Summary

Craig, a 16-year veteran at Microsoft, joined the meeting to discuss the work of Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact business. He emphasised the importance of interaction and encouraged questions throughout the session. Craig was set to discuss AI and its potential applications for the attendees, but he stepped in due to Chris Lines' emergency. He also mentioned Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more and how this mission aligns with the work of organisations like VODG.

Microsoft's Commitment to Social Impact

Craig discussed Microsoft's commitment to supporting organisations doing significant work during macroeconomic and societal change. He highlighted Microsoft's social impact work, including discounted software for nonprofits and the company's investment in crisis management and digital skills. Craig also emphasised the importance of leveraging AI for social impact organisations to keep pace with commercial organisations. He noted that 75% of people already use AI at work, but there is a reluctance to use it for critical tasks. Craig concluded by stating that Microsoft is committed to enabling the partner ecosystem to work with the nuances of the social impact sector.

AI Adoption and Microsoft's Copilot

Craig discussed the importance of AI adoption in organizations, emphasizing that while employee usage is high, leadership is lagging. He highlighted the potential for AI to improve productivity and social impact, using Aspen's experience as an example. Craig also outlined the steps for adopting AI in organizations, including awareness and education, identifying impactful use cases, addressing security and compliance concerns, and implementing technology through pilots. He concluded by introducing Microsoft's "Copilot for Microsoft 365" as a tool to enhance collaboration and productivity.

AI Trust, Security, and Implementation

Craig led a discussion on using AI in their organisation, emphasising the importance of trust and security. He encouraged participants to ask questions and share their concerns, particularly about the lack of knowledge on using AI effectively. Craig also mentioned the availability of resources and training materials to help the team understand and utilise AI. A member expressed interest in seeing relevant user cases in social care and developing a policy and procedure for AI implementation. Craig assured the team that their AI is trusted and designed to protect their organisational data and security. He also shared a link to a website dedicated to developing codes of conduct and practices for AI (coming soon). The team agreed to explore the resources provided and start with the basics of AI.

Exploring AI Presentation System

The group discussed the potential use of a new presentation system, which uses AI to generate slides based on user input. Craig demonstrated how to use the system, starting with a topic about charities across the UK. He suggested that the system could be useful for creating presentations quickly and efficiently, although he noted that the quality of the generated content might depend on the specificity of the user's input. A member expressed interest in the system and agreed to explore it further. Craig also mentioned the availability of free skills training at https://aiskillsnavigator.microsoft.com/.

Introducing AI Tools for Efficiency

Craig demonstrated the use of AI tools like Copilot to streamline tasks such as creating PowerPoint presentations and summarising large PDF documents. He emphasised that these tools are not meant to replace human skills but to save time and allow for more focused work. A member, who was unfamiliar with Copilot, found the demonstration helpful and appreciated the potential for using AI tools in their work. The team discussed the possibility of using AI for composing emails and agreed that these tools could be beneficial in understanding and summarising large documents.
Exploring Copilot's Capabilities and Challenges

Craig demonstrated the capabilities of the Copilot tool, emphasising its ability to assist in composing emails and generating narratives for Power BI reports. He highlighted how Copilot can save time by automating mundane tasks like drafting emails and analysing data in Power BI reports. Craig also mentioned the tool's ability to look internally at an organisation's data, ensuring privacy and trust. The team also discussed the potential of Copilot to help automate regular tasks and its inclusion in Microsoft Office.

Craig discussed the potential of engaging in creative fundraising strategies. He suggested categorising fundraising ideas into events, campaigns, and partnerships and visualising them with a designer. Craig also proposed the use of social media platforms like Twitter/X for fundraising, emphasising the importance of short, captivating statements and hashtags. He demonstrated how to create a communications plan for a fundraising event, including budget estimates and responsible parties. The team was encouraged to experiment with these tools to make their work easier.

AI for Data Analysis and Security

Craig discussed the potential of using AI for data analysis, specifically in Excel. He demonstrated how AI could be used to interrogate data and answer questions, such as identifying the top donor in a dataset. Clive expressed interest in using this feature for their "Great Places to Work" survey.

Kerry thanked Craig for his presentation and mentioned plans to create a digital security and AI Hub for members. She also thanked Craig for stepping in at short notice to replace another speaker. The team agreed to send the presentation and AI-generated notes to attendees later.

Event Overview

Embrace the power of technology to drive positive social change and enhance the operational efficiency of your organisation. We invite members to join us for an insightful exploration into the impactful ways in which Microsoft's affordable and cutting-edge cloud and artificial intelligence solutions are being harnessed to address a wide range of social challenges. I

In our highly anticipated upcoming webinar, we will take a deep dive into Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact programme and its profound influence on nonprofit organisations. Through in-depth analysis of real-world case studies, you will gain valuable insights into the diverse applications of technology for social good. Additionally, we will provide an in-depth overview of the grants and discounts available for Microsoft Cloud solutions, enabling you to unlock the transformative capabilities of Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365. Lastly, we will equip you with the knowledge to cultivate digital and AI skills that will expedite the impact of your organisation's mission

Key Topics Covered

Affordable Access to Technology:

1. Discover how Microsoft is making technology accessible to nonprofits through grants and discounts on Microsoft cloud solutions, including Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365.
2. Learn about the eligibility criteria and application process for these grants and discounts, ensuring your organization can leverage these resources.

Innovative Cloud Solutions:

1. Explore the capabilities of Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365, and how these platforms can transform your nonprofit’s operations.
2. Case studies showcasing successful implementations of these solutions in various nonprofit organizations.

AI for Social Good:

1. Understand how AI can be harnessed to drive social impact, from predictive analytics to automating routine tasks, freeing up valuable time for mission-critical activities.
2. Examples of AI applications in the nonprofit sector, including donor management, volunteer coordination, and program evaluation.

Building Digital and AI Skills:

1. Insights into the training and resources available to nonprofit professionals to enhance their digital and AI skills.
2. Programs and workshops designed to upskill your team, ensuring they are equipped to maximize the impact of the technology.

Accelerating Mission Impact:

1. Strategies for integrating cloud and AI solutions into your nonprofit’s strategic plan to accelerate mission impact.
2. Measuring and reporting on the outcomes achieved through technology adoption.

Interactive Q&A Session:

• Engage with our experts during the live Q&A session, where you can ask specific questions related to your organization’s needs and challenges.

Accessibility  

Please note, should you have any accessibility requirements, we will do our best to make necessary arrangements to support you; however, we may require up to four weeks notice, so please list your requirements on the booking form. Closed captions are used as a standard in online meetings. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].