Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, Truist, and BoardWalk Consulting recently hosted the 15th Annual Nonprofit Conference at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Drawing nearly 200 attendees, the conference brought together nonprofit leaders from across the Southeast. The well-renown event was hosted by Adriana Lawton, SVP Not-for-Profit Specialty Practice at Truist; Crystal Stephens, CEO and Managing Director at BoardWalk Consulting; and Dave Mathews, Partner with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. 

The theme of this year’s conference was “Mission AI Possible: Strategy, Risks, and Real-World Applications.” The focus included an opportunity to examine how nonprofits are leveraging artificial intelligence to advance their missions, improve efficiency, and drive greater impact while addressing the ethics, risks and challenges of rapidly evolving technology.

Bestselling author, nonprofit strategist, and social impact leader Darian Rodriguez Heyman served as the keynote speaker sharing practical insights on AI adoption, emerging opportunities, potential risks, and the strategic decisions nonprofit leaders should be considering today. In addition, a panel of AI experts, nonprofit leaders, and board members discussed real-world applications of AI across fundraising, marketing, operations, and program delivery. The panel was moderated by Gerardo Kerik, Principal, AI Strategy & Business Transformation with WSI Digital Boost and included Carol Hill, Director of Marketing & Communications at Wellroot Family Services; Kendra LaFleur, Director at Forvis Mazars; and Noel Barnes, CFO at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 

Dave Mathews, Partner with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and event Co-Founder states, “This year our hosts decided to implement a pre-event survey for feedback on exactly what specific information would be valuable to our attendees. We found that most respondents use AI at a limited or moderate level, and many would explore greater use if resources were available. This insight allowed us to build a platform that would provide attendees with actionable strategies and practical insights, allowing attendees direct objectives that benefit their organizations.” 

Attendees wrapped up the day with a round table discussion to engage in thought provoking conversations related to how their organizations are using AI discussing specific implementation in addition to overcoming challenges and concerns. For additional information regarding the Nonprofit Leadership Conference, go to http://www.nonprofitconf.com.