Big news from Materiom: the team just launched Materiom AI! The TL;DR: this generative AI chatbot is designed to speed up the discovery of bio-based ingredients and materials. Read more: www.materiom.org/resources/in...

Fast Forward is growing! And we’re hiring a VP of Programs, VP of Fundraising and Partnerships, and Director of Corporate Fundraising and Partnerships in San Francisco. Full-time, in-office roles. Apply here → jobs.ffwd.org/jobs?filter=...

The browser wars shaped the internet. Now it’s AI’s turn. In this month’s AI for Humanity, we dive into how @mozilla.org is working to keep AI open, safe, and human-centered. Plus a look at Ersilia’s work in global health. Subscribe → aiforhumanity.substack.com/p/model-beha...

What if the most powerful AI tools were built for classrooms that could benefit from them most? Even ones without internet.

Agentic AI sounds like the latest buzzword, but tech nonprofits like @careervillage.bsky.social & @digitalgreen.bsky.social are already putting it to work. Think career advice, on demand. Farming tips rooted in data, not guesswork. More in @diginomica.com: diginomica.com/career-coach...

Generative AI won’t fix healthcare gaps, but it can make life easier for family caregivers. @noorahealth.bsky.social is testing generative AI to deliver clear, personalized guidance after hospital discharge. More in Stanford CDH’s new report: cdh.stanford.edu/generative-a...

Congratulations to Mobile Pathways and Scrutinize for winning Ironclad’s 2025 Legal AI Innovators Award! (And for the Nasdaq feature!) Learn more: ironcladapp.com/blog/winners...

AI is changing how nonprofits operate, but without clear policies, it could be risky business. Fast Forward’s Nonprofit AI Policy Builder makes it easy to create a responsible, mission-aligned AI policy. Try it now: www.ffwd.org/nonprofit-ai...

We’re hiring. Fast Forward is looking for mission-driven leaders to join us in San Francisco. These roles are in-person at our office in The Presidio. Ready to drive real impact? Apply now:. jobs.ffwd.org/jobs?filter=...

Hey, you! Yes, you. Did you know your Instagram feed is missing something? Well, it is. It’s missing… us! We’re sharing stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and all things tech for good. If you love social impact, you’ll love what we’re posting on the grid.

Thrilled to be working with the incredible team at @ffwdorg.bsky.social and business development team and the other members of the 2025 tech nonprofit cohort!

Check out our new Accelerator cohort in the San Francisco Business Times! @sarambee.bsky.social highlights the 10 organizations using tech to drive impact. Read more: www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco...

Meet Fast Forward’s 2025 Accelerator cohort! They're doing amazing work across healthcare, education, climate, and more. Plus, 70% of the cohort is an AI-powered nonprofit.

How are funders approaching AI for social impact? Fast Forward contributed to @projectevident.bsky.social's new report on AI grantmaking. The big question: How do we balance innovation w/ responsibility? Find out here: projectevident.org/resource/fun... @schmidtsciences.bsky.social @schusterman.org

In Emerson Collective’s Technically Optimistic, Raffi Krikorian and Recidiviz’s Joshua Essex break down what good AI looks like: technicallyoptimistic.substack.com/p/applicatio...

Tech should reflect the world we live in, but too often, it doesn’t. Jehron Petty is changing that. As CEO of ColorStack, he’s creating space for Black & Latinx CS students to thrive. Parkes Philanthropy just named him a 2025 Impact Icon. Congratulations, Jehron! parkesphilanthropy.com/impact-icons/

15 nonprofit leaders and AI experts came together at Fast Forward’s Alumni Retreat for real conversations about AI’s role in social impact. While the world debates AI’s future, we focused on what matters now: ethics, responsible use, and real-world impact.

Rodrigo Camarena is empowering immigrants to protect their rights. Through Justicia Lab, he’s helped 500K+ immigrants. His latest project, the ¡Reclamo! app, has already recovered $1.5M in stolen wages. Learn more via the ABA Journal: www.abajournal.com/legalrebels/...

Tech can be a tool for justice. Briane Cornish (finEQUITY), Sixto Cancel (Think of Us), and Idris Brewster (Kinfolk) are proving it — breaking down barriers in finance, public history, and foster care. This #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re celebrating Black founders driving change.

In the latest Humans of AI for Humanity by PJMF & Fast Forward, Dr. Michal Nachmany is using AI to clean up the messy world of climate legislation. As founder of @climatepolicyradar.bsky.social, she’s making data more accessible, transparent & inclusive. www.ffwd.org/blog/michal-...

Fast Forward’s portfolio made major strides in 2024: Quill reached 5% of K-12 students, Lenny Learning grew 10x, and Koko hit 160M impressions. We've secured $1B+ in follow-on funding and transformed 262M lives. Check out our 2024 Impact Report: www.ffwd.org/impact-report

In partnership w/ Los Cien Sonoma County & Comcast Business, Fast Forward joined the "Bridging the Resource Divide with Technology" event to discuss solutions for Sonoma County’s youth mental health crisis.

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! Today, we’re spotlighting leaders using tech to expand access to education and opportunity. Alexandra Bernadotte (Beyond 12), Demetrius Lancaster (Joy Education), and Tiffany Green (Uprooted Academy) are breaking barriers and redefining opportunity for students.

@vox.com's @adamclarkestes.com dives into AI agents. Kevin Barenblat weighs in w/ its real-world impact, pointing to @digitalgreen.bsky.social: "Giving the agent more flexibility to figure out the problem is helpful for people when they’re trying to solve problems." www.vox.com/technology/3...

Technology Association of Grantmakers’ State of Philanthropy Tech Survey shows a clear opportunity: investing in nonprofit tech fuels efficiency, scalability, and impact. At Fast Forward, we’ve seen this firsthand.

Big shoutout to Jehron Petty, founder & CEO of ColorStack, for being named to The Creative Class of 2025 by The Creative Collective NYC! He’s building a more inclusive tech pipeline for Black and Latinx CS students — work that’s changing the industry for the better. theccnyc.com/creative-cla...

The GitLab Foundation just awarded $3.5M to 14 orgs using AI to expand economic mobility. Among them: Fast Forward alums Justicia Lab, Mobile Pathways & Recidiviz — leveraging AI for legal aid, immigration, & justice reform. More on the grantees here: www.gitlabfoundation.org/our-journey/...

Swapna Reddy saw a broken system and built a better one. What started as one asylum case in 2015 became @asylumadvocacy.bsky.social — now supporting 680K+ asylum-seekers with legal aid, advocacy, and community. See how she’s making a difference in ABA Journal: www.abajournal.com/legalrebels/...

At @stanforduniversity.bsky.social’s "Innovation for All" event on March 5, Alex Bernadotte, Jaime-Alexis Fowler, Josh Nesbit, & Amanda Renteria explore how human-centered design and ethical AI can drive scalable social change. Register here: sto.stanfordtickets.org/haascenter/i...

Students don’t need bots. They need real connections. Ed-tech leaders Jared Chung (CareerVillage.org) and Tiffany Green (Uprooted Academy) are proving AI can strengthen the human touch. @the74.bsky.social has the story. www.the74million.org/article/stud...

At our second annual Alumni Retreat, 100+ leaders from 59 tech nonprofits came together — not just to talk, but to lift each other up. Panels, party lights, strategy sessions, and strikes at the bowling alley — this community is unstoppable. Here’s to building the future. Together.

Thanks, @ffwdorg.bsky.social, for spreading the Nonprofit AI Treasure Map love!

What’s the key to bold climate action? States. Climate Cabinet’s State-Based Path Report shows how state governments can cut emissions, lower energy bills, & build stronger communities — even in the face of federal setbacks. climatecabinet.org/state-based-...

In this month’s What’s Good in Tech, we spotlight the women leading tech-for-good in Shannon Farley’s latest for @forbes.com. Plus, new tools, AI that’s breaking language barriers, and so many job openings. Read it now. Impress your friends later. www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-...

What’s driving the rise of agentic AI? As Jared Chung, founder of CareerVillage.org and author of The Agentic Era newsletter puts it: “LLMs were the wick, and the first pile of dynamite is agents.”

As we step into 2025, the world is asking big questions about the role of technology: Who benefits from its advancements? Who holds the power? And how can we ensure it remains a force for good?

Meet Claire Bleiler, Chief of Staff at Lemontree, the tech nonprofit tackling food insecurity. You can call an Uber or order Instacart, but that tech hadn’t extended to food insecurity. Lemontree bridges that gap — ensuring food pantry info is accurate, accessible, and stigma-free.

Adrift in a sea of AI possibilities? The @techmatters.bsky.social Nonprofit AI Treasure Map is your compass. More than an “X-marks-the-spot” gimmick, it’s packed with practical guidance. Check it out in our Playbook on AI-Powered Nonprofits: www.ffwd.org/blog/the-pla...

In @fastcompany.com, Michele Malejki, HP’s Global Head of Social Impact, asks: “How do we equip historically disconnected youth & adults w/ the skills to not just participate, but thrive, in a digital world?” This is a defining challenge of our time. Read more: www.fastcompany.com/91258892/the...

Tarjimly isn’t just another translation app. It’s a bridge, connecting refugees & humanitarian workers w/ volunteer translators. Read about founder Atif Javed’s journey in our latest Humans of AI for Humanity series in partnership w/ the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. www.ffwd.org/blog/atif-ja...

One Degree is transforming how communities access vital resources. Their latest impact report highlights progress in digital benefits enrollment for undocumented Californians. It also shows how to build partnerships to streamline social services. Read more: about.1degree.org/annual-impac...

AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency. When wielded responsibly, it can be a catalyst for equity. These teams are here to prove it. Join @robinhoodnyc.bsky.social’s AI Poverty Challenge Virtual Demo Day on Jan 29 at 12 PM PST.

In 2024, Good Call showed out: 📞 Thousands of calls answered via their 24/7 hotline 👨‍👩‍👧 300+ families empowered through Know Your Rights workshops 📚 50+ workshops on financial literacy, civic engagement & more Check out their impact report & see what’s next for 2025: drive.google.com/file/d/1Xgrg...

Nonprofits aren’t just adapting to AI — they’re shaping its future. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation's $73.5M investment in 2024 AI-related grants is proof. We’re proud to be one of 144 orgs driving this progress. www.philanthropy.com/article/the-...

Some articles get clicks. Others start conversations. Fast Forward's Kevin Barenblat & Google.org's Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink mapped how AI is driving impact for nonprofits. Now it’s a Top 10 @ssireview.bsky.social article of 2024. Read it here: ssir.org/articles/ent...

The Deloitte Health Equity Institute and Health Affairs recently spotlighted Dollar For, Koko, and OpenAQ. These orgs address medical debt, mental health, and air quality with smart, community-driven solutions. Read more: www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-co...

Kevin Barenblat’s AI for Humanity newsletter just dropped the greatest hits of 2024. From transforming Indian courtrooms to mapping emissions, nonprofits are proving what’s possible: 250+ orgs, 40+ countries, real impact. Press play: aiforhumanity.substack.com/p/ai-for-hum...

The future of AI isn’t just being built — it’s being built for good. We’re proud to be part of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation’s $73.5M investment in human-centered AI, fueling tech nonprofits tackling health, climate, and more. Read more: www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...

Big congrats to Demetrius Lancaster, Mary Zhu, and Tiffany Green — Fast Forward alumni and now Roddenberry Fellows! roddenberryfellowship.org/fellows/2025/

Hey, you! Looking for a job in tech or philanthropy? Fast Forward is hiring. Join us to help scale tech nonprofits and tackle big social challenges. Check out our openings: jobs.ffwd.org/jobs?filter=...