While not a new field, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has receive quite a bit of attention over the last couple of years. With the launch and popularization of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT, Bing Chat and others, the impacts of this technology are being considered more than ever. As the use of generative AI continues to grow, many philanthropies have begun to consider how this tool can be leveraged to simplify processes and enhance equity in grantmaking processes.

Join us as we explore best practices, challenges and opportunities in the use of generative AI in philanthropy. We will be joined by Technology Association of Grantmakers as they explore their Responsible AI Adoption in Philanthropy guide, which offers pragmatic guidance and a holistic evaluation framework for grantmakers. We will also hear from organizational leaders who've already begun to surface the ways that generative AI can support and enhance equity in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. 

Speakers

Sarah Di Troia, Senior Strategic Advisor, Product Innovation, Project Evident

Sarah Di Troia has spent thirty years in the social sector as a nonprofit leader, philanthropic funder and consultant. As the senior advisor on product innovation for Project Evident, Sarah has immersed herself in AI for equitable outcomes, leading AI research, a cohort of AI pilots, AI webinars and the creation of an AI readiness diagnostic. She recently co-led a national survey of nonprofits and foundations on AI use in partnership with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Sarah enjoys moments of great change inside organizations and across the sector, and is known for teasing order out of the creative chaos of growth and innovation. Prior to joining Project Evident, Sarah was chief operating officer at Health Leads and a managing partner at New Profit, Inc. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. 

 

Devi Thomas, Global Head, Nonprofit Community Capacity, Microsoft Philanthropies

Named one of 2022's Top Women in Communications and a 2023 Social Impact Pioneer, Devi is a visionary and go-to-market leader who has 20+ years of experience overseeing communications, global campaigns, nonprofit and tech for good marketing using data-driven market insights to help non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits meet the challenges of operating today. In her new role, Devi is the global head of nonprofit community capacity at Microsoft Philanthropies. She leads a team focused on listening, learning from and bringing together nonprofit communities. In this function, she collaborates extensively across global teams to develop and scale innovation with, for, and by nonprofits with the goal of better telling their stories and supporting their communities.  

Most recently as a vice president of Salesforce, she was on a team that delivered over $1.8B in donated tech to 55,000 nonprofits. Devi led external communications and marketing leveraging marketplace trends and deep customer listening to meet the needs of the nonprofit industry.  

With her background in the nonprofit sector, you will often find Devi at the intersection of technology and purpose. She considers herself an active part of the problem-solving sector, where she collaborates to respond to the most important topics of our time including inclusion and belonging, climate action, global health and the future of work often drawing on her experience as a leader at the United Nations Foundation and as a corporate responsibility director at Cone, Inc. She is a trained journalist who leverages the power of stories to share world-changing ideas. Devi serves on the executive board of Project Scientist, a nonprofit dedicated to guiding underrepresented girls to STEM careers.  

 

Jean Westrick, Executive Director, Technology Association of Grantmakers

Jean Westrick is the executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), a nonprofit organization that cultivates the strategic, equitable and innovative use of technology in philanthropy. Westrick brings two decades of experience building communities, leveraging technology and leading innovative and programmatic strategies. Prior to being named executive director of TAG, Westrick was the director of IT strategy and communications at The Chicago Community Trust where she led change management efforts for the foundation’s $6M digital transformation initiative. Also, while at the trust, Westrick directed On the Table, an award-winning engagement model designed to inspire resident action that was replicated in 30 cities nationwide.  A longtime advocate for equity in STEM education, expanding technology access and increasing science literacy, Westrick holds a bachelor of arts from Michigan State University and a masters of science from DePaul University. 

Background and Registration

The Philanthropy Northwest Network Call series takes place one Friday every month to bring an important topic to our network. The goal of these calls is to lift up an issue to our network of funders to deepen their learning, inspire action, and highlight where philanthropy might intersect with this work. 

These calls are open for anyone to join. You don’t have to be from a philanthropic organization or a member of Philanthropy Northwest, but please note these conversations are framed around philanthropy, and the role philanthropy might play around a particular issue.  

Registering for a Philanthropy Northwest Network Call automatically adds you to the Network Calls listserv. You can unsubscribe and remove your email from the list at any time. 

Accessibility 

Philanthropy Northwest strives to make our events accessible to everyone. On these calls, we offer closed captioning and speakers give physical descriptions of themselves in their introductions. The calls are also recorded and we share the recordings and other supportive resources within a week after the call. If you require an accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact JulieAnne Behar.  

 

 

Please contact JulieAnne Behar with any questions.