Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Leveraging Generative AI for Social Impact Organizations
What You'll Learn
- Understand key capabilities of generative AI that would benefit social impact organizations
- Identify specific generative AI applications you can adopt in your social impact organizations
- Learn the potential limitations and ethical implications that using AI could have for your organization and other social impact organizations
5 Modules
5 Hours
1 hr per module (approx.)
Rating
About Leveraging Generative AI for Social Impact Organizations
Leveraging Generative AI for Social Impact Organizations focuses on the issue of resource scarcity commonly faced by social impact organizations and how generative AI tools can help free up limited staff capacity from routine administrative tasks. Social impact organizations often find themselves overwhelmed by repeatedly responding to common inquiries, data management and documentation needs, and other basic functions that limit their ability to fully devote time to core programming and service delivery. In this course, you’ll learn concrete examples of how AI could improve efficiency in areas like automatically answering frequently asked questions, converting information requests into readable reports, or drafting, designing, and distributing communications materials. Gain insight into key opportunities to leverage AI to expand your organization’s bandwidth for mission-critical activities. The course also explores the limitations and ethical considerations of relying on generative AI versus human judgment and nuanced interactions in social programming.
Skills You'll Gain
- AI Innovation
- Data Presentation
- Ethical AI
- Generative AI Agents
- Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Project Management
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Leveraging Generative AI for Social Impact Organizations, a practical course exploring how generative AI can increase efficiency and mission impact. Learners examine real-world use cases, strategy development, and ethical considerations while creating an AI strategy plan tailored to social impact work.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Getting Started
- Reading: Introduction to the Course
- Reading: Help Us Learn About You!
- Video: Introduction & Importance
- Video: Tips to Get Started - Part 1
- Reading: Activity: Play with Generative AI
- Video: Tips to Get Started - Part 2
- Reading: AI Strategies for Social Impact Organizations
- Reading: Begin your AI Strategy Plan
- Reading: Where to Learn More (Optional)
- Graded: Module 1 Quiz
Module 2: Content Generation & Creation
- Video: Content Generation
- Reading: Putting AI Content Generation Into Practice: Sample Prompts for Social Impact Organizations
- Graded Assignment: Practice with the Prompting Guide
- Reading: Introduction to Gamut Gallery Tool
- Reading: Where to Learn More (Optional)
- Graded: Iterate on your AI Strategy Plan
- Graded: Module 2 Quiz
Module 3: AI Workflow & Content Management
- Video: Challenges Integrating AI Into Workflows
- Video: Strategies to Integrate AI Into Workflows - Part 1
- Video: Strategies to Integrate AI Into Workflows - Part 2
- Reading: Activity: Creating a Prompt Catalog
- Reading: Where to Learn More (Optional)
- Graded: Module 3 Quiz
Module 4: Upskilling & Improvement
- Video: Upskilling & Improvement
- Reading: Mining Your Organization's Wisdom
- Reading: Upskilling Practice Activity
- Reading: Activity: Planning for Upskilling in Your AI Strategy Plan
- Graded: Module 4 Quiz
Module 5: Considerations for Ethical Use
- Video: Ethical Considerations - Part 1
- Video: Ethical Considerations - Part 2
- Reading: Expanding the Understanding of Local Language Models
- Reading: Podcast: Why Nonprofits Must Focus on Beneficial and Responsible AI
- Reading: Where to Learn More (Optional)
- Reading: Post-Course Survey
- Reading: Continue your AI education with the AI Collection from Michigan Online
- Graded: Considering Ethics in your AI Strategy Plan
- Graded: Module 5 Quiz
Grading Policy
Learners must earn an overall grade of 80% to pass. Quizzes are worth 50% of your final grade, and the AI Strategy Plan is worth 50%.
Professor of Social Work
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
This course will strongly benefit those in social impact organizations, though no specific background is required.
What Learners Are Saying
One of the foremost strengths of [GenAI tools] is their ability to create diverse and rich content. This is especially beneficial for social impact organizations aiming to communicate their mission, engage with various stakeholders, and amplify their advocacy efforts.
Brian Perron Professor, University of Michigan School of Social Work
