Harnessing AI for Corporate Social Impact: A Practical Guide

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries across the globe, and its potential to drive corporate social impact is immense. As organizations strive to create meaningful change, AI can serve as a powerful tool to amplify human efforts and address complex social challenges. In exploring the incredible opportunities with AI, it is equally important to reflect on the ethical and responsible use of AI as well as the key considerations when leveraging AI for social good. Yet, one of the biggest challenges is determining where to begin, which is why I hope to offer a few practical tips for getting started with AI tools here too.

The Evolution of AI

AI has come a long way since its inception. Understanding its evolution helps us appreciate its current capabilities and future potential. The early days of AI started in the 1940’s with Alan Turing’s electromechanical device developed to decipher encrypted messages. In 1956, John McCarthy organized the first AI workshop at Dartmouth and coined the term “Artificial Intelligence.” There has been a long journey of evolution for AI from its roots in narrow AI in the 1980s, focused on solving specific tasks using rule-based algorithms, to more general AI in the 2010s which aims at broader capability by leveraging big data and deep learning models. And finally, in 2023 we saw the birth of what many of us have experienced as a revolution in generative AI, with AI integrated into various industries, enhancing productivity and opening the opportunity to drive increased, meaningful social impact.

Ethical and Responsible AI

The ethical use of AI is paramount in ensuring that technology serves the greater good without compromising human values. That is why deploying responsible, effective, and trustworthy AI is so important. Here are some key principles to consider:

1. Transparency: AI systems should be transparent in their operations, allowing stakeholders to understand how decisions are made.

2. Privacy and Data Security: Protecting individual and organizational data is crucial. AI tools must adhere to stringent privacy standards to safeguard sensitive information.

3. Bias and Discrimination: AI systems should be designed to minimize bias and prevent discrimination, ensuring fair and equitable outcomes for all users.

4. Human Oversight: Maintaining human oversight and control over AI systems is essential to prevent unintended consequences and ensure ethical decision-making.

The Value of Using AI and The PEACE Framework

AI offers numerous opportunities to enhance social impact initiatives. From driving efficiencies for CSR teams that are typically limited in capacity, to providing tools that can dramatically enhance insights in overall impact. It can also be used to craft a compelling story of the needs on the ground and the incredible outcomes employee engagement and philanthropy programs are driving.

In addition, the PEACE framework (Perseverance, Evolution, Adaptation, Captivation, Empathy) which we highlighted in our post on CSR Trends in 2025: Grounded in PEACE can also be applied here when looking at the opportunity to harness AI in corporate social impact:

• Perseverance: Continuously strive to improve AI applications for social good.

• Evolution: Embrace technological advancements and adapt to new AI capabilities.

• Adaptation: Adjust strategies based on AI insights and stakeholder feedback.

• Captivation: Engage stakeholders with compelling AI-driven narratives.

• Empathy: Ensure AI initiatives are inclusive and address diverse needs.

AI for Social Good: Considerations and Opportunities

For CSR teams, as we look more specifically at the role that AI can play in driving our social impact initiatives forward, it is important to weigh some of the risks and opportunities as well as identify the structures and processes that are critical to have in place.

Key Considerations (Mitigating Risks):

1. Governance: Make sure you know your organization’s policies related to the ethical use of AI. Where possible, make sure your voice is represented in the review and implementation of policies that will be used to guide ethical AI use within your organization. In many cases, as CSR leaders, we have a unique perspective and ability to represent the communities we serve through our programs, which is critically important when evaluating what the launch of new AI tools and resources may look like and what impact new AI technologies may have on both employees as well as the communities we are engaged with.

2. Processes: Work with a cross-functional team to develop processes that can be used to monitor AI impact and address concerns if needed. For example, make sure a governance structure or committee has been established to review all potential uses of AI across your business. In turn make sure there are clear guidelines for how new AI tools and products are researched, reviewed, approved, and rolled out. Again, taking all perspectives and potential consequences (both intended and unintended) into account.

3. Empowerment: Look for ways to support the empowerment of both employees and community partners with AI education and resources. Not only do employees and our community partners need to gain knowledge and awareness around the various AI tools and technologies available to them, through education and training they can also gain vital confidence in their use of those tools.

4. Legal Compliance: Stay close with your legal team and advisors so that you are consistently informed about evolving legal guidelines related to AI. AI is a new and rapidly changing space, and with that rapid change and innovation comes both new use cases as well as new potential impacts. Laws around development, use, and roll out of AI are evolving constantly and it is important to stay informed so that you can provide guidance and insights from the CSR and community impact perspective.

Opportunities (Access & Inclusion):

1. Accessibility: When used effectively, AI can make services more accessible and inclusive to diverse populations, driving opportunities and access for all. For example, AI-powered assistive technologies can help individuals access information or communicate more effectively. Separately, AI can be used to tailor educational content to meet the needs of diverse learners, creating a more personalized approach to learning.

2. Efficiency: There is an opportunity to leverage AI to automate routine tasks which can free up time for strategic initiatives and work. That can include opportunities to streamline review processes, the ability to gather and analyze feedback, or other time intensive administrative responsibilities. It can also be used as a tool to analyze large datasets and identify key trends and insights that may inform decision making, resource allocation, and impact focus.

3. Storytelling: AI can be used as a powerful tool to create compelling narratives that highlight social impact which can drive awareness and engagement. Some AI tools can be used to generate compelling content, highlighting the stories and experiences of the communities we are impacting, and can in turn be used to amplify their voices, ensuring their stories are heard and valued.

4. Innovation: Drive innovation by leveraging AI for brainstorming and creative problem-solving as you look to evolve your programs. There are ways to use AI tools today to help design and develop new programs and initiatives, with an eye toward inclusion and accessibility. AI can also be used to generate new ideas to potentially address some of the most challenging, systemic issues we are looking to impact through our work.

Product Spotlight: for example, our own Blackbaud Copilot is the only Gen-AI tool built for CSR professionals which includes our propriety, private, and precise Al-chat feature that turns your impact data into compelling narratives. You can save time by being able to answer questions from your stakeholders in seconds instead of hours. In addition, Blackbaud Copilot includes cited sources and even suggestions for follow up questions that will empower you to tell the story of your company’s impact. The data is securely partitioned and protected within our data architecture and infrastructure, ensuring privacy for your data and prompts. And Blackbaud Copilot enables you to create content about your CSR & grant programs, including composing communications and presentation ideas.

Practical Tips for Getting Started with AI Tools

Embarking on the AI journey can be daunting, but with the right approach, organizations can harness its potential for social good. Here are some practical tips to get started:

1. Form Your Ground Rules: Establish clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI within your organization and team. Define the scope of AI applications and create guardrails to ensure safe and effective use.

2. Identify AI Tools: Research and select AI tools that align with your organization’s needs. Consider tools that enhance productivity, streamline operations, and facilitate impactful storytelling.

3. Create Your Adoption Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan for integrating AI into your social impact initiatives. Define use cases, set objectives, and outline steps for implementation.

4. Educate Your Team: Provide training and resources to help your team understand and utilize AI tools. Encourage experimentation and innovation while maintaining ethical standards.

5. Monitor and Revise: Continuously monitor the impact of AI initiatives and revise strategies as needed. Stay informed about evolving legal and ethical guidelines to ensure compliance.

AI has the potential to transform corporate social impact by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and enabling more effective engagement with stakeholders. By adopting ethical and responsible AI practices, organizations can harness this technology to create positive change and address some of the world’s most pressing social challenges. As we move forward, let us embrace AI as a tool for social good, ensuring that it amplifies human potential and drives meaningful impact.

To learn more about our purpose-built AI solutions, including the first ever AI-powered impact reporting and storytelling tool created specifically for CSR teams, click here.