by David Kramer, Co-founder of d-lab.
It’s hard to imagine life before AI, even though its widespread use can still be measured in months rather than years. Across industries, people are learning when, where, and how to use AI effectively, constructively, and ethically.
Education is no exception. Like every other sector, it faces a mix of opportunities and challenges — and educational NGOs are part of that shift.
At the non-profit NGO where I work, we run a work-readiness programme for unemployed youth in South Africa called d-lab. The programme focuses on design thinking, digital competence, and higher-order thinking skills. We’ve recognised that preparing young people for the modern world of work now includes being competent in using AI.
Offering AI-related training has meant embracing AI ourselves — not just as a topic in our curriculum, but as a key resource driving how we manage and grow as an organisation. This journey has made a major difference to our levels of efficiency but has also raised important questions and taught us valuable lessons about what AI means for educational NGOs.
Rocking the Engine Room: AI in NGO Management
In an environment of limited resources and unlimited need, AI offers powerful ways to strengthen back-office functions and improve how we manage educational NGOs.
One of the most obvious benefits is automation. AI can handle repetitive, routine tasks, freeing up staff time for higher-value, people-focused work. A growing range of AI-powered apps now handle meeting scheduling, minute-taking, and report writing. Others generate financial summaries that help meet regulatory and compliance requirements. At d-lab, for example, we use AI to manage staff leave.
Fundraising, which is the lifeblood of any NGO, is also being transformed by AI. At d-lab, we have developed an AI tool to research and find potential donors who are aligned to our work. Tools such as DonorSearch AI analyse donor data to predict giving patterns, segment audiences, and tailor proposals and reports. GoFundMe’s AI-powered platform helps craft compelling fundraising narratives and optimise donation pages, while HubSpot AI integrates with CRM systems to automate follow-ups and manage donor engagement.
AI is also making its way into HR and governance functions. In time, we can expect NGOs to use AI to assist with recruitment, performance appraisals, bookkeeping, financial management, and donor relationship tracking. The administrative potential is vast, and it’s growing rapidly.
Bytes and Brains: AI’s Impact on Education and Training Programmes
AI is radically reshaping how educational NGOs plan, implement, and evaluate their programmes. It enables us to research, design, and develop content quickly — aligning learning outcomes with economic trends and employer needs.
AI-driven Learning Management Systems (LMS) are making programme management more efficient. They integrate analytics that provide real-time dashboards showing student engagement, progress rates, and achievement gaps, helping facilitators identify where learners need support.
At d-lab, we’ve developed several AI tools to enhance delivery. One AI tool adjusts the language level of our content for students whose home language isn’t English, the main language of instruction. Another helps us personalise learning journeys: our bespoke LMS has significantly improved our programme efficiency. We are working to be able to offer personalised learning journeys which can dynamically curate learning materials, exercises, and multimedia content tailored to individual learners.
Monitoring and evaluation have also improved. AI-powered dashboards integrate data from multiple sources — such as classroom observations, assessments, and surveys — into a single, cohesive platform. One of our favourite innovations is an in-house AI tool affectionately called the “Assessornator”, which manages and evaluates students’ portfolios of evidence. It has streamlined assessment and improved the quality of feedback we can provide.
Brave New World or Wasteland? The Challenges of AI in Education
AI is an unstoppable game-changer, streamlining operations and enhancing programme delivery. Yet, as with any powerful technology, it presents as many risks and challenges as opportunities.
AI could easily amplify long-standing divides — between developed and underdeveloped regions, urban and rural areas, or affluent and under-resourced communities. It also raises practical concerns around cost, infrastructure, connectivity, and access. Data privacy and compliance with emerging AI legislation will be ongoing challenges. Many NGOs will also struggle with a lack of in-house technical expertise and will need to rely on partnerships with organisations the necessary capacity.
But the deeper issue is human. Education is, at its core, a human endeavour. Overreliance on technology risks creating depersonalised, disconnected learning experiences. The “high touch” nature of NGO education — built on empathy, relationships, and human connection — is one of the sector’s greatest strengths. It must be preserved.
The task ahead is to use AI to enhance, not replace, the human relationships that make education meaningful. Technology can amplify impact, but only if it works in synergy with human insight and compassion.
The AI Tightrope: Balancing Between Human and Machine Intelligence
The future of educational NGOs lies in balancing human empathy with machine intelligence. By embracing AI thoughtfully, we can unlock new efficiencies, expand access, and deliver more relevant learning opportunities — all while maintaining the human-centred ethos that defines our mission.
AI will not replace educators, facilitators, or mentors. But those who learn to work with it will be better equipped to lead the next generation of learners — and to shape an education system that is both intelligent and deeply humane.