State of Nonprofit AI Adoption and Governance

Nonprofits and NGOs carry a distinct set of priorities, constraints, and relationships with the communities they serve, and those differences shape how AI fits into their work. The State of Nonprofit AI, produced by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group, was developed to measure the sector's approach to AI on its own terms.

917 nonprofit staff and executives from the U.S. and around the world responded to the survey in the summer of 2026. Staff and executives were asked many of the same questions, with their answers compared directly throughout the report, producing a picture of adoption, governance, and training as the sector currently experiences it.

The report is relevant for anyone shaping how their organization approaches AI — executive directors and boards weighing where to invest, staff advocating for clearer guidance, funders deciding where support is most needed, and researchers tracking how the sector is adapting in real time.

Access the report by signing in with a free NTEN account. Below, find graphics with key charts from the survey to help you share the findings, as well as an interest form for distribution partners who would like to share this report with their network and include them in future versions of this survey.

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Selected charts

Find a selection of charts below with key findings from the report. Right click to download and save the images.

How often do you use AI in your day-to-day work? 8.1 Aggregate responses (n=723) % Never 6.78% Rarely (less than once a month) 8.30% Occasionally (about once a month) 10.51% Regularly (about once a week) 29.05% Daily or more 45.37% Data sourced from the 2026 State of Nonprofit Al Adoption and Governance report by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group.

Regarding foundational AI capacity and infrastructure, what is the current status at your organization? 15.1 Executive responses (n=404) Not in place In development In place now Not sure Budget designated specifically for AI 57.21% 22.64% 16.92% 3.23% Training for staff on how to use our AI tools effectively 36.82% 43.53% 18.41% 1.24% Sufficient tools or infrastructure to use and deploy AI (e.g., cloud storage, data pipelines, APIs, or computing resources) 28.29% 40.20% 24.32% 7.20% Data is organized enough to support AI use (clean, accurate, accessible) 23.69% 47.13% 23.94% 5.24% Staff with technology and AI capability and responsibility 24.25% 41.00% 32.50% 2.25% Data sourced from the 2026 State of Nonprofit Al Adoption and Governance report by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group.

Regarding AI governance and risk management, what is the current status at your organization? 16.1 Executive responses (n=404) Not in place In development In place now Not sure Staff training on safe and responsible AI use 33.33% 43.53% 21.64% 1.49% A plan for managing and mitigating AI-related risks 30.52% 45.41% 21.84% 2.23% A process to approve AI tools and vendors 36.66% 31.17% 30.42% 1.75% A named owner or group responsible for AI oversight 30.77% 26.05% 42.18% 0.99% Rules on what data can and cannot be entered into AI tools 25.81% 33.00% 39.95% 1.24% Written guidance on safe and responsible AI use 22.64% 37.81% 38.56% 1.00% Data sourced from the 2026 State of Nonprofit Al Adoption and Governance report by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group.

33.1 Staff responses (n=264) % Learning by using AI tools myself (hands-on experimentation) 78.03% News outlets or journalism 63.26% Professional associations, conferences, or webinars 58.71% Colleagues or coworkers 54.55% Online forums or blogs (e.g., Reddit) 46.59% Friends or personal network 46.21% AI companies (e.g., vendor blogs, product documentation) 45.83% Social media (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, X / Twitter, LinkedIn) 37.50% Videos or digital media (e.g., YouTube, podcasts) 35.98% Formal research (e.g., academic research, research institutes) 35.23% Books 15.53% Independent online courses 11.4% Data sourced from the 2026 State of Nonprofit Al Adoption and Governance report by NTEN and The Bridgespan Group.

About the partners

NTEN is a nonprofit capacity-building organization providing community programs, training, and research to support the equitable and skillful use of technology in missions and movements.

The Bridgespan Group consults with nonprofits, NGOs, donors, and investors to advance learning and accelerate the impact of their work and philanthropy.

If you have questions about this report, please email us at editor@nten.org.

Distribution partners

The State of Nonprofit AI will run as an annual survey of nonprofit staff and executives across the U.S. and around the world. As we release this year's report, we're looking for partners to help distribute next year's survey to your membership, networks, or broader audience.

In return, you'll be credited as a distribution partner in the 2027 report, and you'll receive the disaggregated data from every respondent you bring in, to help you analyze your own network's AI adoption and governance trends.