February 26, 2026

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Nonprofit AI Adoption Hits 92%, But Only 7% See Major Impact

by Amanda L. Cole

Nonprofit artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has become nearly universal, but meaningful transformation remains rare.

A new benchmark study from Virtuous and Fundraising.AI finds that 92% of nonprofits are using AI tools in some capacity, yet just 7% report major improvements in their organizational capability — a gap described as an “efficiency plateau.”

Researchers behind "The 2026 Nonprofit AI Adoption Report" surveyed 346 nonprofits in late 2025 to assess how AI is being used and whether that use is translating into measurable fundraising gains.

“The question isn’t whether nonprofits should use AI,” Gabe Cooper, CEO and founder of Virtuous, said in a statement. “I think that debate is largely settled. The real question is how quickly nonprofit teams are adopting AI and fundamentally re-thinking their workflows. Our data shows most organizations are still in the early innings with AI: one person using ChatGPT to help draft an appeal, while the rest of the team is still buried in manual processes and disconnected systems. That’s not a strategy. It’s a workaround.”

Widespread AI Use, Limited Transformation

Nearly four in five respondents report small to moderate improvements from AI use. Those gains tend to show up in faster drafts, quicker research, and improved content quality — valuable efficiencies for time-strapped teams, but largely incremental.

Only 7% say AI has led to major strategic impact, such as doubling prospect research capacity or reallocating staff time from execution to strategy.

How organizations describe their use helps explain the plateau.” Sixty-five percent characterize their AI use as reactive and individual, such as one-off prompts and personal experimentation. Just 18% report operational use across team workflows, and only 7% say AI is embedded into goals, budgets, and performance indicators.

AI Readiness Gaps Limit Impact

If adoption is high but transformation is limited, the difference appears to come down to organizational readiness. The barrier is not access to AI tools but the absence of shared systems around them.

Eighty-one percent of organizations report using AI individually and on an ad hoc basis, while only 4% say they have documented, repeatable workflows. In practice...Read more...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

The Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance Foundation has named non-profit leader Carrie VanDerzee its Executive Director.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

ArtsWave has awarded $160,726 through 30 Catalyzing Impact grants to support a wide range of arts and cultural projects that bring people together, amplify local voices, and strengthen communities across the region. Funded by thousands of community gifts, the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program supports new and expanded projects that advance ArtsWave’s vision for a more vibrant, connected, and creative region. Visit here for more information about ArtsWave and its community impact.

Talbert House is proud to announce the opening of a new Child Wellness Campus in Hamilton County, offering a safe, short-term, therapeutic program for youth in crisis. Serving young people ages 12–18 with complex behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs, the campus will provide care while keeping them close to their families, schools, and communities.

Aviatra Accelerators hosted its third annual Galentine's Gala Fashion Show & Fundraiser on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Held at the historic Woodward Theater in Over-the-Rhine, the event celebrated and supported entrepreneurial women through a paddle raise, silent auction and other fundraising activities. The Galentine’s Gala raised nearly $30,000. The paddle raise and silent auction garnered funds for scholarships that will be awarded to women entrepreneurs later this year.

Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship (CTRH) is proud to announce a generous $75,000 grant from the L&L Nippert Foundation to support its equine-assisted services for children and adults with disabilities across Greater Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Animal CARE, the Hamilton County animal shelter & resource center and sole provider of animal services for the county, is launching a special "Lonely Hearts Club" adoption promotion this weekend, offering waived adoption fees for dogs and cats six months of age and older from Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1. For more information and to view adoptable animals, visit here.

One of Cincinnati’s most uniquely spirited traditions returns Saturday, March 7, as runners lace up for the Bockfest 5K at The Banks, kicking off a weekend celebration of spring, brewing heritage, and community.The 3.1-mile race begins at 10:00am and winds through downtown Cincinnati before finishing near Moerlein Lager House. To register for the Bockfest 5K at The Banks or learn more, visit here.

Lindner Center of Hope will host its bi-annual Community Education Day, a half-day workshop designed to increase awareness of mental health and wellness, encourage open conversation, and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, on May 3. The event features a keynote presentation and multiple breakout sessions led by clinicians and experts. Find additional information and registration here.

Cincinnati Magazine's annual Best Restaurants event is set for March 9 at Newport Car Barn. The event celebrates the Queen City's talented and dedicated restauranteurs and chefs, uplifting both the city's very best and community favorites.

FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES

Zonta Club of Cincinnati is now accepting Spring 2026 Grant Applications. Greater Cincinnati based not-for-profit organizations may apply for grant awards ranging in the amount from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $2,000 per funding cycle. The organization preferably is an IRS 501(c)3, local to the Cincinnati or Greater Cincinnati area and the majority of clients served by the organization must be women or girls. Grant Applications are due on or before April 1, 2026.

Join the Interact for Health team on Thursday, March 5, 10:00am – 11:00am. for a virtual conversation about our strategy and what to expect from our grantmaking efforts in 2026. Find more information and registration here.

Elevar Fund's Open Call for Applications - deadline March 15, 2026. From early-stage support to established organizations facing a critical moment or looking to expand, we welcome hearing about how we can support creative solutions to today’s challenges. We invite proposals from existing 501(c)(3) organizations based in the Dayton and Cincinnati region. Our focus areas - Regenerative Agriculture & Environmental Concerns, Immigrant & Refugee Support Services, Entrepreneurship & Invention, Education & the Arts Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $10,000. To learn more and apply, visit our website: www.elevarfund.org

Spectrum will award $1 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants in 2026, bringing the program’s total investment to more than $12 million since 2017. Spectrum Digital Education partners with local nonprofits to help community members build their digital skills and access the tools and devices they need to succeed in their education, careers and everyday lives. Nonprofits can learn more and apply between February 2 and February 27.

A Spring 2026 class at NKU will look at occupational therapy intervention and program planning for group and activity development. We are looking for community partners to help us teach our students. We would like to invite applications from nonprofits (or programs within nonprofits) that are focused on supporting psychosocial support and group opportunities towards building a stronger community. One agency will be selected by the students to receive a $2,000 grant to support the implementation of an occupational therapy-psychosocial health and wellness site objectives. Find more information here or contact Angela Boyd at boyda9@nku.edu.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Register now for the Administrative Assistant Advantage, February 27, 1:00pm EST. Administrative Assistants are often the unsung heroes of the workplace—ensuring operations run smoothly, deadlines are met, and communication stays on point. But the fast pace, high expectations, and constant multitasking can quickly lead to stress and overwhelm if not managed with the right tools and mindset. In this engaging and practical webinar, communication expert Pamela Jett provides administrative professionals with a powerful toolkit for navigating the demands of this pressure-filled role with confidence, clarity, and competence.

Start your morning with a meaningful connection at Coffee & Connection, Wednesday, March 18, 9:30am-11:30am. This is a casual networking meetup designed to bring Community Shares members together in a relaxed, welcoming space. There’s no agenda and no pressure, just open conversation, idea-sharing, relationship-building, and the chance to learn what others are working on across our network. RSVP or learn more here.

The 2026 Cincinnati Nonprofit Capital Project Symposium will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 8:00am-12:00pm at the Fairfield Civitan Club. This half-day, in-person event is designed for nonprofit leaders, board members, funders, and professional partners navigating capital projects such as facility expansions, renovations, or new construction. Through three expert-led panel discussions, the symposium will explore organizational readiness, capital planning and execution, and long-term operational sustainability. More information and registration details are available here.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Pones is looking for passionate, equity-minded leaders to join our Board of Directors. The ideal candidate would have experience in one or more of these areas: Lobbying/Advocacy at the Local, Regional, State, or Federal Policy Level, Legal Issues, Financial Oversight, Data Analysis, Risk Management, Grant Writing, Corporate Sponsorship Connections, Programming Knowledge of Dance & Arts Education. Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Click here to share your contact info and answer a few brief questions, and someone from the Pones team will be in touch with you soon.

When leaders doing it all become the bottleneck

Many nonprofit leaders pride themselves on being able to do it all. In the early stages, that do-it-all approach is often necessary. But as organizations grow, what once fueled momentum can quietly undermine nonprofit capacity.

What are your nonprofit's priorities and goals for 2026? Ready to make 2026 count? Nonprofit leaders share their top goals and strategies for impact in the year ahead.

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