Fast Forward For Non Profits: Tech Capacity Building Fast Forward Support

Start by visiting ffwd.org and exploring the free resources. If your organization needs an AI policy, use the Nonprofit AI Policy Builder to create a draft in 30 minutes. Download the 2025 AI for Humanity Report to understand current AI adoption trends. Review the Playbook on AI for Humanity for practical implementation frameworks.

Time investment: 30 minutes for policy builder, 2-3 hours to absorb report and playbook

Take the policy generated by the builder and customize it for your organization's specific context. Have your legal, compliance, and leadership teams review it. Incorporate it into employee onboarding and training materials. Schedule regular policy reviews (quarterly or annually) as your AI use evolves.

Implementation tip: Share relevant sections of the AI for Humanity Report with your board to build understanding and support for responsible AI adoption

Subscribe to Fast Forward's newsletter for updates on AI trends in the social sector. Explore the portfolio directory to see how other tech nonprofits are using AI. If your team is hiring, check the Tech Nonprofit Job Board. Attend Pitch Camp (free virtual training) if you're seeking funding.

Community benefit: Access to network of 102 tech nonprofits and insights from organizations collectively impacting 262M+ lives

If you're a tech nonprofit building an AI-powered platform or product, consider applying to the annual accelerator. Applications for the 2026 cohort open July 30 and close September 8. Prepare by clearly articulating your tech solution, social impact, and why AI is central to your model. The accelerator is highly competitive but provides $25K+ funding, expert mentorship, and access to a powerful network.

Eligibility: Tech nonprofits (501(c)(3) or equivalent) building technology products/platforms for social impact—not traditional service nonprofits simply adopting existing tools

Yes, 100% free. Fast Forward's Nonprofit AI Policy Builder is a completely free tool available to any nonprofit organization. There are no hidden costs, subscriptions, or premium tiers. The tool guides you through creating a custom AI usage policy for your organization, helping you protect sensitive data, align AI use with your mission, and ensure responsible AI adoption.

Applications for Fast Forward's annual accelerator typically open in late July and close in early September. The accelerator is designed for tech nonprofits (organizations building technology products or platforms to advance their mission). Selected organizations receive $25K+ in unrestricted funding, expert mentorship from tech and social impact leaders, and the opportunity to pitch to funders at Demo Day. The 2026 accelerator applications will open July 30 and close September 8. Visit apply.ffwd.org/2026-accelerator to learn more and apply.

Fast Forward is unique in three ways: (1) It's the only accelerator exclusively dedicated to tech nonprofits building AI-powered solutions, (2) It provides comprehensive free resources specifically for nonprofits implementing AI (not generic AI content), and (3) It backs its research with real data from tracking 250+ AI-powered nonprofits working in 40+ countries. While other resources might teach you about AI tools, Fast Forward focuses on how nonprofits are actually using AI for social impact at scale, plus provides actionable tools like the policy builder.

Fast Forward's AI resources serve two audiences: (1) Tech nonprofits building AI-powered products or platforms can apply to the accelerator and benefit from funding and mentorship. (2) Any nonprofit exploring AI adoption can use the free AI Policy Builder, read the annual AI for Humanity Report, and learn from the Playbook on AI for Humanity—regardless of organization size, budget, or technical expertise. The resources are designed to be accessible to nonprofit leaders making strategic AI decisions, not just technical staff.

The AI for Humanity Report is Fast Forward's annual research publication (written with support from Google.org) that analyzes how AI-powered nonprofits are transforming lives and how the sector can build on these early successes responsibly. The 2025 report draws from data on 250+ AI-powered nonprofits working across 40+ countries, providing insights on real-world AI adoption, success patterns, challenges, and recommendations for nonprofits and funders. It's free to download and designed to help nonprofit leaders understand the current state of AI in the social sector.

Fast Forward's accelerator is open to tech nonprofits building technology solutions across many domains—not exclusively AI. However, AI has become increasingly prominent, with 44% of 2025 accelerator applicants reporting use of AI to serve beneficiaries. The accelerator has supported 102 tech nonprofits since 2014 working across health, climate, education, workforce development, poverty, human rights, and more. The AI for Humanity initiative specifically tracks and supports AI-powered nonprofits, but Fast Forward's broader mission is empowering all nonprofits building tech for humanity.

Since launching in 2014, Fast Forward has supported 102 tech nonprofits that have collectively impacted more than 262 million lives and secured over $1 billion in cumulative follow-on funding. The organization has become the leading accelerator for tech nonprofits, providing not just funding but a community, mentorship network, and platform that helps these organizations scale their impact. Through partnerships with Salesforce, Google.org, and other tech leaders, Fast Forward has created an ecosystem that supports responsible AI adoption in the social sector.