Sacramento nonprofit’s program helps ‘build a solution’ for organizations with AI

A Sacramento-area nonprofit organization is working to help other nonprofits use artificial intelligence to make the most of their resources and time.

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Through Sacramento Venture Philanthropy’s initiative AI For Good, a weeklong hackathon program matches AI engineers with local nonprofits to “develop AI-powered tools that address real organizational challenges,” according to a release.

“Throughout the week, volunteer builder teams work with each organization to design and build a working AI tool suited to its specific needs,” the release said.

Local nonprofits in the program include ABLED, which provides support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; A Touch of Understanding, which provides disability awareness programs; The Alliance, which serves vulnerable children and families; Lionheart Community, which provides support and activities for people with spinal cord injuries; Rebuilding Together, which provides home improvement services; and Single Mom Strong, which provides educational programs for single mothers and their children.

Haylie Runner, a marketing and communications intern with Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, said the program is intended to help nonprofits increase their capacity and save time on more mundane tasks.

Read more Sacramento nonprofit’s program helps ‘build a solution’ for organizations with AI

“AI can be a solution for any kind of problem,” Runner said.

The solutions focus on improving things like “practicality, accessibility and sustainability,” Runner said, including automating workflows and extracting data.

Nonprofits will debut their tools at the capstone AI and philanthropy luncheon on Friday at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova, according to the release.

“This luncheon is really a celebration of what’s possible when builders, funders, community leaders, and nonprofits show up for each other in the same room,” Brad Squires, CEO of Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, said in the release. “Six local nonprofits are walking away from this week with real AI tools built specifically for them, and we can’t wait for our community to see the results.”

The event is sponsored by the city of Rancho Cordova and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, along with AI company Human Machine Collaboration Institute, business consulting firm Ledgent Technology and software company OpenGrants, according to the release.

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