AI for Philanthropy: What Does Responsible Leadership Really Look Like?

Ray Borkman

AI is moving fast in the social impact sector—but for mission‑driven organizations, speed alone isn’t the goal.

The real question leaders are grappling with is this: How do we adopt AI in ways that build trust, protect our mission, and expand human capacity—without losing what makes our work deeply human?

To explore that question, we’re sharing the on‑demand recording of Session 2 – AI for Philanthropy: A Leadership Conversation with Blackbaud and McKinsey, a thought‑provoking discussion designed specifically for nonprofit executives and board leaders.

In this session, you’ll hear:

• How purpose‑built AI differs from generic enterprise tools—and why that distinction matters for philanthropy
• What responsible AI leadership looks like in practice, from governance to human oversight
• How AI can be embedded directly into mission‑critical workflows to unlock time, insight, and scale—without compromising ethics or transparency
• Key considerations for leaders navigating AI investment, readiness, and organizational change

Rather than focusing on hype, this conversation centers on intentional, human‑first innovation—including how approaches like agentic AI and the Development Agent are designed to support fundraisers, not replace them.

🎥 Watch the on‑demand session: https://www.blackbaud.com/events/all-events/ai-for-philanthropy-a-leadership-conversation-with-blackbaud-and-mckinsey

Let’s discuss:

• What questions are coming up in your organization about AI right now?
• Where do you see the biggest opportunities—or concerns—around AI in philanthropy?
• What would responsible AI adoption need to look like for you to feel confident moving forward?

Share your thoughts below. This community is here to learn from—and with—each other as we shape what responsible, mission‑aligned AI looks like for the social impact sector.