Using AI Thoughtfully to Support Our Work

At the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, we are always looking for ways to work smarter, communicate more effectively, and amplify our impact. As part of these efforts, last year we started occasionally using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support and supplement some of our writing and communications.

I am writing this blog post about the use of AI - using AI - while listening to a fascinating conversation about "Going Beyond AI Ethics" as part of the Global We Give Summit because it was suggested as a positive thing to do for those of us in the nonprofit sector.

So, why are we starting to use AI?

Well, because it helps us brainstorm, draft, and edit materials — from blog posts like this one to newsletters and internal documents. It saves time and expands our capacity, which is especially valuable in a mostly volunteer-driven, community-focused giving circle like ours.

We’re always looking for ways to innovate while staying rooted in our mission and using AI thoughtfully at times helps us communicate more effectively, operate more efficiently, and ultimately better serve our community.

But just as important as how we use AI is why and under what values.

​We are committed to using these tools ethically and responsibly — always guided by human oversight, accuracy, confidentiality, and alignment with our mission. AI is a supplement, not a substitute, for the thoughtfulness, care, and purpose-driven decision-making at the heart of our work.

We will also be adding a statement about our use of AI to our governance documents, to ensure clarity and accountability as this technology evolves.

Our work is about community, connection, and trust. We believe that being transparent about how we work — including the tools we use — is one more way we can honor those values.

Many thanks to the team at Philanthropy Together for their efforts to bring important conversations and information like this into the collective giving space, and for Nathan Chappell for the great conversation today at the We Give Summit! 

Feel free to reach out with any questions!

 - Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director

---