There’s a new stat doing the rounds in the charity sector, and it’s worth paying attention to.
A recent survey by Access found that just 29% of charity workers are using AI tools like ChatGPT regularly at work. That puts the sector dead last among the 12 industries surveyed. Even health and social care, often just as stretched in terms of resources, came in slightly higher at 30%.
At first glance, that might suggest charities are reluctant to embrace change. But that doesn’t quite add up.
Because the same research shows something else: 73% of charity workers think AI could have a positive impact on their organisation. And among those already using it, the benefits are tangible:
- 60% say it helps reduce workloads
- Almost half report improved productivity
- Around 1 in 3 say it saves money
- Over a quarter say it improves service and frees up time to focus on what really matters
So if the belief in AI is there, and the early results are promising, why is uptake still so low?
1. It’s not about attitude. It’s about access.
From what we’re seeing at Fundin, the issue isn’t fear. It’s fatigue.
Charities are already stretched thin. Many are operating with small teams, legacy systems, and limited capacity for experimentation. Adding something new, even something potentially game-changing, can feel like another burden rather than a lifeline.
Most of the people we speak to don’t need convincing that AI is useful. They need help figuring out where to start, how to do it safely, and whether they have the time to do it at all.
It’s not resistance. It’s realism.
2. There’s a knowledge gap, and that’s okay.
Let’s be honest: AI can feel like a black box, especially for teams without in-house tech support.
There’s jargon, hype, and more tools than anyone can reasonably keep up with. That’s intimidating when your day-to-day is already focused on frontline services, safeguarding, fundraising, or simply keeping things running.
The result? Many teams stick with what they know, even if what they know is slow, manual, or frustrating, because there’s no obvious, low-risk pathway into something new.
That’s a challenge. But also an opportunity.
3. The sector has the most to gain.
Unlike many industries, charities don’t have efficiency for efficiency’s sake. When you save time or money in a nonprofit, it often means more service delivered, more support given, more people reached.
That makes the potential upside of AI even more powerful. A good prompt in ChatGPT might save you an hour on a funding application. An automated tool might mean responding to more beneficiaries in less time. A language model might help you write clearer, more inclusive messaging.
This isn’t just about shiny tech, it’s about making room for human work to shine.
And ironically, the very things holding charities back (tight budgets, limited teams, lack of digital infrastructure) are the same things that make the case for AI. If used well, it’s a multiplier. A quiet revolution in capacity.
4. So how do we move forward?
There’s no single fix. But here’s what we think can help:
- Start small
You don’t need a full digital strategy to get value from AI. Try a tool like ChatGPT to summarise a report, brainstorm ideas for a campaign, or draft the first line of a funding proposal. Get a feel for what it can (and can’t) do. - Share what’s working
The more we talk about AI in plain English, and show examples grounded in real charity work, the faster the whole sector learns. We need stories more than strategies right now. - Build trust
AI can’t replace good judgment, lived experience, or deep relationships with communities. But it can support the people doing that work, if we make it safe, transparent, and values-aligned. - Design with charity teams in mind
That’s why at Fundin, we’re building tools that work out of the box. No steep learning curve. No extra burden on already busy teams. Just real-time, practical help for people who are doing brilliant work under pressure.
AI isn’t the future. It’s the present. And while charities may be slower to adopt it, they have the most to gain when they do. Let’s not leave the sector behind. Let’s give it the tools to lead. If you’re curious how we’re helping charities explore AI safely and simply, feel free to get in touch.
