A free video series has been launched to boost AI skills among charity leaders.
The eight-part series was produced by Zoe Amar, director of Zoe Amar Digital, and developed in collaboration with Microsoft.
The series launch comes after the digital consultancy ran a Charity AI Leadership Accelerator programme in partnership with Microsoft, which was significantly over-subscribed – with more than 400 leaders applying for the 100-place programme.
The consultancy said this demonstrated a “huge appetite from leaders for support with AI to create efficiencies, better support staff and volunteers and enhance service delivery”.
The video series, which is accessible online at Zoe Amar Digital, directly addresses challenges identified by this year’s Charity Digital Skills Report.
While 76 per cent of charities are using AI tools, the sector is facing a “leadership crisis” when it comes to AI skills, the report said. More than a third of charities surveyed said their chief executive had poor AI skills, while 44 per cent said that their board had poor skills in this area.
Each video explores practical approaches that have been tested by charity leaders on the Charity AI Leadership programme and can be easily implemented.
Four of the videos offer insights for small charity leaders, centred on the following topics: strategic questions that small charity leaders should ask about AI; how to lead your board through AI decision-making; building AI confidence in your small charity team; and creating an AI leadership action plan.
The remaining four videos focus on insights for large charities, exploring: how to lead AI strategy in complex charities; how to build AI governance that enables innovation; how to lead AI change management across your charity; and creating a strategic AI roadmap.
Amar said: “Leaders want to improve, which is why the Charity AI Leadership Accelerator programme was so over-subscribed.
“For leaders who missed out on a spot, our new video series will provide a range of expert tips and practical support to help leaders and boards to build more confidence in AI and start bridging the skills gap from the top.”
Kim Lewry, digital delivery senior programme manager at the Royal College of Surgeons, benefited from a place on the accelerator programme.
Lewry said: “During a time of unprecedented technological change at such a fast pace, the accelerator has really brought into focus what we should be prioritising with regards to AI.
“The tools and templates provided were invaluable and provoked some incredibly interesting discussion within our group.”