AI policy for charities
Charities need AI rules that protect beneficiaries, supporters, staff and public trust. A practical AI usage policy helps explain what tools may be used, what information must stay protected and when human judgement is required.
AI can help with drafting, research, administration and communications, but charities often handle sensitive information about beneficiaries, donors, staff and volunteers. A policy should make boundaries clear before AI tools become part of everyday work.
It should also help trustees and senior leaders understand how AI use connects to governance, risk, transparency and accountability.
This matters because charity teams may use AI in many different places: fundraising copy, grant applications, policy drafting, volunteer coordination, service delivery notes, research, reporting and public communications. The policy should give people confidence without making everyday work feel harder than it needs to be.
A charity AI policy does not need to be long, but it should be specific about the information charities hold and the trust placed in staff, volunteers and trustees.
Charity AI governance should be practical enough for small teams and volunteers, while still giving trustees confidence that sensitive information and public trust are protected.
Charities often hold information that people have shared in sensitive circumstances. That might include beneficiary needs, safeguarding concerns, donor preferences, financial hardship, health information, volunteer records or details about service users.
The policy should make clear that this type of information must not be pasted into public AI tools unless the organisation has approved the tool, the purpose and the controls. Where AI can be used safely, staff should still minimise the information included and remove identifying details where possible.
The AI policy and UK GDPR guide explains how personal data and AI tool use fit together.
AI can help draft first versions of campaign copy, but staff should check tone, accuracy, claims, donor expectations and whether the message reflects the charity's voice.
AI can help structure a bid or summarise existing material. Staff should still check figures, eligibility, evidence, commitments and final wording before submission.
AI should not be used with identifiable beneficiary or safeguarding information unless the tool and use case have been approved and appropriate controls are in place.
Volunteers may need simple guidance on what AI can be used for, what information must stay protected and who to ask before trying a new tool.
A generic workplace AI policy may not reflect the trust placed in charities or the sensitivity of beneficiary and supporter information. The policy should be practical for staff and volunteers while still giving trustees confidence that AI use is being managed responsibly.
Trustees do not need to approve every AI-assisted task, but they should understand the main uses, the main risks and the controls in place. That might include an approved tools list, a simple route for questions, staff awareness training and periodic review of how AI is being used.
If the charity is also working with external IT, cyber or governance partners, the AI policy can sit alongside existing data protection, safeguarding, information security and acceptable use policies.
A generic AI policy can miss the realities of charity work: trustees, volunteers, fundraising, safeguarding, beneficiary trust and limited time. The generator gives you an editable policy draft shaped around your organisation, so you can review it with the right people instead of starting from a blank page.
The result is not legal advice and should still be reviewed before adoption, but it gives trustees and senior staff a practical document to work from.
FAQ
They can be useful, but charities should set clear rules for sensitive information, personal data, donor records, beneficiary details and human review.
Yes, if volunteers use AI for charity work or handle charity information. The policy should be clear enough for both staff and volunteers to follow.
It creates an editable Word policy based on your answers. Charities should add local owners, approved tools, trustee oversight and reporting routes before adoption.
Trustees should look for clear ownership, approved tools, protection for sensitive information, staff and volunteer guidance, incident routes and a review cycle.
Yes, but AI-assisted fundraising content should be checked for accuracy, tone, claims, data protection and whether it reflects the charity's values.
Charities should usually restrict beneficiary details, safeguarding information, donor records, staff data, volunteer information, confidential strategy and sensitive case notes unless a tool and use case have been approved.
Usually no. Trustees should understand the main risks, policy, ownership and controls, while day-to-day approval can sit with suitable staff or managers.