Nonprofits are solving 21st century problems-they need 21st century tech | Fortune

"AI is accelerating progress in almost every sector. But in the social sector, it's exposing a gap. Despite playing a crucial role as the first line of defense for vulnerable communities, nonprofits are at risk of being left behind in the age of AI. Society is asking nonprofits to solve 21st-century problems with 20th-century tech. At the same time, they are up against sociopolitical headwinds, loss of funding, and existential battles."

"We cannot expect nonprofits to invest in technological innovation unless we come together across sectors to provide them the resources. The engineers and the activists, the policymakers and the philanthropists. If AI is to be a force for good, we need to fund the tech, fund the future, and fund together. An emerging, creative class of entrepreneurs - AI-powered nonprofits - represent one of the most promising fronts in social impact."

"Take CareerVillage. Since 2011, CareerVillage has been on a mission to democratize access to career information and support those who need it most. Rather than shying away from hard questions about how AI will impact the labor market, CareerVillage is leaning in. Their AI-powered "Coach" platform helps job seekers navigate the changing labor market by offering mock interviews, resume support, career navigation, and more. Coach has already delivered personalized guidance to 50,000 learners, the majority of which have been youth from low-income households, students of color, and women."

AI is accelerating progress across sectors while exposing a growing gap in the social sector. Nonprofits serve as the first line of defense for vulnerable communities but risk being left behind by rapid AI advances and outdated technology. Nonprofits face sociopolitical headwinds, funding losses, and existential threats that constrain technological investment. Cross-sector collaboration is required to provide resources, bringing together engineers, activists, policymakers, and philanthropists to fund AI tools and futures collectively. AI-powered nonprofits are emerging to address education, economic empowerment, and health outcomes. CareerVillage's AI-powered Coach has delivered personalized career guidance to 50,000 primarily low-income, student-of-color, and women learners.

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