Workshop session at the 2026 MCN Annual Conference, occurring October 29-30 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre; Exact workshop time TBD.

• As AI tools become ubiquitous, many nonprofits feel stuck between two extremes: a total ban on the technology or an unguided "wild west" adoption. But for mission-driven organizations, the real question isn't just "Should we use AI?"—it’s "How do we ensure AI reflects our core values?"

• In this interactive session, we move past the hype and the fear to provide a practical roadmap for ethical AI adoption. We will explore why avoiding AI can sometimes be its own ethical risk—potentially leading to staff burnout or decreased service capacity—and how to pivot toward a "human-in-the-loop" strategy.

• Attendees will walk away with a Values-Alignment Checklist to vet new tools, a clear understanding of the three critical risk zones (privacy, bias, and transparency), and a 3-step governance framework to move from unofficial "shadow AI" use to a transparent, policy-backed environment. This session is designed for nonprofit leaders and staff who want to harness innovation without compromising the trust of the communities they serve.