As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, concerns are growing that charities are being left behind in the race to harness its potential. To address this, a new AI ‘Charity Task Force’ has been launched, aiming to champion the responsible, inclusive, and collaborative use of AI within the sector.

A Collective Voice for AI in the Charity Sector

The task force is set to tackle several key priorities:

  • Acting as a unified voice advocating for AI adoption in the charity sector.
  • Encouraging collaboration between charities and key stakeholders, including tech funders, regulators, and businesses.
  • Influencing the responsible, ethical, and sustainable development of AI, both within and beyond the charity sector.
  • Creating a coordinated approach to AI that provides equitable support for charities of all sizes.

One of its first objectives is to respond to the UK Government’s recent AI Opportunities Action Plan, ensuring that the charity sector’s perspective is included in national AI policies and strategies.

The AI Readiness Gap in the Charity Sector

Research highlighted a significant gap in AI preparedness within charities:

  • Six percent of charities currently have an AI policy in place.
  • Six percent are collecting data on AI’s impact on beneficiaries, despite 64 percent believing AI could benefit their organisation.
  • More than half (51 percent) report receiving no AI training within their organisation.

Ethical AI and Data Hygiene: Lessons from the Past

As charities look to integrate AI into their operations, they must ensure that data hygiene and ethical targeting are at the core of their approach. The tragic case of Olive Cooke, a 92-year-old poppy seller who was overwhelmed by donation requests after her data was repeatedly shared between charities, serves as a stark warning.

AI-powered fundraising and outreach have immense potential, but without strict ethical guidelines, they risk alienating donors and harming the very people charities seek to help. Poor data management can lead to excessive targeting, inappropriate requests, and loss of public trust.

The Charity AI Task Force has a critical role to play in embedding these principles across the sector. As charities begin to leverage AI, ensuring ethical data use must remain a top priority to harness AI’s potential for good.