EleutherAI, a nonprofit research hub whose members explore issues associated with artificial intelligence (AI), has launched a nonprofit. The move allows the organization to underwrite research efforts that focus on AI, alleviating some of the financial constraints previously experienced by volunteer researchers. In keeping with EleutherAI’s original purpose, researchers’ primary focus will be alignment and interpretability concerns. The goals of alignment research include making sure…

Two German nonprofits – the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) and HateAid – are suing Twitter regarding its alleged failure to police antisemitic content and Holocaust denial on its platform in violation of German law, as well as the company’s own policies on hateful conduct. The suit, which was filed in Berlin just prior to Friday’s observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, alleges at…

Data and artificial intelligence (AI) can be a high-impact tool for public good with the potential to counter rising inequality, climate change, threats to democracy and public health, and other global challenges. Harnessing these tools to their full capacity will require investing in a diverse global workforce of skilled data practitioners, while overcoming funding challenges and a digital divide between wealthy and developing countries that…

There is positive movement when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts when it comes to technology teams at foundations. New data also shows areas that need improvement.  Data from the Technology Association of Grantmakers, based on polling of 277 U.S. foundations, shows that more technology teams are receiving DEI training. The number of organizations offering no training decreased from 37% to 21%…

Nearly every excelling nonprofit grows on the foundation of innovative idealism. However, the other integral aspect to these organizations’ successes is the careful planning that goes into the idea-implementation process.  Where many nonprofit managers fail is when these new ideas are presented and implemented without undergoing rigorous functional testing. At best, this results in wasted time, energy, and resources. In turn, it demoralizes organizational workforces.…

Mastodon, a social network that has seen its popularity rise following a series of controversial actions by rival network Twitter CEO Elon Musk, is a nonprofit and will remain a nonprofit, according to founder Eugen Rochko. Rochko told The Financial Times he had rejected at least five offers of cash infusion from venture capitalists. In doing so, he has held that commercialization of the site…

Nonprofit staff members are very good at doing a lot with a little. Smart executive directors know when spending more will pay off big. When it comes to fundraising, spreadsheets are familiar and free, but they limit your potential to engage with donors and bring in steady funding.  The biggest limitation is the difficulty of tracking relationships. For example, if you want to be able…

With data and consumer privacy legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives and in state legislatures around the nation, seven well-known brands launched the Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP) to help advance more open and accessible private-sector data. The founding members of the IDSP agreed to provide greater access to their data, where appropriate, to help tackle some of the world’s most pressing…

Nonprofit technology organization NTEN has launched a public data dashboard for Tech Accelerate, a free, comprehensive assessment tool about technology use and policies designed to help nonprofit staff with decisions, planning, and investments. NTEN conducted sector-wide research for more than a decade into how nonprofits invested in technology — from staffing levels to technology budgets — and surfaced the key indicators of practices and policies…

How to advance technology while safeguarding democratic values is the focus of a Ford Foundation-sponsored project bringing together leaders from the nonprofit, public and private sectors who are working to create a blueprint for the digital future. It’s a delicate balancing act at a time when the internet’s seemingly limitless possibilities for collaboration, commerce and information-sharing must contend with its growing misuse as a tool…

Nonprofits are doubling down on their use of text, webchat, and other digital technologies to better reach the people they serve, a trend that accelerated during COVID-19 and is expected to continue doing so.  The findings by Twilio, a digital engagement consultancy that works with businesses and nonprofits to improve how they communicate with clients, are summarized in a recent 42-page report the company compiled…