Coastal Intelligence, an AI think tank and consultancy based in Santa Barbara, will present a Nonprofit AI Workshop, Feb. 26-27 at the CEC Hub, 1219 State St., Santa Barbara.

The hands-on workshop is designed to help nonprofit organizations integrate practical artificial intelligence tools into their operations to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and expand mission impact, organizers said.

The focus on the nonprofit sector is a nod to the critical role they play locally and globally, supporting initiatives in environmental sustainability, affordable housing, small business development, economic resilience, food security and more, according to Coastal Intelligence.

“Nonprofits are some of the most innovative and resilient organizations I’ve worked with, but they’re often constrained by time and staff capacity,” said Mike Wald, a founder of Coastal Intelligence.

“AI is not about replacing people; it’s about removing friction,” Wald said. “When nonprofits can automate repetitive tasks, streamline communications, and make better use of their data, they free up their teams to focus on what matters most: delivering measurable impact in their communities.” 

The Nonprofit AI Workshop is structured to address these challenges by equipping teams with AI tools tailored to their specific goals and implementation guidance.

Workshop participants will receive a pre-event organizational assessment. During the session, they receive customized AI coaching aligned to their mission, expert-led training sessions, and tangible deliverables including custom GPT assistants, grant templates, and communications templates, Coastal Intelligence said.

Post-event coaching and implementation guidance are included to support sustained adoption.

To maximize the value to each organization, organizers said the workshop is structured to allow team members of each nonprofit to trade out and attend the sessions that are relevant to their position, such as executive leadership, development, and communications. 

In addition to the full workshop, a free executive briefing, called “AI Readiness for Nonprofits,” will be held 9-11:30 a.m. Feb. 26. The focused introductory session is designed for nonprofit executives and senior leaders.

In partnership with Coastal Intelligence, the Santa Barbara Foundation and Montecito Bank & Trust are hosting the briefing to provide leaders with a practical overview of AI, organizational change management considerations, and responsible adoption strategies.

“What we’re hoping to achieve is that we really help activate more conversation among the nonprofit sector on how to use AI as a tool for achieving their mission,” said Anne Whatley, director of the Collaboration for Social Impact at Santa Barbara Foundation

The executive briefing is intended for leaders seeking clarity on why AI matters to their organization and how to approach implementation thoughtfully.

Those who wish to continue their learning may enroll in the full two-day workshop, where Coastal Intelligence works across the entire nonprofit organization to address barriers, ethics, governance, and develop an actionable, organization-wide AI readiness roadmap, Coastal Intelligence said.

The workshop is being led by Coastal Intelligence founders Jim Sterne, Mark Sylvester and Wald.

Sterne is an international speaker and author focused on generative AI use and adoption.

Sylvester has spent four decades at the intersection of creativity and technology, building software and community platforms, and producing over 175 TEDx events.

Wald is an executive coach, marketer and AI expert, who has helped local and global businesses and nonprofits launch, grow with strategic marketing, and strengthen operations.

Each shareable seat at the workshop is $1,000. Organizations and individuals interested in attending or sponsoring the workshop can find additional details and register online at https://www.coastalintelligence.ai/non-profit-workshop.

For more, email Wald at mike@coastalintelligence.ai.