Insights from TAG NYC - A Focus on AI for Foundations and Grant-Makers
Our CEO and Founder, Daisy, recently attended the TAG NYC event, a premier gathering for grantmakers. The conference focused entirely on how AI is transforming the grantmaking landscape and highlighted key strategies and tools that organizations should adopt as they integrate AI into their operations.
Below, we share Daisy's main takeaways and reflections on the event, including insights from a recent Candid report on how foundations view AI-generated grant applications.
1. The Importance of AI Policies: One of the biggest takeaways from the event was the need for organizations to develop comprehensive AI policies. As generative AI becomes more widely used, particularly in grant applications, policies can help ensure that AI’s benefits are harnessed while mitigating potential risks. According to Candid’s 2024 survey, 57% of grantmakers said they didn’t know whether they had received AI-generated applications, highlighting a gap in awareness and the need for better systems to address this shift.
As we move towards a world where AI is better understood this is an interesting and valuable piece of work for organisations to consider doing now.
1. The Importance of AI Policies: One of the biggest takeaways from the event was the need for organizations to develop comprehensive AI policies. As generative AI becomes more widely used, particularly in grant applications, policies can help ensure that AI’s benefits are harnessed while mitigating potential risks.
According to Candid’s 2024 survey, 57% of grantmakers said they didn’t know whether they had received AI-generated applications, highlighting a gap in awareness and the need for better systems to address this shift. As we move towards a world where AI is better understood this is an interesting and valuable piece of work for organisations to consider doing now.
2. Identifying and Managing Risks: TAG NYC emphasized the importance of risk management when working with AI. Foundations need to openly identify and manage risks, especially as AI use grows.
For instance, 42% of funders surveyed by Candid believed they had not received AI-generated applications, but 10% of respondents stated they already accepted them. These numbers show that while some foundations are embracing AI, many remain unclear about it as it is such a new technology, and we need to make sure that no organization gets left behind which is why the TAG event was so useful.
3. The Role of Monitoring Systems: AI isn’t a "set it and forget it" solution. Continuous monitoring is crucial to ensure AI systems function as expected. The event discussed how organizations should implement monitoring systems to evaluate AI performance. Many foundations are still undecided—Candid’s report revealed that 67% of respondents have not yet decided whether they will accept AI-generated grant proposals. This shows that the sector is still exploring how best to incorporate AI into its processes.
The good news is, by having robust systems in place like Salesforce, you can collate lots of data and store everything in one place so that as you need to cross reference applications, and look for trends in your monitoring you’ll be able to rely on Salesforce to compare all your data and applications easily.
4. AI and Accessibility in Grantmaking: One of the key discussions at TAG NYC was how AI could make grant applications more accessible, especially for underserved communities. Candid’s report echoed this sentiment, with some foundations noting how AI could help level the playing field for non-native English speakers and others who might struggle with traditional application processes. As one foundation stated: “We fund a community with a large number of refugees and other non-native English speakers. We are hoping this will help them level the playing field.”
