed to learn.
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:so the teacher in me came out.
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:just, started creating training where I saw the need.
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:And it, that's how it has just, I'm still creating training.
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:I'm looking at the sector.
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:was talking to the small business development center.
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:said, yeah, we're getting a lot of nonprofits coming in talking about business plans.
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:said, they don't need a business plan at first.
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:They need a logic model.
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:we didn't know that.
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:There's a need.
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:So now I have training on the logic model because that's where, and so I really just
follow my heart.
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:I love marketing.
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:So I sort of heavily go in that direction.
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:Google ad grants, content creation, language on websites.
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:I love all of that stuff.
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:I have five books.
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:I'm a writer.
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:So that's why I sort of tend to go into that creative side.
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:Do I want to help people write grads?
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:Absolutely not.
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:So I'm trying to stay in my lane where I feel my strengths are and where I still have fun
because technically I'm retired.
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:But that's how I got where I am today.
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:but I'm sure, you know, being retired makes it a lot more fun.
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:Yeah.
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:I mean, there's, gives you a certain amount of freedom.
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:You know, I don't have to be any place at eight o'clock in the morning and can't leave
until five.
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:No, I, I am totally in charge of my schedule, but I work hard every day.
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:I'm unfortunately, you probably saw email from me about three 30 this morning.
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:It's because I was upward.
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:That's when I do my writing.
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:That's when I feel I'm most creative.
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:It's three 30, four o'clock in the morning because it's quiet.
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:phone is not ringing, there's nobody outside, and I get a lot done.
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:So I just love the life I'm living now.
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:I get to help people.
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:I get to be creative.
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:I get to see others grow and feel success and still just enjoy life.
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:I just love that and I responded to your email about 430.
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:So I totally understand about getting up early.
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:Maybe the phone ringing or just spending an hour or two before my young children get up to
me is very important.
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:That's the quiet time where you can have your cup of tea or coffee or whatever and just
really think, internalize and really, you know, what's the day going to look like?
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:Exactly.
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:So I totally understand.
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:And so when it comes to AI, how do you see it transferring the nonprofit profit sector?
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:Once they understand it, it's actually going to be a game changer for them because a lot
of the tasks that they worry about, fundraising, marketing, just handling the day-to-day
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:operations, answering the phone, can be handled.
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:If you train your AI platform correctly, it can handle all of those processes.
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:Now, is that where you start?
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:Absolutely not.
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:You need to first understand what it is, what it requires.
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:AI is just not one form of technology.
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:It's a whole series.
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:It's a collaboration of tools that help you do a lot of things.
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:Yes, it can create videos.
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:Yes, it can create photos.
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:Yes, it can create conversation.
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:It can generate.
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:It can break down.
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:It can evaluate.
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:It can do all of those things.
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:But each of those are separate tools, and you have to learn all of those separate tools.
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:But the learning curve isn't that hard.
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:And if they really take it seriously, that this is a good thing for the organization.
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:And I believe AI is a good thing for every nonprofit organization, whether you are a
one-person operation or a huge conglomerate.
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:You need to look at it as one of your resources and go to on a regular basis from this
point forward.
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:got it.
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:And so when you were speaking, I was thinking about, you know, a nonprofit that's probably
just getting started.
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:And maybe they don't have the finances, correct?
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:Or maybe they're just starting out, like for all those tools that you mentioned, like,
what is it someone's looking at?
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:You need to come to the summit because I have a package that gets them all of the tools
for one price for the whole.
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:Yeah.
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:It's, it's, it's interesting because I've, like I said, I've been doing a lot of research
and initially I had all of those separate tools and I was paying, I was paying out the
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:notes.
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:mean, literally because, I needed this for images.
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:needed it.
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:But then the world, the whole trend company started coming out where they packaged.
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:the tools together so you can get a whole suite of tools under one umbrella and under one
price.
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:And I'll be introducing that in one.
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:It's in my book and the training, but this, there's even ways to make money from AI.
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:If what I call second level, if the nonprofit wants to think about looking at it as a
revenue stream, it's like second level after you've learned it, but those opportunities
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:will be.
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:made available.
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:That's our awareness part.
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:So, going to make you aware of it, provide you with resources and give you the education
to support it.
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:And would you say that this event is for for-profit as well?
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:Because it seems...
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:Actually should learn something because like with my, my particular session is basically
foundation.
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:It's a glossary.
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:What do, what do all these different terms mean and how do you apply them?
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:Another person is doing AI and ethics.
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:What are, what are the ethical considerations when you're using AI?
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:Another person is doing the AI agent or employee.
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:anybody can use that.
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:I have one that's talking about website building and.
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:putting things, excuse me, all together, that's the technology side.
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:I have someone talking about cybersecurity.
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:So it sounds like all of these topics are beneficial to the business sector.
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:They will be in nonprofit terms so that we can understand it much better because often
when you look at business presentations, there's a lot of business jargon that nonprofits
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:just don't use.
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:So yes, this will be.
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:made so nonprofits can understand it simply, but what we're talking about is transitional
for for-profit and nonprofit businesses.
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:Understood.
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:That's awesome.
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:And so when it comes to, can you share with us some examples of where you've personally
seen a nonprofit use AI and within their business?
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:I use it every day for the Philanthropic Foundation to create our social media planning
calendar.
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:Technically, when you're setting up the schedulers and things on those calendar things, I
use Go High Level and I use their social planner.
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:But I put into my AI tool, I give them all of the prompts and details and all of that, but
I've already put in my brand profile and all of that.
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:And I said, I want to create a 30 day social media blast or campaign.
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:That's what I use campaign for the next 30 days to promote the nonprofit impact summits,
AI and technology for nonprofits event.
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:give it the date and all of that.
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:And it comes up with three to four different texts for these social.
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:And then I just take all that and enter it into the calendar.
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:I even went to.
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:AI generating video platform, which I also own and had it create videos for it.
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:And so everything in my marketing campaign was created through AI.
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:That's, mean, that for me, that's phenomenal because otherwise I'd have to do all that.
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:Now, I totally understand.
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:Before AI, done the same thing.
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:And before AI, I would be up for hours making sure that the social media content was
completed.
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:Yeah.
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:So it saves so much more time.
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:that's a, that's a
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:Like I said, it's the efficiency of it.
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:It's not, some people think it's cheating.
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:I'm, I just go there.
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:This, you're using AI.
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:Well, that, doesn't make it credible.
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:Why not?
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:If you're putting in all of the data, you have to put in what you want to see come out of
it.
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:It just doesn't make up stuff unless you let it, and then it might not be right.
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:I believe because I know my content, I immediately can spot when it's off.
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:And it even says, I don't know, on most platforms at the bottom, this tool can make
mistakes.
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:Please check your results.
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:You still need human intervention or interaction with it.
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:And so I use it to create the outline and then I fill in all the other stuff.
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:But for efficiency of things where you would be sitting there toiling, how should I write
this sentence?
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:it can write the sentence.
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:You know what type of sentence you need, but you just let it write the sentence and then
you tweak it to make it sound like your voice.
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:Or if you've already put in your brand profile, it already knows what your voice sounds
like in terms of how you speak and it will write it in your voice.
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:Totally a game changer, a time saver, you know.
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:No, yes, totally get it.
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:I'm right there with you Victoria.
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:And so what are some of the particular ways AI can help nonprofits with fundraising and
donor engagement?
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:Okay.
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:I don't want to give away too many secrets.
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:That's all in the can.
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:I'm just, I'm okay.
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:It's all, I have a whole section on fundraising.
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:have a whole section on marketing.
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:I have a whole section on developing your brand profile, strategic planning, logic, all of
those are sections and how to use it in use AI to support you in those efforts.
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:And there will be a chapter on grant writing, but yes, because for
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:Some, even though grants right now are really under attack, we have to still think that
there's still foundations out there, but you still need to know the basis of grant writing
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:or what is required because the logic model is what 90 % of grantors who give away the
money use as their foundation or criteria.
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:So it all plays in, but yes, there'll be different areas how to apply it.
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:with examples of how to use it.
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:There's a full toolkit, templates, downloadables all coming your way.
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:And I get it, we don't have that much time on this podcast, so you guys make sure you read
her book.
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:I don't think one thing I did forget to ask you, what is the date of your event that
we're...
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:The Nonprofit Impact Summit's AI and Technology for Nonprofits is April 16th, 2025.
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:That's a Wednesday.
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:runs or the everything is pre-recorded.
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:All the videos will be pre-recorded.
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:We have eight speakers.
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:This is we're considering this our mini summit because we have another one in August,
which is a two day summit, but this one has eight speakers.
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:There'll be about 10 presentations.
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:And by registering, you can watch those 10 presentations over a 48 hour period anytime you
want to.
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:They're just, they're going to be pre-recorded.
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:If you want to upgrade and then get them so you can have them for a lifetime and, you
know, have lifetime access to them, that's $39.
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:So it's, it's a, to me, it's a no brainer at this point.
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:But within that, you'll gain so much information of other ways to enhance your
organization.
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:or business, it's worth its weight in gold because for two days it's free.
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:So, can't beat that.
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:it and only $39.
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:Right.
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:Yeah.
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:So that's nonprofit impact summits with a S dot org, because there's going to be three
summits per year.
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:And that's where you can register.
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:We're on a virtual summit platform.
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:Hey summit.
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:That's where you see, but that's where the summits will actually be held.
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:All of the other content will be either on the Philanthropic Foundation website or on the
nonprofit AI playbook dot org.
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:But all of that will be available.
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:They can watch our podcasts.
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:have information for that out there.
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:So thank you for having me on this.
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:Just talk, talk, talk.
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:Right, we can talk for hours.
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:And so when it comes to, I know a lot of the information that you're going to go over is
going to be in your podcast, or not the podcast, I'm sorry, we're on a podcast, is going
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:to be in the course that you're going to, you said 48 hours for $39.
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:If you know, when they actually make a purchase.
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:What are some other things that you could kind of share with us today that maybe someone's
looking to attend or?
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:What is something that you can possibly share with us today?
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:Well, there's some running a nonprofit.
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:There's so many different facets to it.
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:Okay.
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:Like, are you using QR codes?
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:Hmm.
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:We have a course for that.
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:there's all of these things following under the umbrella of technology.
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:That's probably why I caught your attention.
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:These are all digital platforms, technology that can be infused into the operations of a
nonprofit.
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:Looking to the future.
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:Yes, we are giving this summit, the impact summits three times a year.
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:The next one in August is in alignment with nonprofit awareness day, the national
nonprofit awareness, August 17th and 18th.
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:And then in October, it's going to be about fundraising and marketing.
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:So it's the theme sort of rotates around, and then we're going to come back to technology
next year, this time.
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:But there's so many opportunities out there.
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:If they just check out Philanthropy or Foundation, we have training on the logic model.
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:Google ad grants, which is another big thing.
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:That's $10,000 per month in ads, free from Google.
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:That if you're a nonprofit and you haven't signed up for it, shame on you.
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:It's free money.
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:But we help people.
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:fact, we will get the grant for you and even show you how to set it up.
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:Yes, there's some prerequisites to it, and that's why we have the website person give me
the session, because she explains why your website needs to be that way, so it's eligible
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:for a Google Ad grant.
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:So everything sort of ties together, how we are mapping out our projects and what we're
doing.
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:All of it is to help nonprofits build capacity.
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:You're still here.
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:And I'm really going to have to attend this event because I have so many questions, but I
don't want to thank you for you to give us too much information.
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:But Victoria, you did share with us so much today where, you did provide us some
information, but where can someone find you if they're looking to connect?
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:Well, my website is drvictoriaboyd.com.
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:That's my website.
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:If you want to send me an email, it's vboyd at drvictoriaboyd.com.
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:I'm on all the social media platforms, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, you name
it.
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:I'm on it.
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:Podcast nonprofit corner podcast is on YouTube Spotify Spotify's blasted all over to all
of the different feeds So you can find that almost anywhere and then the summit will be
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:ongoing as far as I can see in the future.
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:So that's Nonprofit impact summit so they can almost find me anywhere Even if you just
Google my name it will pop up
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:Well, it was such a pleasure today.
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:Thank you so much Victoria.
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:Thank you.
