Nonprofits Rapidly Adopt AI Amidst Governance and Training Gaps
Nonprofit organizations in the U.S. are rapidly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, with 98% of surveyed respondents reporting some level of AI use, and 61% using it officially through organized pilots, team-wide implementation, or full integration. This trend is highlighted in the 2026 State of Nonprofit AI: Adoption and Governance Report, a collaborative effort by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group. Despite this widespread adoption, the report reveals significant gaps in governance and training. Specifically, 57% of nonprofit executives report no dedicated AI budget, 37% do not train staff on AI tools, and 58% lack an AI roadmap. Furthermore, less than half of executives have written guidance on data usage with AI (40%) or responsible AI use (38%). This indicates that AI implementation is outpacing the development of necessary infrastructure, policies, and staff capabilities.
