Workshop
Why building an AI plan is about people, not just technology
CHSSN
If you’ve felt a bit overwhelmed by the constant chatter around AI lately, you’re certainly not alone. For those of us working in community organizations across Quebec, the conversation often feels like it’s happening in a language that doesn’t quite translate to our daily reality. We’re used to focusing on people, community, and trust, so a tool that feels "artificial" can naturally raise some red flags.
At CHSSN, it is important that our partners have access to the right resources to navigate these changes safely. It has become clear that the most successful teams aren’t the ones with the biggest tech budgets. Instead, they’re the ones who treat AI as a practical tool for service rather than a shiny new toy.
Our partners at Third Wunder are hosting a webinar specifically designed for our network to help clear up the confusion.
Webinar details
- Event: Building an AI Plan for Non-Profits
- Date: March 5, 2026
- Time: 11:30 AM EST
- Host: Third Wunder
- Register for the webinar here
What the webinar covers
Third Wunder designed this session to be a grounded, common-sense look at the hurdles non-profits face. The session moves past the abstract talk to show a simple way to build a plan that actually fits your team’s capacity. You’ll learn how to identify your best use cases, how to set up essential security boundaries, and where to look for Canadian training grants to cover the costs of learning these new skills.
Whether you’re just starting to look at these tools or you’re trying to bring more structure to how your team already uses them, this session provides a clear roadmap. Here is a look at the core pillars of a solid AI plan.
Focus on the small wins first
A common mistake in our sector is trying to do too much at once. You don’t need to reinvent your entire organization to see the benefits of these tools. The best place to start is by looking at the tasks that currently drain your team’s energy.
Think about the time spent on drafting outreach materials, summarizing long meeting notes, or organizing data for monthly reports. These are repetitive administrative burdens that often pull staff away from direct community work. By using AI to create a first draft or to structure notes, you isn’t replacing the human element. It’s simply giving staff more time to focus on the parts of their job that require empathy and personal connection.
Guardrails are a sign of respect
Trust is the most valuable currency for any non-profit. Your donors and community members share their stories and data with you because they believe you’ll protect it. This is why a solid AI plan must start with security.
Building "guardrails" sounds technical, but it’s really just about setting clear internal rules. It means deciding, as a team, what information should never be put into an AI tool and how you’ll double-check everything the tool produces. When these boundaries are in place, a team can use these tools with confidence, knowing they aren’t accidentally compromising the privacy of the people they serve.
Finding the support to move forward
It’s common for organizations to want to learn these new skills but worry about the cost of training. It’s important to recognize that no one has to figure this out in a vacuum. There are often Canadian training grants available to help non-profits cover the costs of bringing in experts to train their staff.
Learning how to navigate these grants is a key part of making an AI plan sustainable. It ensures that your team stays up to date without putting a strain on your core programming budget.
We hope you’ll join this conversation on March 5. It’s a chance to ask questions to the Third Wunder team and talk through these challenges with other peers in the network who are in the same boat.
