Blog home Trends & Issues AI for good: How you can help Candid labs empower nonprofits

AI for good: How you can help Candid labs empower nonprofits

Sonali Dhume (she/her), Shane Ward (he/him), and Alison Jannette (she/her)
November 11, 2024

A woman using Candid Labs on her laptop.

AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s become a cornerstone of every modern business process. The 2024 AI Index Report shows rapid advancements in AI technology. Benchmarks created to assess the performance of AI tools compared with humans on tasks such as image classification, visual reasoning, and English understanding show the gaps narrowing. As of May 2024, the MMMU benchmark, which evaluates responses to college-level questions, scored GPT-4o at 60%, compared with an 83% human average.

While AI evolves, rising training costs are limiting AI development to a few companies. With AI “FOMO” on the rise, more organizations are rushing to adopt generative AI tools, but there are concerns about the investment needed by organizations to maintain AI solutions at scale. In addition, the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Department at Stanford University focuses on human-centered AI, emphasizing the need for diverse voices in AI development to address ethical concerns.

AI plays a pivotal role in the nonprofit sector

The challenges related to AI bias and affordability highlight the importance of community-centered and responsible AI development. By integrating AI into core nonprofit work and involving communities in designing the tools, organizations can increase efficiency and address the needs of marginalized communities in the face of rapid technological change. At Candid, we strive to build AI solutions for the greater good.

Innovation is vital in ensuring Candid’s resources evolve to meet nonprofits’ needs while being committed to investing in new technology to support a more efficient and equitable sector. That’s why we created Candid labs, a destination where our users can discover the breakthrough technology Candid is developing to support those working to solve the biggest problems in society.

Generative AI can help nonprofit staff work more efficiently and equitably

Most recently, we took the opportunity to leverage generative AI to solve a big grant writing pain point: writing Letters of Intent (LOIs). Candid’s AI-powered LOI writer assistant aids fundraisers and provides guidance on writing different sections of an LOI. This tool is specifically designed to benefit non-native English speakers by addressing challenges in professional writing. These difficulties stem from factors such as grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. The AI assistant provides writing suggestions using best practices as well as available data like organization missions, grant history, programs, and impact metrics on the funder and the grantseeking organization.

More importantly, we need your help in refining Candid Lab’s AI tools

Candid’s AI-powered LOI writer helps fundraisers craft professional LOIs, helping them approach the content from the funder’s perspective and think critically about what makes a compelling pitch. Now, we’re inviting the public to test drive the tool on Candid labs. Simply log in with the credentials provided on the site to get help crafting an LOI, and then share your feedback with us. Your voice is critical to ensuring these tools are designed and built in partnership with our user community.

Candid labs is the place to go to discover the next big thing we are working on. There are more prototypes in the works, and you can continue to help us by testing them as they’re released. Your feedback can shape early-stage ideas into viable solutions that support your work and help refine them as they evolve. Please visit Candid labs to learn more about how to participate.

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About the authors

Sonali Dhume (she/her)

Director of Product Management, Candid
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Sonali is responsible for the product management of Candid’s subscription products such as GuideStar, Charity check, Foundation directory, Maps, Profile updater program as well as Candid’s unified platform. She is a key contributor to strategic direction for our subscription products’ roadmap working to create innovative and engaging features that drive customer acquisition and retention.

Sonali possesses a broad mix of technical and business experience working on global products. She has a strong record of accomplishment in a variety of product, program, and portfolio management roles.

A native of Mumbai, Sonali holds Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics, University of Mumbai, and certifications in both Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO). She now resides in New Jersey and is committed to her community; volunteering at the Metuchen Downtown Alliance to strengthen local small businesses.

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Shane Ward (he/him)

Vice President of Data, Candid
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Shane leads Candid’s data team by setting the priorities for identifying, collecting, enhancing, and distributing the most vital data on the social sector, providing the field with the information they need to fulfill their missions. As Vice President of Data, he oversees the strategic vision for Candid’s data portfolio and the integration of the departments that realize that vision, including Data Science, Data Management, Data Discovery, Business Intelligence, and Insights/Research.

Shane has been with the organization for over 14 years, serving in a variety of roles including Data Engineer, Database Administrator, Data Architect, and Senior Director of Data and Solutions. He has helped the world’s top tech companies implement charitable giving programs, including search engines, online marketplaces, social media platforms, and CRM providers, fueling billions of dollars in donations to nonprofits doing crucial work. Before joining Candid, Shane worked in the technology department at ServiceSource, a nonprofit that helped persons with disabilities find gainful employment. This experience led him to the realization that he wanted to continue a career in the social sector, leading him to Candid to pursue his interest in data, supporting and shaping sector-wide initiatives to enhance its operations and increase efficiency.

Shane has a B.S. in Information Systems from Capella University and multiple industry certifications. He is a U.S. Veteran, having served in the Army, 3^rd Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard.

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Alison Jannette (she/her)

Director of Product Management, Candid
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Alison is a Director of Product Management at Candid, where she leads a team of product managers and solutions engineers responsible for the success of Candid’s APIs and data services products. She has spent her last 3 years in various product management positions at Candid and has led strategic projects like the rebranding of Candid’s API Developer Portal, enabling Apple Pay for Seal of Transparency holders, and providing new ways to access demographic data for free.

Prior to joining Candid, Alison spent her career in financial technology, overseeing the development of developer portals and the next generation of digital financial communication products. Alison holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University.

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