The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World

by Beth Kanter, Allison H. Fine

A pragmatic framework for nonprofit digital transformation that embraces the human-centered nature of your organization

The Smart Nonprofit turns the page on an era of frantic busyness and scarcity mindsets to one in which nonprofit organizations have the time to think and plan — and even dream. The Smart Nonprofit offers a roadmap for the once-in-a-generation opportunity to remake work and accelerate positive social change. It comes from understanding how to use smart tech strategically, ethically and well.  

Smart tech does rote tasks like filling out expense reports and identifying prospective donors. However, it is also beginning to do very human things like screening applicants for jobs and social services, while paying forward historic biases. Beth Kanter and Allison Fine elegantly outline the ways smart nonprofits must stay human-centered and root out embedded bias in order to success at the compassionate and creative work that only humans can and should do.

Genres: Professional Development, Nonfiction

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2022

Reviews

[Ryan Woroniecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re in the nonprofit sector and aren’t well versed in machine learning and AI, this book is for you. It’s high level and covers many general applications from HR to fundraising and use cases of existing products in market. Some basic elements such as data labeling for those unfamiliar with ML are also covered. It’s a 4-5 hour listen. If you are familiar with AI/ML at a high level, this book may be too basic for you.

[Joseph Kirkenir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book allows me to dream of a world where nonprofits could even think about wrestling with the ethical dilemmas created by cutting-edge technology and AI.

I dream because this is not something based in reality.

Maybe, if you’re at a really wealthy nonprofit, looking at you higher ed and healthcare, you could get something out of the ideas put forward in this boo. However, if you’re at one of these types of organizations, chances are your team is so large and specialized that coordinating all the people to actually put any of proposed ideas into action would be a logistical nightmare.

For the rest of us, this book will give you great ideas that you will never have the time or resources to do.

Before you say, “But JOE! These ideas and technologies will GIVE you the time and resources to go down the AI rabbit hole, which will give you MORE time and resources for the rabbit hole, etc. etc.” let me say that, if you can find the nonprofit fundraiser, marketer, administrator, IT specialist, and do-everythinger who has the bandwidth to wrap their mind around AI and these issues, you better pay that person all the monies, which you won't do. Because nonprofits hate success.

This book was worth reading, even if it was to get ideas I’ll be using 10 years down the road when modern tech becomes “nonprofit modern.”

[Jack Ciak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must first admit that I read books of this nature in search of practical ways to apply the concepts therein. Having said that, I found that while this book provided a good high-level overview, it fell short on offering concrete ways I could employ more tech in my small(ish) nonprofit. I will say that I found the included glossary and list of additional resources beneficial.

[Jake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be useful to anyone that hasn't taken an ethical computer science course. Is an introductory/basic review of how to consume ML and AI offerings. Oriented to the non-engineer.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and well organized approach to a specific topic with examples and solid references for deeper dives.