I’m still buzzing from our “Essential Tech for Nonprofits in 2026” event. We packed 19 experts into 90 minutes, and the “thought bombs” were flying.
If you couldn’t make it, here is a lightning-fast look at the insights shared by our incredible lineup:
- Jason Shim (Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience): Use “Meta-prompting” to make AI a true partner.
- Kelsey Kramer (GivingTuesday): Unlock the $52B generosity gap by de-seasonalizing your asks.
- Tasha Van Vlack (The Nonprofit Hive): Prioritize human connection to avoid “tool burnout.”
- Jessica Rayne (GiveWise Foundation Canada): Mention stocks and DAFs on your site—95% of wealth isn’t in cash!
- Anthony Wilson (Zidho): Use digital exercises to democratize board meetings.
- Laurie Hochman (Auctria): Try a “Dessert Dash” to gamify your live event fundraising.
- Stephen Lavery: AI is only as good as your data hygiene and CRM “spring training.”
- David Pisarek (Wow Digital): Stop pushing donors away with poor mobile UX.
- Lawal Shakiru (Technology Helps): Cybersecurity is a “people and process” responsibility, not just a tech one.
- Lars Helgeson (GreenRope): Scale your impact through hyper-personalized donor journeys.
- Aya Cherkaoui (NORD Consulting): Use financial proxies to prove your Social ROI.
- Charles Buchanan (Technology Helps): As AI floods the web, your unique “human soul” is your competitive edge.
- Daryl Oberg (AYD Internet Marketing): Maximize the $10k Google Ad Grant to reach global supporters.
- Deepa Chaudhary (GrantOrb): Use autonomous AI agents to find grants while you sleep.
- Dennis Powers (Cheeky Monkey Media): Avoid the “speed tax” by making small, monthly website improvements.
- Mina Demian (Grants-Ease AI): Shift from manual drafting to strategic grant management with AI.
- Trisha Neogi & Steph Bergman (Bright + Early): Build trust with clear AI Protection Statements for your team.
- Steve Anderson (New/Mode): Supporters are moving—pay attention to Bluesky and WhatsApp.
- Sophie Bujold (CliqueWorthy): Stop building an audience and start building “belonging.”
A huge thank you to every presenter for sharing their brilliance. You can find the full event replay and a deeper dive into all 19 topics on our blog:
Elijah van der Giessen 