Key Takeaways from AWS Nonprofit Generative AI Week 2025
Key Takeaways from AWS Nonprofit Generative AI Week 2025
Nonprofits face constant pressure to do more with less. Today, 85,000 organizations worldwide use Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help meet that challenge. Increasingly, these organizations are leveraging generative AI to translate educational materials, provide 24/7 cancer support, analyze environmental data, and more.
On October 6–9, 2025, AWS hosted AWS Nonprofit Generative AI Week, a four-day virtual experience for nonprofit professionals across all roles and experience levels. The event explored ethical AI practices, nonprofit-specific use cases, and hands-on implementation guidance. This article summarizes the six featured sessions—and all the content from these sessions is now available on demand.
A Common Theme: Start Small, Scale with Intent
Across all six sessions, a consistent message was clear: Nonprofits can achieve results without large-scale AI initiatives. Experts recommend beginning with focused, manageable projects to demonstrate value quickly.
“It’s not about chasing shiny tools or doing AI for the sake of it,” said Tanuja Korlepra, chief technology officer of Bonterra. She emphasized the importance of identifying the business problem first. This sentiment was echoed by Scott Morris, chief technology officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), who shared a success story about a summer intern utilizing Amazon SageMaker to enhance regulatory reviews.
Whether building chatbots or exploring agentic AI, speakers highlighted the importance of proof-of-concept projects, celebrating early wins, and iterative learning. For example, small projects like improving a single workflow can lead to greater efficiency and innovation in your organization.
Session Highlights: Learning from Nonprofit Innovators
The following sessions highlighted real-world implementations from various sectors, showcasing how organizations amplify their missions without massive budgets or large technical teams.
Getting Started with Generative AI for Nonprofits
AWS solutions architects Rafia Tapia and Fiona McCann introduced core generative AI concepts, focusing on their specific impacts for nonprofits. They outlined how generative AI evolves from basic AI through machine learning and deep learning, with foundational models powering today’s tools.
Key benefits include efficient content creation, increased productivity, and faster turnaround. Tapia noted, "Something that used to take me a few weeks to write now takes me literally hours." Choosing the right model remains a common challenge; the advice given was to “work backwards from your problem” to find the solution that best fits your needs.
Real-World Case Studies in Mission Impact
During this session, nonprofit leaders discussed their generative AI journeys, underscoring that success comes from aligning with business strategy rather than technology alone.
Rebecca Chandler Leege, CEO of Worldreader, demonstrated how her organization translated its extensive library into multiple languages, creating tailored reading activities for families. Miko Santos from the International Myeloma Foundation shared how they built Myelo, an AI chatbot, which rapidly addressed 20,000 user inquiries. Brian McGarvey, of the Marine Science Foundation, described using generative AI to analyze underwater acoustic data for reef health assessments. McGarvey emphasized that generative AI can act as “a virtual set of extra people that you didn’t know you had.”
Launching AI Projects with Limited Resources
Nonprofits don’t require large staffs or budgets to leverage AI tools; they need the right partnerships and a clear mission.
During a panel discussion, AWS Partners such as Slalom and Protagana reiterated that aligning mission with AI solutions is critical. “Why is AI the tool to solve your problem?" Amy Whittaker from Slalom prompted attendees to assess their purpose and its link to business goals. Participants stressed the importance of starting small and scaling over time, debunking myths about needing extensive resources.
Generative AI Use Cases for Nonprofit Financial Organizations
NAIC’s technological transformation involved shifting from on-premises solutions to cloud-based applications and now to AI. Morris remarked that partnerships, particularly with the Generative AI Innovation Center, have been a “game changer” for their AI initiatives.
NAIC is leveraging Amazon Bedrock, a secure platform for building generative AI applications. They deployed chatbots to enhance employee productivity and are innovating a tool to expedite insurance product filing reviews. Morris expressed excitement about the potential of agentic AI to further automate regulatory processes.
Hands-On Technical Workshops
Two interactive workshops focused on building agentic AI solutions, illustrating how accessible this technology can be.
Build with Bedrock Agents
Agentic AI evolutions enable systems to make decisions and take actions autonomously. AWS solutions architects showcased how to develop a Bedrock agent for a fictional investment firm, AnyCompany. In this scenario, the agent autonomously gathered and summarized data, demonstrating its utility in decision-making processes.
Each step was thoroughly outlined, from setting up Amazon S3 buckets to connecting services via AWS Lambda. This walkthrough showcased how Amazon Bedrock agents come fully equipped with powerful AI models.
Build with Strands Agents API
For developers seeking more control, the Strands Agents API provides a code-first, customizable solution. Senior architects demonstrated how Strands Agents allows for agent development with minimal coding. “Our primary goal was to lower the barrier of entry for developers,” stated Ivo Janssen, emphasizing its efficiency for those looking to innovate within their organizations.
Resources and Next Steps
All six sessions from Nonprofit Generative AI Week 2025 are now available to watch anytime. Review the key takeaways and revisit insightful moments to support practical adoption in your organization.
For those considering how generative AI might enhance their mission, the Amazon Bedrock documentation offers guidance on implementation. Additionally, the getting started guide for nonprofits provides tailored resources and programs. Eligible nonprofits can apply for AWS promotional credits through the AWS Nonprofit Credit Program to help offset AI initiative costs.
If you have specific questions about the sessions or wish to start a conversation on deploying generative AI to enhance your organization’s impact, please connect with our dedicated nonprofit team.