Amidst growing public interest around the impacts of AI technology, Independent Sector will host panel to guide organizations seeking to safely and responsibly use AI tools.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2026) – Today, Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins announced the creation of a Principles Panel on AI: Nonprofits and Trust to produce a high-level ethical framework for nonprofit usage of AI technology. As this technology continues to change and evolve, this framework will not provide specific technical guidance; instead, it will be grounded in fundamental moral principles to help nonprofit leaders ensure that their use of AI strengthens public trust and reinforces missions, rather than jeopardizing them. Launching with its first meeting on July 27, 2026, this expert panel consists of 25 leading AI and charitable sector experts from philanthropies, operating charities, sector infrastructure organizations, and the technology industry. Over a series of meetings, this panel will develop ethical guidance and discussion prompts for leaders and boards to decide when and how to leverage AI for efficiency while building and preserving trust and reinforcing core organizational values. The panel is expected to complete and publish its work in early 2027.
“The U.S. charitable sector has always been built by people, for people — working together to solve problems, better their communities, and advocate for shared causes. The explosion and rapid advancement of AI technology is an opportunity for our sector to provide services more effectively, use resources more efficiently, and reduce the time nonprofit staff spend on repetitive administrative tasks. But this technology also poses serious risks: Concerns about data privacy, job losses (especially within entry-level positions), environmental harms, discimination or bias, and information accuracy are only some of the issues identified as barriers to safe and responsible use of this technology. Underlying all of these concerns is the fear that the widespread adoption of these tools will remove the ‘human’ from the people-focused work we do, severing the connections between communities and the organizations that serve them and breaking down the public trust that our sector is built on,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO of Independent Sector. “In polling of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted in April 2026, Independent Sector found that 76% of respondents agreed that nonprofits should fully disclose when and how they use AI, and more respondents said AI use by a nonprofit would make them less likely to trust that organization (37%) than more likely (22%). As AI tools and those who develop them become more powerful and influential, the need for sector-wide guidelines on how to safely, ethically, and responsibly use these tools is more vital than ever. Independent Sector is leading this Panel on AI: Nonprofits and Trust to establish a set of ethical practices to guide organizations on how and when to use this technology while protecting community relationships and maintaining public trust in the vital work we do.”
“Keeping on top of emerging AI technologies and the opportunities and consequences they present can be disorienting and unmooring,” said Panel Co-Chair Adam Jesperson, Executive Director of Montana Nonprofit Association. “I am thrilled for this panel of diverse experts to offer the sector an enduring foundation for leaders to stand upon as they navigate principled and values-driven change.”
“I’m hopeful this panel creates a frame of reference that supports nonprofit leaders in exploring AI with real agency, not fear or default adoption, while centering the needs of under-resourced organizations and communities who are too often an afterthought in conversations about new technology,” said Panel Co-Chair Bianca Anderson, CEO of ProInspire. “This is an opportunity for our sector to take up an influential leadership role within society at large, shaping how AI continues to evolve, because the impacts of this technology will be felt by all of us, not just nonprofits. We need to be at the table helping set the norms, not simply adapting to ones set by others. I hope this resource supports our sector in ways that others can learn from, as we work collectively to create a world where all people can truly thrive.”
“AI technologies are largely being developed outside of our sector, invested in with terms and expectations that we do not share, and advanced on a roadmap that doesn’t align to our priorities. This doesn’t mean that AI-enabled tools do not offer nonprofit organizations opportunities for meaningful use. But that use comes with very real risks,” said Amy Sample Ward, CEO of NTEN and Independent Sector Visiting Scholar on AI. “While each organization can navigate this path individually, we also have real opportunity to build power by asking shared questions, demanding shared guardrails, and elevating opportunities to build together the tools that best serve our communities and missions. I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to this collective action and look forward to the insights this incredible panel will put forward for the sector.”
The nonprofit, philanthropic, and technology leaders participating in the Principles Panel on AI include:
- Bianca Anderson (Panel Co-Chair), CEO, ProInspire
- Adam Jespersen (Panel Co-Chair), Executive Director, Montana Nonprofit Association
- Amy Sample Ward, Visiting Scholar on AI, Independent Sector, and CEO, NTEN
- Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO, Independent Sector
- Jeffrey Moore, Chief Strategy Officer, Independent Sector
- Afua Bruce, Founder/Principle, ANB Advisory Group
- Grace Cadiz, EdD, Global Philanthropy Manager, Atlassian Foundation
- Sandra Diaz, Director of Impact & Evaluation, Restore NYC
- Hector Dominguez, Digital rights advocate
- Kathleen Enright, President & CEO, Council on Foundations
- Rhonda Evans, Practice Leader, Monitor Institute by Deloitte
- Norma Fernandez, CEO, Everyone On
- Dr. Suchi Gaur, Strategy & Systems Change Expert, Founder of Mission Hummingbirds
- David Goodman, Program Director: Technology Strategy, Jim Joseph Foundation
- Nisha Kadaba, Director of Programs, Agog: Immersive Media Institute
- Ben Miller, SVP of Data Science and Analytics, Bonterra
- Erin Mote, CEO, InnovateEDU
- Laura Patch, Senior Product Manager – Data & Internal Systems, Sierra Club
- Vikram Ravi, Public Sector Professional
- Kate Ryan, Director of Special Projects, Gemma Services
- Ariana Soto, Cofounder & CEO, Coding it Forward
- Berhan Taye, Independent Researcher
- Lauren Wallace, Principal, Wallace Tech Law LLC
- Rafeel Wasif, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Portland State University
- Laura Whitaker, Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Kentucky Nonprofit Network
The Principles Panel on AI: Nonprofits and Trust expands upon Independent Sector’s foundational Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a set of 33 sector-facing recommendations for self-governance that has served as an ethical standard for nonprofit accountability since their publication in 2007. Developed at the invitation of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Principles have guided nonprofit and foundation boards and executives in the areas of legal compliance and public disclosure, effective governance, strong financial oversight, and responsible fundraising, in order to increase transparency, accountability, and public trust. These Principles were first updated in 2015, and in 2027 Independent Sector is launching a comprehensive update to this framework.
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Independent Sector is the national membership organization that connects, strengthens, and advocates for nonprofits and philanthropies. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Media Contact: Chloe Kessock, chloek@independentsector.org, 727-433-2972
