2024 Spring Colloquium: A Conversation for the Social Sector

Content

ABOUT

Event Type:

PANEL

Colloquium Panel Discussion
Date: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 10:45 am – 12:15 pm

This year, we explore the impact of AI and data on philanthropy. Our panel discussion will bring together multiple perspectives to explore how AI can enhance problem-solving without losing human connections, how it affects equity, and how philanthropy has engaged with AI for funding initiatives.

PANELISTS

Don Chen
President, Surdna Foundation

Don Chen is the President of the Surdna Foundation, a national social justice family philanthropy dedicated to fostering sustainable environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures. Previously, Don directed the Ford Foundation’s Cities & States program, where he supported urban development initiatives for affordable housing, equitable land use practices, and community-centered decision-making in U.S. and Global South cities. He founded and served as CEO of Smart Growth America, a nonprofit that empowers communities to create livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity. There, he led efforts to launch Transportation for America and the National Vacant Properties Campaign. Don serves as Co-Chair of the Presidents’ Council on Impact Investing and on the boards of Living Cities, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Philanthropy New York, and the Ms. Foundation for Women.

Dave Cole
State of New Jersey’s Chief Innovation Officer

Dave Cole serves as the State of New Jersey’s Chief Innovation Officer and a Member of the Governor’s Cabinet. In this capacity, Dave, a native of New Jersey, focuses on enhancing innovation in government and in the Garden State’s economy. Using better data, more collective intelligence and agile technology, the Office of Innovation leads projects, designs policies, and advises agencies on innovative strategies to improve the lives of New Jerseyans. Dave joined the Office of Innovation in 2020 to help the State respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as a technology co-lead for the State’s COVID-19 vaccination program. He also co-founded and led the Resident Experience Initiative at the Office of Innovation, collaborating with state agencies to design and implement digital services in support of new policies and programs.

Rachel M. Kimber
Managing Director, Full Circle Impact Solutions

Rachel M. Kimber, MPA, is a philanthropic strategist, technology futurist, and nonprofit executive. As Managing Director of Full Circle Impact Solutions, she is committed to human-centered, data-informed, and technology-supported grantmaking and is passionate about advancing emergent nonprofit practices that support equity, access, inclusion, and technological innovation. Rachel has served on local nonprofit boards and within international nonprofits, both small family foundations and global grantmaking NGOs, and has volunteered in various capacities with PEAK Grantmaking, Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and Philanthropy New York. In 2021, Rachel co-founded The Oral and Alternate Reporting Work Group, placing her at the forefront of emergent philanthropic practices and technological innovations essential in modern grantmaking. In her consulting, she applies her in-depth knowledge in grants management and technology to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of philanthropy.

MODERATOR

Jean Westrick
Executive Director, Technology Association for Grantmakers (TAG)

Jean Westrick is the Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers, a nonprofit organization that cultivates the strategic, equitable, and innovative use of technology in philanthropy. Westrick brings two decades of experience building communities, leveraging technology, and leading innovative and programmatic strategies. Prior to being named Executive Director of TAG, Westrick was the Director of IT Strategy and Communications at The Chicago Community Trust where she led change management efforts for the foundation’s $6M digital transformation initiative. Also, while at The Trust, Westrick directed On the Table, an award-winning engagement model designed to inspire resident action that was replicated in 30 cities nationwide. A longtime advocate for equity in STEM education, expanding technology access and increasing science literacy, Westrick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from DePaul University.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

Afternoon Sessions
Date: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 1:05 – 2:20 pm

AI Framework for Philanthropy facilitated by Jean Westrick, Technology Association for Grantmakers (TAG)
Location: Rehearsal Hall 1

As society grapples with the increasing prevalence of AI tools, the "Responsible AI Adoption in Philanthropy" guide provides pragmatic guidance and a holistic evaluation framework for grantmakers to adopt AI in alignment with their core values. The framework emphasizes the responsibility of philanthropic organizations to ensure that the usage of AI enables human flourishing, minimizes risk, and maximizes benefit.

The framework includes considerations for AI adoption in three key areas – Organizational, Ethical, and Technical – each essential for grantmakers considering the use of AI.

AI Guide for Nonprofits co-facilitated by Tiloma Jayasinghe and Jared Carroll, Community Resource Exchange (CRE)
Location: Arthur Laurents Theater

Join the Community Resource Exchange (CRE) for an engaging session on leveraging AI technology in the nonprofit sector. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of Generative AI and its applications, focusing on crafting effective prompts and exploring real-world use cases through an ethical lens. Participants will engage with CRE’s ethical framework for creating AI guidelines in nonprofit work, learning how AI can enhance capacity, drive efficiency, and support community initiatives while addressing challenges and ethical considerations. By emphasizing human-centered design and equity, CRE will guide nonprofit leaders in integrating AI responsibly to amplify their impact and foster inclusive growth.

Tiloma Jayasinghe
CEO, Community Resource Exchange (CRE)

Tiloma is the President & CEO of Community Resource Exchange (CRE). She is a passionate, creative, values-driven leader who brings decades-long experience in the sector to CRE. Her career has always been centered around being of support and service to others. As a human rights advocate, with a career spanning reproductive rights and gender justice work from the local to the international level, Tiloma served as the Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, as the Social Affairs Officer for the Division for the Advancement of Women at the United Nations, and as the first staff attorney at the National Advocates for Pregnant Women. Tiloma also has strong roots in advocating for the entire nonprofit sector through her tenure as the Chief Program Officer at Nonprofit New York. She considers herself an organizer, helping communities of color to achieve racial justice. She holds a JD from George Washington University School of Law and a BA from New York University.

Jared Carroll
Senior Consultant, Community Resource Exchange (CRE)

Jared Carroll, LMSW, SIFI, is a seasoned social worker and youth development specialist with nearly two decades of diverse experience across non-profit, education, and mental health sectors. As a Senior Consultant at CRE, he collaborates with organizations to devise practical solutions and drive tangible community change. Jared's career began at the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, developing therapeutic recreation programs for children facing serious illnesses. He later expanded his impact, founding Play At The Core, LLC, a nonprofit consultancy focused on leveraging play for healing and transformation.