AI and small charities: turning learning into action
What happens when you bring positive, solution-focused people around a table to tackle a challenge? Lots of energy, different perspectives, ideas and practical solutions.
I recently had the opportunity to be a Challenge Champion at the Impact Unlimited Summit, alongside Stephanie Stasey and our Lead Champion, Fiona Macdonald. Together, we facilitated a discussion around a challenge brought by Pru Daniels from NCVO and Jade Staiano from Media Trust:
How can charities embrace AI in a way that ensures small charities don't get left behind?
It's an important question, and one our own partners raise with us too. Small charities often have less time, capacity and specialist expertise to explore new technology. We talked about some of the barriers: confidence, knowing where to start, finding trusted guidance and, importantly, having the space to experiment and learn.
From training to practice
One part of the conversation really resonated with me: training alone often isn't enough.
I see this with our own charity partners. Small charity leaders have so much to juggle that, even after valuable training, finding the time and headspace to put that learning into practice can be difficult.
Charity representatives at the Impact Unlimited event. Photo courtesy: Impact Unlimited website
That's one of the reasons our approach at the Pearce Foundation starts by helping partners identify the real organisational challenges they want to work on. We then tailor support around what will be most useful, whether that's peer support, training, coaching or time with one of our specialist Skill-Sharers.
Our regular coaching check-ins give leaders space to reflect, prioritise, plan practical next steps and build in some accountability. It's about helping turn learning into action, while building the confidence and ownership to take things forward.
That felt very relevant to the conversation about AI. There were lots of ideas around peer learning, trusted guidance and creating opportunities for small charities to try things out and learn alongside others. One idea I particularly liked was starting with a charity's real challenge, rather than starting with the technology.
What happens next?
I also liked that the Impact Challenge focused on moving from ideas to action. We were all encouraged to think about what we could contribute next.
I’ve offered to explore whether some of our Pearce Foundation charity partners could take part in future AI learning and how we might share what emerges with other funders in Sussex.
I'm also interested in bringing small charities, funders and organisations providing AI support into the same conversation. AI is changing the funding landscape for everyone. Funders are seeing more applications, alongside questions about how AI is being used in the application process. So what does good use of AI in a funding application look like? What do small charities need to be aware of? What do funders want to see? And how can future training and support reflect all of this?
I certainly don't have all the answers, but that's why conversations like this matter. They bring different perspectives together, help us share what we know and find practical ways forward together.
A big thank you to Julian Blake and the Impact Unlimited team for such a collaborative, positive and inspiring day.
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