As a strategist and transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of well-deployed systems—and the consequences of ignoring their social implications.
I don’t come to this topic as a technologist or AI researcher. I come to it as a strategist, a nonprofit advisor, and a transformation consultant who has spent years helping organizations translate bold visions into real-world impact. Like many of my clients, I’ve been exploring how AI tools can support my work—ethically, equitably, and effectively. This post isn’t a technical deep dive; it’s a reflection on what I’ve learned so far through practical application, ongoing curiosity, and values-driven experimentation.
At Red Hills Consulting Group, I work with mission-driven organizations that are growing, shifting, and dreaming bigger. Many are asking:
Can AI help us do our work better? Faster? More sustainably?
The answer, I’ve found, is yes—with the right intention, guardrails, and heart.
Where Innovation Meets Integrity
Artificial Intelligence offers tremendous opportunity for nonprofits—especially those working under tight resource constraints. From automating repetitive tasks to supporting impact storytelling and donor segmentation, AI has the potential to free up valuable time and focus.
But technology doesn’t lead. People and purpose do.
Ethical use of AI means confronting hard questions: Who is represented in our data? Whose stories are being told—and by whom? Are we reinforcing inequities or actively dismantling them? For nonprofits and social impact leaders, these questions aren’t optional. They are core to the work.
That’s why I encourage every mission-driven organization I advise to approach AI not as a trend, but as a tool—to be wielded thoughtfully, ethically, and in alignment with core values like dignity, equity, and justice.
Real-World Insight: AI-Enhanced Storytelling for Social Good
One of the most meaningful examples comes from my work with Jalawelo, a grassroots nonprofit uplifting underserved communities in Jamaica. Faced with limited staff capacity but rich stories to tell, they needed a solution that could scale storytelling—without losing authenticity.
Together, we built an AI-Enhanced Storytelling Framework designed to:
- Use AI as a creative partner to support storytelling—not replace it
- Center lived experiences and honor the voices of participants and communities
- Ensure consent, privacy, and dignity at every stage of story collection and sharing
- Tag, store, and generate draft narratives aligned with Jalawelo’s values
Our guiding purpose was clear:
To reflect Jalawelo’s core values of dignity, social justice, faith, and community empowerment—while giving their part-time summer intern the tools to manage a professional-grade content calendar.
This framework is now in place to guide their digital engagement through December 2025. It’s scalable. It’s values-aligned. And it’s a model I believe many other nonprofits can adapt.
What About Fundraising & Grant Writing?
AI isn’t just useful for storytelling. It can also bring major efficiencies—and insights—to fundraising functions:
✅ Grant Writing
AI can help nonprofit teams:
- Draft compelling proposals using past reports and program data
- Tailor narratives to align with funder priorities
- Produce consistent language across LOIs, case statements, and renewal requests
For clients I’ve supported, this has meant not just faster workflows, but clearer storytelling and less duplication of effort—especially for lean teams.
✅ Donor Engagement
Predictive AI can also support:
- Smart donor segmentation
- Timing and message optimization
- Retention strategies based on giving behavior
But here’s the ethical challenge: data-driven doesn’t always mean equitable.
AI models trained on past behavior may overlook emerging donors, reinforce donor stereotypes, or skew messaging toward what “works” rather than what matters. Fundraising should always be grounded in relationship-building, authenticity, and shared values—not just algorithms.
A Responsible AI Roadmap
For mission-driven teams considering AI, here are five principles I recommend:
- Lead with Purpose
Be clear on how AI serves your mission—not just your metrics. - Embed Equity
Audit your data and algorithms for bias, blind spots, and historical inequities. - Design with People
Co-create solutions with your team, community, and beneficiaries. Ask: Who benefits? Who’s at risk? - Build Capacity Thoughtfully
Don’t expect small teams to absorb big tech changes without support. - Establish Ethical Guardrails
Include explicit policies on consent, transparency, accountability, and human oversight. Revisit them regularly.
Why This Matters to Me
As the daughter of immigrants and a lifelong advocate for equity, I’ve always believed that access to opportunity—and the tools to tell our own stories—should not be a privilege. That belief fuels my work every day, whether I’m advising a global brand on strategic transformation or helping a grassroots nonprofit build digital storytelling capacity with limited staff.
Through Red Hills Consulting Group, I’ve had the honor of partnering with organizations like the Aspen Institute, Pfizer, Revlon, and yes—small but mighty nonprofits like Jalawelo. My focus is always the same: to connect strategy to systems, and systems to impact.
AI will not replace the nonprofit sector’s humanity. But it can help us move faster, think smarter, and amplify voices that too often go unheard—if we lead with ethics, intention, and care.
📍 Learn more or get in touch at
👉 http://www.redhillsconsultinggroup.com
Let’s build what’s next—responsibly, together.
About Renée
Renée Jones is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Red Hills Consulting Group, where she leads strategic, operational, and transformational initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. With more than 20 years of experience leading complex initiatives, Renée helps organizations turn bold ideas into lasting impact. Outside of work, she mentors emerging leaders and champions social-impact innovation. https://redhillsconsultinggroup.com
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