USA Today Documentary Episode Explores How AI Can Strengthen Social Impact and Nonprofits
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Six industry leaders discuss how responsible AI adoption can unlock mission impact for society’s most important organizations
When people think about nonprofits, they often think about charity—but it’s more than that; social impact is society’s stabilization layer and shock absorber,”
CHARLESTON, SC, UNITED STATES, November 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Social impact organizations are central to society and the economy. Nonprofits, foundations, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and corporate social impact programs help communities navigate crises, develop workforces, advance research, and promote civic engagement. The sector employs nearly 13 million Americans, contributes more than $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, and saw over $600 billion in U.S. charitable giving last year.— Carrie Cobb, chief data and AI officer at Blackbaud
Yet, these organizations are being asked to do more with less. They’re facing labor shortages, staff turnover, rising donor and constituent expectations, and difficulty growing revenue. As AI transforms work across every sector, there’s a clear opportunity for social impact organizations to leverage this technology to solve their unique challenges, expand capacity and accelerate missions.
In a new documentary episode hosted on USA Today, Blackbaud, the leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact, convened industry leaders and nonprofit practitioners to discuss the current state of social impact, the role of AI, and the importance of responsible and effective adoption.
The episode features a round table discussion with perspectives from:
Sara Adams, Chief Communications Officer, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)
Carrie Cobb, Chief Data and AI Officer, Blackbaud
Margaret Fala, Vice President, External Relations, Whitehead Institute
Rich Isenberg, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Rhea Saxena, Director, Responsible AI Institute
Priya Shanker, Executive Director, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
“AI presents an opportunity for these critically important but often resource-strapped organizations to free up valuable time, glean insights from their data, and take the next best action that’s going to move the needle for their cause. But, this is a sector built on trust, and responsible and transparent adoption is absolutely key.”
Blackbaud Institute research shows that industry wide, 85% of social impact professionals say they are using AI in their daily jobs, but only about 10% of all organizations are realizing significant dividends on their investment. However, the 10% that are overcoming a few key gaps—effectiveness, infrastructure, data-readiness and transparency—are seeing transformational value.
“At Blackbaud, we’re committed to the health of the social impact sector, and alongside key industry partners, we’re providing the tools, awareness, education and peer connection needed to help the sector step forward into this next era of transformation with confidence,” said Cobb. “This new documentary episode explores the opportunities and challenges of AI for social impact and why it’s so important that we get it right—not just for the sake of nonprofits, but for us all.”
Claudia Gahan
Acumen Media
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Blackbaud in Innovation Leaders | AI for Social Impact: Driving Missions Forward
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