AI Do’s & Don’t’s: Protecting Clients, Donors & Your Mission
Artificial intelligence is transforming how organizations work and yours is no exception. From case management to grant writing, donor outreach to legal research, AI tools can save time and improve outcomes.
But there’s a catch: if used carelessly, AI can become a liability rather than an asset.
Client confidentiality, donor privacy, case strategy, financial details, and mission-critical information are all at risk if they’re accidentally pasted into an AI tool. The stakes are especially high for organizations handling sensitive data.
That’s why we’ve created a practical one-pager: AI Do’s & Don’ts for Non-Profits It’s a quick reference guide designed specifically for your sector, addressing the real-world risks and compliance concerns you face every day.
What’s Inside
The guide covers 10 critical don’ts, things to absolutely avoid, and 10 practical do’s, things you should do to use AI safely. Each item includes a cheeky reminder to make it memorable and shareable with your team.
Key Don’ts (What NOT to Do):
- Don’t share client case files
- Don’t paste donor/member lists
- Don’t upload beneficiary information
- Don’t share grant proposals or financials
- Don’t paste trial documents or litigation strategy
Key Do’s (What You SHOULD Do):
- Do redact client and beneficiary names
- Do turn off model training
- Do use your organization’s approved AI tool
- Do strip metadata from documents
- Do run the “would this breach confidentiality?” test
- Do get legal to review first
Why This Matters
For non-profits, a data breach can damage your mission and the trust your donors and beneficiaries have placed in you. For law firms, it can expose you to malpractice claims, bar discipline, or loss of client trust.
AI is powerful, but it’s only safe when used responsibly.
Next Steps
- Download the one-pager: AI Do’s & Don’ts for Non-Profits
- Share it with your team: Post it in your internal communications, include it in onboarding materials, or print it for the break room
- Build it into your AI policy: Use it as the foundation for how your organization will safely use AI tools
- Ask questions: If your team isn’t sure whether something is safe to share with an AI, the answer is almost always: ask compliance first
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t a threat to your organization—misusing it is. With a few simple precautions and clear guidelines, you can leverage AI to improve your work while protecting your clients, donors, cases, and mission.
Stay safe. Stay compliant. Stay focused on what matters: your mission.