AI is Inevitable. The Risk is Inaction.

Protect your mission, earn your team’s trust, and stay ahead of risk with policy development designed for nonprofit boards and leadership teams.

Reduce
Risk

Build board-approved policies you can stand behind.

Empower Your Team

Give staff permission to use AI responsibly and ethically

Learn Together

Something about co-learning

UNSURE WHERE TO START?

Join the AI Policy Lab

Designed for Nonprofit Leaders Who Are Ready to Act

Board Chairs
Executive Directors and CEOs

C-Suite Officers (COO, CHRO, CIO, etc.)

Program + Comms Directors using AI in daily work

HR heads responsible for compliance

A Human-Centered Process

Our Policy Development Service is a structured, five-phase, human-centered process that guides your executive team and board—along with staff—through learning, drafting, and implementation. This process is best leveraged with a combination of in-person and virtual engagement with our team but can be adapted for a fully virtual experience if needed.

Learn & Discover

Establish baseline knowledge while listening and assessing where your team stands.

Custom
Draft

Write policies aligned to your unique mission, values, and operational needs. No tech jargon.

Review & Feedback

Manage change with guided equity checks, stakeholder input gathering, and legal review.

Alignment & Approval

Creating alignment across your board, executive team and staff ensuring formal approval.

Launch & Support

Support rollout and internal adoption. We stick with you all the way through.

We understand that nonprofits operate in a complex and evolving regulatory environment. Our process ensures your Generative AI Policy aligns with leading frameworks and standards, including:

NIST AI Risk Management Framework — Emphasizing risk management, accountability, and transparency

EU Artificial Intelligence Act — Considering compliance requirements and ethical use in international contexts

Microsoft Responsible AI Standard — Supporting principles like fairness, inclusiveness, and reliability

Google Secure AI Framework — Integrating security, privacy, and data stewardship into your policy

FAQ's

Most nonprofit boards are behind when it comes to AI—and they know it. We’ve worked with board members who are deeply committed to mission and governance, but they’re often underexposed to the pace of AI adoption. What they do understand is the risk. And for many, that leads to fear:

“What if we approve something we don’t understand?”
“What if it opens us up to liability?”
“What if it changes the way people trust our work?”

These concerns are valid. But resisting AI won’t protect your organization—thoughtful leadership will. We don’t ask boards to become tech experts. We invite them into a foundational understanding of what AI is, how it’s already showing up, and how to lead responsibly. Our process gives your board a clear framework, permission to ask honest questions, and the confidence to approve a policy that keeps your mission protected and your team empowered.

Because here’s the truth: AI isn’t going away. But with the right guardrails in place, it doesn’t have to derail your values or your strategy. We help boards move from anxiety to agency—with clarity, not overwhelm.

That’s what most leaders say—until they take a closer look. The truth is, AI is already embedded in nearly every tool your organization uses: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, donor systems like Donorbox, CRM platforms like HubSpot, and even your cell phone’s voice assistant or search history.

Avoiding tools like ChatGPT or Copilot doesn’t mean your organization isn’t using AI. It likely means your use is invisible, untracked, or happening without policy or permission—which is where risk begins.

“The pace of progress keeps catching people off guard. Leaders need to get ahead of it—so AI enhances your culture, not rewrites it.”
— Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

Across hundreds of conversations with nonprofit leaders, we’ve heard a consistent pattern: staff are already using AI—but quietly. Without guidance, that silence becomes a liability. And yet, many organizations remain unprepared:

“85% of organizations expect AI to transform their business models within the next three years—but only 30% feel prepared to manage the associated risks.” — World Economic Forum

Now is the time to name what’s already happening—and to shape it.

“There’s an urgent need for serious reflection and ongoing discussion on the inherently ethical dimension of AI, as well as its responsible governance.”
— Pope Francis (via Vatican AI reflection)

You don’t need to fear AI—but you do need to lead through it.

We believe that access to high-quality, mission-focused services shouldn’t depend on the size of your budget. That’s why we offer sliding scale pricing for organizations that:

Are small but mighty — especially those serving overlooked, diminished, or marginalized populations.
Are led by people of color, LGBTQIA+ leaders, or leaders with accessibility challenges.
Prioritize community impact and equity in their own work.

We’re committed to ensuring that every organization—no matter their size or background—has the same opportunity to benefit from our support. If this resonates with you, reach out. Let’s have a conversation about how we can work together to support your mission without financial barriers.

Your staff are already using AI—whether you’ve approved it or not. Even in highly regulated environments like universities, where AI use is discouraged or taboo, staff quietly lean on these tools to save time, test ideas, and get work done. In the nonprofit world, it’s no different. We hear it every week:

“I use it, but I don’t tell anyone.”
“I only use it at home.”
“I’m worried someone will find out.”

This is what we call ghost mode—and it’s a cultural liability. You can’t manage what you haven’t named. Creating a policy isn’t about control—it’s about safety, clarity, and unleashing aligned innovation. When you bring usage out of the shadows and into the light, you empower your team to use the best tools available to make the biggest impact for your mission.

At The Collaborative Collective, we believe policy should create cultures of permission, responsibility, and co-learning. It’s not about saying "yes" or "no" to AI—it’s about setting thoughtful boundaries that help your team lead with integrity, protect your mission, and stay accountable to your values.

Let’s help your staff move from ghost mode into bold, ethical leadership.

At The Collaborative Collective, we're more than consultants — we’re your partners in navigating AI’s promise and pitfalls. To be clear, we are not engineers or overly technical experts. We’re nonprofit executives who know how to guide boards and executive teams through innovation, balancing reality with risk management and governance.

We understand that successful AI governance isn’t just about technology; it’s about empowering the people who live your mission every day. We help you build trust, engage your team, and develop policies that make sense for your culture — not just the latest tech trends.

When you work with us, you get more than policy expertise. You get nonprofit leaders who know how to translate intentions and needs into action and results — even in complex, nuanced, or politically challenging environments. We help you turn technology into a missional win, strengthening your organization’s impact and resilience.