2026-10-21 · St. Joseph's Villa Burke Barrett Education Center — 8000 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227
Nonprofits are being asked to serve more people, deliver stronger outcomes, raise more money, and operate with fewer resources. Artificial intelligence and modern technology can help. But adopting new tools without a clear strategy can create more confusion, risk, and expense than value. Join the AI Ready RVA Nonprofit Cohort for a practical conversation with Will Melton , CEO of Xponent21, on how nonprofit leaders can use AI and technology to strengthen their organizations and advance their missions. Will will draw from more than 20 years of service to nonprofit organizations as a technologist, volunteer fundraiser, board member, board leader, founder, and strategic advisor. He will also share insights from his nine-part series on how nonprofits are using AI and technology in 2026. This session will move beyond individual AI tools. The conversation will focus on how technology can become a strategic lever for efficiency, organizational growth, fundraising, service delivery, resilience, and long-term impact. What We Will Discuss Attendees will explore: How to evaluate their organization’s current AI and technology readiness Where AI can reduce administrative work and increase staff capacity How technology can support fundraising, communications, program delivery, and community engagement Why AI adoption should be connected to strategic planning How to identify technology investments that support the mission What policies and governance practices nonprofits should establish How technology can strengthen grant applications and funding conversations When nonprofits should build, buy, partner, or wait How to move from experimentation to responsible implementation A Practical Framework for Nonprofit Leaders Nonprofits do not have to choose between strategic planning and technology adoption. The two should work together. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to: Identify the organizational problems worth solving Prioritize practical AI and technology use cases Assess internal capacity, data, risk, and readiness Build leadership and staff alignment Develop an achievable adoption roadmap Measure whether the investment is creating real value The goal is not to adopt AI because it is popular. The goal is to use technology intentionally to help…