A cluster of electrical wires and utility cables hangs from a pole beside a monument. Large domes and red sandstone walls in the background--nonprofit AI

Making sense of AI in the social sector

How are nonprofits using AI, and what barriers remain? Here are a few key insights on building and deploying AI on the ground.
by Ashana Shukla | 6 min read

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a man throwing waste in a big green and yellow truck parked on the roadside--waste management India

India’s waste management rules have a burning problem 
India's 2026 waste rules claim to improve waste management but incentivise burning, weakening oversight and sidelining waste workers. 
close up shot of a pet chameleon--nonprofit humour

Announcement: Launching Girgit Ekta Party
The party you didn’t know you needed (and cannot get rid of). We are always watching.
a customised furnace for cooking that runs on diesel and machine oil, on top of which is a large wok containing cooking oil--LPG crisis

Amid the LPG crisis, jugaad saves a samosa shop in Udaipur
A snacks shop owner in Udaipur combats high gas cylinder costs by creating a furnace that runs on diesel and machine oil.
by Rakesh Swami | 2 min read
four saree-clad women and a small child sitting on the ground--theory of change

When theory of change becomes practice
Most organisations build theories of change but rarely use them to take decisions.
a group of women and young girls sitting on the floor with large sheets of paper spread out in front of them; one of the girls appears to be writing something--Community stewardship

Why the commons need community-led data
Communities already carry deep knowledge of the commons through oral traditions, customary practices, and lived experience. The question is whether data systems are designed to recognise it.

Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.


A day in the life of

Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.
The image is set inside a home. A young women is sitting at the edge of a bed with her back turned to the camera. She is holding the hand of a person who is lying down on the bed, out of the frame.--palliative care

What does it mean to care for someone with a serious illness?
A day in the life of a counsellor and nurse in Mumbai as they provide home-based palliative care, helping patients and families face illness, loss, and uncertainty with dignity.
The image features the authors, Shakeela Banu and Nageena Banu. They are standing outdoors smiling warmly at each other while holding hands. Shakeela is wearing a bright red headscarf with a black inner layer, and Nageena is wearing a light-colored and patterned suit and dupatta . The background shows greenery and a blurred building--Beedi industry

‘One day, one day, the women will go out to protest…’
A day in the life of two union leaders fighting for fair working conditions in Karnataka’s beedi industry and for the rights of their community.
two women sitting on the floor in a classroom, with numbers and the kannada alphabet painted on the walls behind them--community organiser

The girl who refused to drop out
A day in the life of a young field coordinator in Raichur, Karnataka, reflecting her journey of almost dropping out of school to supporting herself, her family, and her community.

Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.
Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure

Building team culture isn’t optional
A nonprofit co-founder reflects on how scaling rapidly unintentionally alienated employees, which led to cracks in organisational culture.
Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being

Preparing for a marathon, not a sprint 
Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan on why failure is an opportunity to build power, how systems of oppression affect well-being, and what healing looks like for individuals and communities.
Barbed wire_nonprofits

Why don’t nonprofits talk about their failures?
A number of risks, both real and perceived, stop nonprofits from talking about failure. Here's how various stakeholders can work together to overcome them.

Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.

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Insights and analysis of specific sectors in the development arena—what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

See all coverage by topic:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health & Well-being
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • India’s waste management rules have a burning problem 
    India's 2026 waste rules claim to improve waste management but incentivise burning, weakening oversight and sidelining waste workers. 

    Why the commons need community-led data
    Communities already carry deep knowledge of the commons through oral traditions, customary practices, and lived experience. The question is whether data systems are designed to recognise it.

    Beyond electrification: Why inclusion matters for urban mobility
    As India pushes towards electric transport, everyday experiences from Patna and Lucknow reveal that the future of urban mobility will depend as much on inclusion and public access as on technology.


    Making sense of AI in the social sector
    How are nonprofits using AI, and what barriers remain? Here are a few key insights on building and deploying AI on the ground.

    Can philanthropy be less WEIRD?
    Across the world, communities have long practised giving rooted in reciprocity and care. So why do dominant philanthropy models still fail to recognise them?

    Beyond electrification: Why inclusion matters for urban mobility
    As India pushes towards electric transport, everyday experiences from Patna and Lucknow reveal that the future of urban mobility will depend as much on inclusion and public access as on technology.

    Skills and functions that are core to growing programmes and organisations.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Board & Governance
  • Fundraising & Communications
  • Leadership & Talent
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Programme
  • Technology

  • Making sense of AI in the social sector
    How are nonprofits using AI, and what barriers remain? Here are a few key insights on building and deploying AI on the ground.

    When theory of change becomes practice
    Most organisations build theories of change but rarely use them to take decisions.

    Designing without data
    What working on an electric mobility awareness campaign with India’s trucking community taught us about field immersion, trust, and designing for communities that formal data often misses.