How Nonprofits Can Embrace AI for Greater Impact with Alonda Williams

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein sits down with Alonda Williams, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, to talk about how artificial intelligence is transforming nonprofit leadership, operations, and impact. With a background in technology at companies like Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Verizon, Alonda brings a unique perspective to the nonprofit sector and shares how she integrates AI into her leadership and organizational culture.

Alonda discusses how AI helps her team increase productivity, streamline workflows, and expand their reach without additional resources. From meeting summarization and automated board reports to matching mentors and mentees faster, she explains how these tools save time while maintaining the human-centered approach that nonprofit work requires.

You’ll hear how she empowers her staff to adopt AI by modeling its use, creating safe spaces for experimentation, and even including AI literacy as a desired skill in job descriptions. She explains why adopting AI is not just about improving organizational efficiency but also about preparing staff and youth to be future-ready in a digital-first economy.

Amy and Alonda also explore practical applications that any nonprofit leader can try today, including AI-assisted hiring practices, productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot, and meeting assistants like Assembly. Alonda shares candid insights on what has worked, what hasn’t, and how to build trust among staff who may be hesitant to embrace technology.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Why AI creates new opportunities for nonprofits with limited resources
• How leaders can encourage teams to adopt AI responsibly and confidently
• Practical tools and use cases that save time and increase accuracy
• Ways AI reduces bias in decision-making, from staff recruitment to mentoring matches
• Why paid, enterprise-grade AI tools are essential for protecting sensitive data

Whether you’re curious about how AI can support your next board report, wondering how to introduce AI to your team, or looking for inspiration on how to apply it to your mission, this conversation offers practical, real-world insights from a leader who is already putting these tools to work.

Learn how AI can help your nonprofit save time, amplify its impact, and prepare both staff and the communities you serve for the future.

Are your Systems and technology ready for a Capital Campaign? Be sure to download our free self-assessment tool to evaluate eight key aspects of your organization’s systems.