Purposeful Work with AI: Emerging Technologies for Environmental NGOs

Dates: Oct 15, 29, Nov 12, 26, Dec 10 & 17, 1-2:30 PM ET
Cost: $299 (Live, virtual sessions)
Maximum 15 participants

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we work, communicate, and solve problems, but for mission-driven organizations, the path to responsible adoption is often unclear. Developed by Sustainability Network and Aicology as part of the Vision2030 Program, this specialized program helps Canadian environmental NGOs build the knowledge, judgement, and practical skills needed to navigate that change.

Participants will explore what AI can and cannot do, examine the risks and organizational conditions required for responsible adoption, identify practical opportunities within their own work, and gain hands-on experience with emerging tools.

Across the program, each participant will also develop a culminating AI project based on a real workflow or organizational challenge. Short, structured exercises between sessions will build toward that project step by step, allowing participants to leave with something practical they can continue using or developing inside their organization.

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PROGRAM AUDIENCE

This program is designed for professionals from Canadian environmental NGOs who can help their organizations make thoughtful decisions about AI and put those decisions into practice.

It is well suited to:

• Executive directors, senior directors, and department leaders responsible for organizational strategy, operations, people, communications, technology, or innovation.
• Team leaders and managers who are beginning to evaluate how AI may affect their department, workflows, or staff.
• Independent contributors and internal champions who are already experimenting with AI and want a more structured, responsible approach to applying it at work.

Participants do not need to be AI experts. The program is designed to accommodate different levels of experience. Participants who are entirely new to common generative AI tools will also be invited to an optional 30-minute AI Basics orientation following Session 1.

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Session 1 — Introduction to AI for Environmental Organizations

Oct 15, 1-2:30 PM ET

An accessible introduction to how generative AI works, how the technology is evolving, and why it matters to environmental organizations.

Key topics: AI fundamentals, the evolution of generative AI, current and emerging capabilities, societal implications, and implications for Canadian ENGOs.

Optional: 30-minute AI Basics orientation immediately following the session for participants who are completely new to tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini.

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Session 2 — Risks, Myths & Mistakes: What’s Going Wrong in AI Adoption

Oct 29, 1-2:30 PM ET

A practical look at the risks that emerge when organizations adopt AI without sufficient understanding, governance, or planning.

Key topics: Hallucinations and accuracy, bias, privacy and data security, environmental impacts, regulation, governance, shadow AI, workplace culture, accountability, and the organizational conditions needed for responsible adoption.

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Session 3 — AI Tools and How They Can Change Our Approach to Work

Nov 12, 1-2:30 PM ET

Participants begin connecting AI to their own work by learning how to identify tasks and workflows where AI may create meaningful value.

Key topics: Common AI models and tools, prompt design, workflow analysis, identifying appropriate AI use cases, AI Net Impact, and distinguishing between work that should be automated or streamlined and work where human judgment, creativity, or relationships remain essential.

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Session 4 — AI in Action Part I: Demos and Experiments with Generative AI Tools

Nov 26, 1-2:30 PM ET

A hands-on session focused on seeing practical AI workflows in action and experimenting with tools relevant to environmental and nonprofit organizations.

Key topics: Tool demonstrations, practical nonprofit workflows, working across AI platforms, structured prompting, workflow-based use cases, and developing reliable AI-supported processes.

Session 5 — AI in Action Part II: More Advanced Use Cases

Dec 10, 1-2:30 PM ET

Participants build on the foundations established earlier in the program and explore how multiple AI capabilities, tools, and workflows can work together.

Key topics: Advanced use cases, reusable AI workflows, automation, tool integrations, testing and refining outputs, and moving from individual experimentation toward practical AI micro-applications.

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Session 6 — Good Work with AI: Integrating Purpose, Values & Impact

Oct Dec 17, 1-2:30 PM ET

The concluding session connects the technical and organizational lessons of the program back to the environmental sector’s purpose.

Participants will share the results of their culminating project, including lessons and challenges, and identify practical next steps for their organizations.

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Optional Office Hours & 1:1 Coaching

Date / Scheduling: Week of November 30 - December 4 | Custom

Participants can meet directly with Aicology for troubleshooting, discussion, and individualized support as they develop their culminating project.

Office hours and individual appointments are designed to meet participants where they are — whether they need help choosing a use case, working through organizational barriers, improving a prompt, selecting a tool, or moving an idea from experimentation toward practical implementation.

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SPECIAL FEATURES

Small Cohort, Individual Support
Participation is limited to 15 people so instructors can respond to the very different technical, organizational, and cultural challenges participants encounter.

Culminating AI Project
Each participant selects a real workflow, problem, or opportunity from their organization and develops it throughout the program. Short assignments between sessions turn the project into manageable steps rather than a large final assignment.

1:1 Coaching & Office Hours
Participants have access to personalized support to troubleshoot challenges, refine use cases, and translate the program into their own organizational context.

Sector-Specific Discussion & Examples
Examples, discussions, and demonstrations are grounded in the realities of environmental and nonprofit organizations rather than generic corporate AI use cases.

Ongoing ENGO Community of Practice
Program graduates will be invited to periodic Aicology community-of-practice calls for ENGO professionals. These informal sessions will create opportunities to discuss timely AI issues, tools, and tactics with peers, Aicology instructors, and occasional guest experts after the formal program concludes.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Aicology has been a steady, thoughtful partner as generative AI continues to reshape the communication landscape, helping Nature United understand and respond to these changes with confidence. Their people-centred approach — focused on using AI to elevate rather than replace human creativity — aligns well with our values. Aicology sessions are practical and intentional, and their team has helped us build a shared understanding of how generative AI fits into our strategy, values and day-to-day work, along with a clear path for using it responsibly.”

— Jacqueline Nunes, Director of Marketing and Communications, Nature United

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I am very glad that I took this program. It forced me to relate to the complex and worrying topic of AI in a systematic way. It was a relief to do that in a space that encouraged discussion of the ethical and environmental implications. And I'm very impressed with the facilitator's care and expertise.

– Maggy Burns, Executive Director, Ecology Action Centre

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The AIcology program was highly valuable -- providing organizational leaders with the context, insights and tools to navigate the complexity of AI for non-profit organizations and to find the pathway to harnessing AI to enable organizations to increase their impact. Nick Buccheri is an excellent facilitator and communicator.

– Matthew Lynch, ED, Green Economy Canada

About AIcology

Aicology is a social enterprise that helps nonprofit, education, and community leaders do good work with AI. Its programs combine AI literacy, organizational strategy, practical experimentation, responsible adoption, and implementation support.

Aicology has worked with nonprofit organizations in Canada and the United States, partnered with Sustainability Network on sector-wide AI programming, and supported AI coaching through Google.org-funded programming. Its approach is designed specifically for mission-driven organizations where efficiency alone is not the goal: AI adoption should strengthen organizational capacity, staff well-being, and social or environmental impact.

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Nicholas Buccheri is an interdisciplinary nonprofit professional and impact entrepreneur with extensive experience across operations, marketing, technology, sustainability, professional development, and management. He co-founded Aicology to help mission-driven organizations respond thoughtfully to rapidly evolving technologies and workplace cultures. Nicholas’ work focuses on the connections between AI, organizational culture, work design, implementation, human behaviour, and impact. In previous roles, he led national sustainability programs, communications initiatives, partnerships, events, and organizational operations.

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Jason Buccheri is a co-founder and instructor with Aicology who supports organizations navigating technology adoption, organizational learning, and emerging AI tools. He brings a complementary perspective to the program focused on helping people understand new technologies and translate them into practical applications. Jason supports selected sessions and discussions alongside Nicholas, giving participants access to multiple perspectives as they work through the opportunities, limitations, and organizational implications of adopting generative AI.