Tech Partnerships for Social Good

🤖❤️ The social sector is generally behind in leveraging AI but it doesn't have to stay that way. In my conversation with data experts Joanna Teo and Joel Yeo, we all agreed that AI has the potential to transform social impact — but it’s not magic. The biggest roadblocks are bad data, incomplete data, and lack of collaboration. Social impact organisations need to be (and rightfully so) a lot more careful with their innovation. 3 thoughts on more meaningful use of AI: 1️⃣ Stop collecting data for the sake of it. Focus on data with actional gaps: Too often, NGOs and social enterprises collect data that looks good in reports but isn’t useful for decision-making. Instead of gathering more data, identify the missing data points that would change the way you design solutions. What do you wish you knew? Start there. 2️⃣ Your "competitor’s" data is more valuable than your own – if you share too: Many social organisations hoard data for fear of losing funding or control. But real AI breakthroughs happen when sectors share insights across silos—health, education, urban planning. If you want better AI models, think beyond your own data sets. Who can you partner with to fill the gaps? 3️⃣ AI won’t solve structural problems – but data can expose the right fights: AI can predict which students might drop out of school, but if the real issue is unsafe roads or lack of digital access, AI alone is useless. Instead of asking, “What can AI solve?” start with: “What does the data reveal about the system itself?” AI should be used to challenge flawed policies, not just optimise within them. 🚀 AI isn’t the hero. Better data strategy, radical collaboration, and systems thinking will determine whether AI for social good is transformative or just another tech trend. 👇 I'm still learning! What are some overlooked data challenges in your sector? #AIforImpact #SocialInnovation #TechforGood

Fascinating thing about Google's AlphaEarth project: They built exactly what nonprofits have been begging for. Open data platform? Check. No vendor lock-in? Check. Works with existing tools? Check. Doesn't require a PhD to use? Getting there. MapBiomas in Brazil is already using it to track Amazon deforestation faster than ever. The UN's using it for food security. Over 50 organizations tested it before launch. But here's what kills me, this is what innovation looks like when it's not trying to extract value from social problems. Google didn't build this to "disrupt the nonprofit sector" or create a "social impact unicorn." They built it for science. For research. For understanding. And accidentally created the exact opposite of every nonprofit tech platform I've seen pitched: Simple, open, powerful, and not trying to own your data. The irony? A virtual satellite that maps the entire planet is somehow more accessible than most donor management systems. Maybe that's the lesson: The best technology for social good isn't always built FOR the social sector. It's built for solving problems, then shared freely. #TechForGood #OpenSource #DataScience #Innovation #EnvironmentalTech

Unlocking Dignity: How Tech Expertise Transforms Lives (a Microsoft Azure Case Study) In the realm of social good, the tech industry's impact can extend far beyond traditional financial support. Imagine being homeless or a veteran, facing daily hardships, and even the simple act of identifying yourself becomes a barrier. This was the reality at a non-profit warehouse where users' health conditions made established methods difficult and unintentionally dehumanizing. Recognizing the unique solutions technology could offer, we partnered with Microsoft. Harnessing Azure's Face API, we built a seamless and respectful identification system, restoring dignity and ease of access. Data insights further optimized warehouse operations, directly impacting the efficiency of services provided. This project underscores that our industry's core strength lies in problem-solving. It's about applying our expertise in ways that uplift communities. With support from partners like Microsoft, tech innovation can drive meaningful change, demonstrating that #techforgood is a powerful force for positive transformation. Let's collaborate to create solutions that truly matter! #microsoftazure #socialimpact #veterans #homelessness #humancentereddesign #leadership #cxos #microsoftlife

The charity sector’s best kept secret when it comes to digital support? 🤫 It’s not one thing - it’s a network. The Network of Non-Profit Digital Support - convened by CAST Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology and funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - quietly brings together some of the most impactful digital initiatives in the UK. Whether you need 👇 - bite-sized training and webinars - help finding a digital partner - one-to-one consultations - or simply a friendly sounding board …this collective exists to make sure charities can access the right digital support, at the right time. Here’s what sits under the umbrella: Digital Candle 🕯️ Free one-to-one calls with digital experts to answer your charity’s toughest questions. Reuse Infrastructure 🔄 Connecting non-profits with affordable, repurposed tech and cloud solutions. Digital Trustees 🧑⚖️ Matching boards with digital professionals to bring vital skills into governance. Design Hops 🎨 Short, practical programmes to help charities solve challenges using design thinking. The Curve 📈 Free, hands-on live training sessions to build digital confidence and skills. Dovetail 🧩 A platform to help charities find the right digital agencies and freelancers. Digital Leads Network 🤝 Peer support and community for people leading digital inside charities. Agencies For Good 🌍 A network of mission-aligned agencies collaborating to support the sector. The Network is making it easier for non-profits to adopt the tools, approaches and mindsets they need to thrive. The best part: it’s all free. P.S. If you’re Scotland-based, don’t forget SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)’s digital guides and support too - AI, cyber security and beyond. ❓ What's your favourite free third sector digital, data or design resource? Self-promotion completely welcome 👇

One Degree | 1degree.org is piloting an AI resource navigator in partnership with Harvard University’s Tech For Social Good. We built an AI chatbot designed to match people with the right resources based on their needs, using 2 different methods (function calling and RAG [Retrieval-Augmented Generation]). Early results: AI improved accuracy and efficiency, but data quality and trust remain key challenges. Next Steps: 🔹 Refining the chatbot for better accuracy 🔹 Beta-testing with 10-30 LA-based community organizations 🔹 Seeking funders & partners to scale this work AI has massive potential, but we’re taking a thoughtful, responsible approach.  Want to partner with us on the next step of our experiment? Let’s talk! Read our full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gS2xrz4b #AIforGood #SocialImpact #TechForSocialGood #NonprofitInnovation #Harvard

Celebrating 11 innovative nonprofits that are supercharging good with AI agents! When nonprofits are asked to do more with less, AI agents become powerful allies — amplifying impact by automating tasks so teams can focus on their mission. The 11 nonprofits in our most recent Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact cohort used Salesforce funding, technology and pro bono expertise to bring their Agentforce visions to life, transforming how they serve their communities and doing more good. Here's how: 🏊 YMCA of San Diego County — Developing a Member Services Agent to automate routine tasks, reducing admin time by 50% and boosting satisfaction by 20% for 400,000 participants 🌠 Blue Star Families — Creating a STAR Agent to cut administrative time in half while improving data accuracy for 1.5 million military families 🏫  Braven — Launching a Volunteer Matching Agent to achieve 3x greater volunteer engagement, helping 12,000 young people transition from college to career 🌍  United Nations Foundation — Building an Operational Support Agent to cut process execution time in half across contracts, due diligence, and vendor payments ❤️  (RED) — Transforming relationships with a Partnerships Agent targeting 10% increases in prospect research and response rates 🎓  ASU Foundation — Developing an Orchestrator Agent ecosystem to improve student satisfaction, reduce response times and create a seamless student experience 🏳️🌈  The Trevor Project — Creating a Crisis Documentation Support Agent to reduce administrative work by 55% and wait times by 73% for LGBTQ+ youth crisis support 🚀  City Year — Launching a Staff Assistant Agent to improve onboarding and service rates by 5-10 percentage points for 2000+ young people serving in under-resourced schools 📱  International Youth Foundation — Developing Clara, a Global Career Guidance Agent via WhatsApp, aiming to increase youth reached by 35% and skills achievement by 20% 💰  Compass Working Capital — Creating a Financial Coaching Assistant to deliver 80% improvement in coach workflow efficiency for families building economic stability ⚖️  Open Door Legal — Developing Casey, a Legal Intake Agent, to save 4,000 staff hours annually and increase clients served by 25% Congratulations to all 11 organizations pioneering the future of AI for the social impact sector! Check out the full story and join the next cohort by expressing interest before September 10th right here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ggkMynMM #AIforGood #NonprofitInnovation #Salesforce #SocialImpact #Agentforce #SalesforceAccelerator #DigitalLabor Special thanks to our amazing Accelerator team: Amy Guterman, Naomi Morenzoni, Miranda Dafoe, Schuyler Kaye, Malia Bachesta Eley, Emily Knas, Daniel Angel, Evan Paul, Natrina Gandana, Luigerr Ramos, Kiranmayi B, Alon Mazor, and Omar Almoualem, and to all of our incredible pro bono volunteers!