Boost for sector AI skills

Posted on 01 Apr 2025

By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community directors Australia

Tech-for-good organisation Infoxchange has launched an initiative designed to boost the artificial intelligence (AI) skills of more than 10,000 not-for-profit staff.

The partnership with Microsoft will significantly expand the online resources available on Infoxchange’s Digital Transformation Hub designed to help sector organisations to leverage AI and improve their technology capabilities for greater impact.

The use of AI in the sector has increased substantially over the past year.

Infoxchange's 2024 Digital Technology in the Not-for-Profit Sector Report revealed that 76 per cent of organisations are now using AI tools, up from 52 per cent the year before.

However, Infoxchange CEO David Spriggs said NFPs faced multiple barriers to properly harnessing the potential of the new technology, including”:

a lack of familiarity with AI and its use cases for NFPs
insufficient access to training for staff and volunteers
insufficient capacity to support the adoption of AI.

“AI presents an enormous opportunity for the NFP sector, but many organisations lack the confidence and resources to use it effectively,” said Spriggs.

“With Microsoft’s support, we’re ensuring NFPs can navigate AI’s opportunities and risks while unlocking new ways to create social impact.”

Spriggs said NFPs and community services provided urgent support for rising societal challenges including homelessness, mental health and wellbeing concerns, disability services, disaster relief and climate change.

However, the sector faced increasingly complex hurdles to having an because of budget and resource constraints.

“AI presents an enormous opportunity for the NFP sector, but many organisations lack the confidence and resources to use it effectively.”

Infoxchange CEO David Spriggs.

The expanded Microsoft-backed program will provide training and resources over the next 12 months through e-learning and expert-led webinars on the Digital Transformation Hub, and via tailored AI use cases and support.

Microsoft Philanthropies AI national skills director Tim Allen said the company was committed to bridging the digital divide for NFPs.

“Microsoft is delighted to provide continued support to Infoxchange in its exceptional work delivering technology for social justice,” said Allen.

“These new educational resources will enable NFPs to increase their impact using contemporary AI tools, improving outcomes for those most in need.”

Allen said the Infoxchange initiative was part of Microsoft’s wider pledge to provide one million people across Australia and New Zealand with AI skills by 2026.

For more information, visit the Digital Learning Centre part of the Digital Transformation Hub.

Microsoft will be joining Infoxchange at the 2025 Technology for Social Justice Conference from May 7 to 9, running workshops and demos on how to use AI for impact.