AI Policy for Nonprofits Certificate
Intro to AI Policy for Nonprofits
July 15, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m.| $10*
Curious about responsible AI for nonprofits? Join our live introductory class to learn why AI governance matters and what you'll gain from the full certificate program. During this one-hour session, you'll receive an overview of today's AI landscape, explore common opportunities and risks facing nonprofit organizations, and preview the practical frameworks you'll learn throughout the certificate program. You'll also have the opportunity to meet the instructor and ask questions.
*If you enroll in the AI Policy for Nonprofits Certificate after attending this introductory class, your $10 registration fee will be applied toward your tuition. Instead of paying the full $39 course tuition, you'll pay just $29.
Register for the Intro to AI Policy for NonprofitsDevelop the Skills to Lead Responsible AI Adoption in Your Organization
AI is transforming how nonprofit organizations operate, from fundraising and communications to program delivery and administrative tasks. But as AI adoption grows, so does the need for clear policies, ethical guidelines, and effective governance.
The AI Policy for Nonprofits Certificate equips nonprofit professionals with the knowledge and practical tools to develop responsible AI policies tailored to mission-driven organizations. Through six self-paced online modules, you'll learn how to assess organizational readiness, create AI governance frameworks, manage risk, and implement AI responsibly within your organization. By the end, you'll be better prepared to lead responsible AI initiatives in your organization.
Developed in collaboration with the UNITE Collaborative Intelligence Lab, this certificate combines academic expertise with real-world application to help nonprofit professionals confidently lead AI initiatives in their organizations and apply what they learn in practice.
Who Should Attend?
This certificate is designed for:
- Executive directors and nonprofit leaders
- Operations and program managers
- Board members and governance committees
- Communications and development professionals
- IT and digital transformation staff
- Anyone responsible for AI planning, policy, or organizational strategy
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this program, you'll be able to:
- Understand today's AI landscape and its impact on nonprofit organizations
- Evaluate your organization's AI readiness and identify potential risks
- Develop a shared vision for responsible AI adoption
- Create practical, principles-based AI policies aligned with your organization's values
- Establish governance practices for AI, data stewardship, and organizational culture
- Build an implementation plan that includes staff training, policy maintenance, and continuous improvement
Program Format
- 100% online, self-paced program
- Six online modules, total 10 hours including assignments; 1 CEU
- Digital badge for each completed module, plus a Certificate of Completion from UNF Professional and Lifelong Learning
Course Modules
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Module 1: Understanding the AI Landscape
Explore the evolution of artificial intelligence, from generative AI to emerging agentic systems. Learn about common AI tools, key stakeholders, and the governance challenges unique to nonprofit organizations.
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Module 2: Assessing Organizational Readiness
Evaluate your organization's current AI maturity, identify opportunities and risks, and assess leadership, culture, and stakeholder readiness before implementing AI initiatives.
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Module 3: Crafting a Shared AI Vision
Learn strategies for engaging leadership, staff, board members, and community partners in developing a shared vision for responsible AI adoption.
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Module 4: Building Principles-Based AI Policy
Develop flexible AI policies grounded in fairness, transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making that can evolve as technology advances.
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Module 5: Governance, Data & Organizational Culture
Examine best practices for AI governance, data stewardship, workforce development, and organizational alignment to support responsible AI use.
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Module 6: Implementation & Continuous Improvement
Create an implementation roadmap that includes policy rollout, staff training, AI tool inventories, governance responsibilities, and ongoing policy review.
Instructor
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich is an Associate Professor and holds the position of Program Director for the Instructional Technology, Training and Development master's and undergraduate program at the University of North Florida (UNF). Demonstrating a commitment to AI innovation, she serves as a Stanford School's University Innovation Faculty Fellow (2025), a member of WCET's National Steering Committee, and a member of UNF's AI Council. Her research focuses on the promotion of digital accessibility via universal design and the application of AI in workforce learning development. Suzanne Ehrlich is an Associate Professor in the Instructional Technology, Training and Development program at the University of North Florida and was a certified ASL/English interpreter. With a doctorate in instructional design and technology from the University of Cincinnati, she researches and advocates for inclusive workplaces. She co-directs the UNITE Cointelligence Lab at UNF, offering corporate consulting and research on universal design and technology integration in workplace and post-secondary settings. Nationally and internationally, she presents on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to enhance learner engagement and access through technology, with recent work emphasizing a UDL mindset in higher education and the workplace. Her publications cover topics such as interactive feedback in online learning, UDL in the workplace, and technology for deaf post-secondary students. Her service includes faculty development, serving as an EdSafeAI Women in AI fellow, and an Honors faculty fellow.