AI Leadership Essentials: From the Charity AI Leadership Accelerator
If you’re like most charity leaders we speak to, AI probably feels a bit overwhelming.Â
However, what we’ve learned from working with 100+ charity leaders on our Accelerator programme, in collaboration with Microsoft, is that successful AI leadership isn’t about becoming a tech expert. It’s about asking the right strategic questions and building confidence in your team.Â
This is equally true whether your charity is small or large, and applies regardless of the stage your charity has reached with AI, from beginners to those who are advanced.
These eight videos share the practical approaches that work for leaders of all sizes of charities.
Why we’ve created this series
We’ve recently finished our first Charity AI Leadership Accelerator programme, in collaboration with Microsoft, for 100+ charity leaders. When over 400 leaders applied for those 100 places, it became clear there was a huge appetite from leaders for support with AI.
We have learned from our work together on The Charity Digital Skills Report that whilst 76% of charities are now using AI, over a third of charities (36%) say their CEOs have poor AI skills and 44% of charities say their board has poor AI skills.
You can register your interest for potential future programmes and resources by clicking the button below.
We know that leaders are keen to learn about AI so in collaboration with Microsoft, we created this video series, with bespoke content for both small and large charities, so that more charity leaders can access selected insights and practical approaches from the programme.Â
These aren’t theoretical frameworks. They are practical approaches that have been tested by real charity leaders on our programme dealing with the same challenges you’re facing today. We hope these videos give you a flavour of the insights from the Accelerator whilst we plan what comes next.
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Choose your journey
We’ve learned that the challenges around AI leadership are different depending on the size and complexity of your organisation.Â
If you’re running a smaller charity, your conversations with trustees and questions about resources will be different from leaders managing organisations with multiple departments and stakeholders. However, we also know that one size doesn’t fit all.
Please do take a look at both sections if you’re interested, but we suggest starting with what feels most relevant to your situation.
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Small Charities: Practical AI leadership
Video 1: 5 Strategic questions every small charity leader should ask about AI
Where should leaders begin with AI? Rather than getting lost in the latest tech tools and jargon, these questions help you think about AI’s place in your mission and focus on impact.
Your trustees don’t need you to be a tech expert – they need you to be a strategic guide. Here’s how to have those conversations confidently, using tips that have worked for other leaders.Â
Your team may be feeling uncertain about AI. Learn how to model curiosity over expertise and create safe spaces for experimentation, whilst providing support and clear parameters.
We discuss the key actions you need to take to create a roadmap with limited time and resources. No pressure to revolutionise everything – just, measured progress at the pace that works for your charity.
Large Charities: Leading AI Change in Complex Organisations
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Video 1: Leading AI strategy in complex charities
When you’ve got multiple departments, regions, and stakeholders, AI transformation gets complicated fast. Here’s how to map the landscape and bring the right people along without getting stuck in endless bureaucracy.
Nobody wants governance that kills innovation, but you can’t ignore risk either. Learn how to create oversight that protects your charity while still letting teams experiment and learn.
AI transformation must be people first, not tech first. We discuss how to acknowledge staff concerns, create champions, and communicate consistently when everyone’s starting from a different place.
Learn about the essential questions to help you plan beyond the pilot projects, focusing on where you are now, where you’re heading, what capabilities you need to build, and how you’ll know if it’s working.
In Collaboration With Microsoft
These videos grew out of our Charity AI Leadership Accelerator programme, which we developed in collaboration with Microsoft as part of our work together on The Charity Digital Skills Report. What you see here are the insights and practical approaches that resonated most with the charity leaders who’ve been through the full programme.
Want to learn more?
These videos give you a flavour of the strategic thinking we explore in the full Accelerator programme. If you’re finding them useful and want to stay in the loop about future opportunities to develop your AI leadership, let us know.
