Leveraging AI to Enhance Philanthropy
Our Approach to AI Use
At the Hamilton Community Foundation and our Affiliate Community Foundations in Ross and Fairfield, we are, first and foremost, a people-centered organization. Our mission is built on relationships—with donors, nonprofits, and the communities we serve. While we embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to enhance efficiency, it will never replace the human connections that define our work.
How We Use AI
AI helps us streamline office tasks, freeing up more time to be in the community—meeting with donors, supporting nonprofits, and strengthening partnerships. Specifically, we use AI to:
- Support our work in drafting content, summarizing information, and analyzing trends.
- Explore new topics and brainstorm ideas for new and ongoing initiatives.
- Assist with office tasks so our team can focus on meaningful community engagement.
Our Commitment to Responsible AI Use
While AI is a helpful tool, we ensure that our work remains authentic, transparent, and grounded in human judgment:
- Authenticity First – Every email, post, and publication we create is reviewed to ensure it reflects our Foundation’s voice and values.
- Privacy Matters – We do not input sensitive donor, financial, or personally identifiable information into public or unsecured AI platforms. This includes consumer-grade tools that do not offer enterprise-level data protection or confidentiality agreements.
- Any tool we use is reviewed for appropriate privacy and security standards.
- Fact-Checking is Key – Any key facts, figures, or recommendations from AI tools should be verified.
- We recognize and work to mitigate bias – AI tools may reflect historical and systemic biases embedded in their training data. We commit to applying current best practices in inclusive, people-first communication and reviewing AI-generated content to avoid perpetuating harmful narratives.
- Guided by Experts – We follow published best practices from leading organizations, including the Council on Foundations and Community Foundations National Standards.
- Ongoing Review – This policy will be reviewed at least annually to ensure it reflects evolving AI technologies, current best practices, and our commitment to transparency.
AI is not a replacement for the human relationships at the heart of our mission—it’s simply a tool that helps us serve our community even more effectively, while thoughtfully integrating emerging technologies.
For any questions about our approach to AI, please reach out. We believe in transparency and welcome conversations about how technology can enhance philanthropy.
