Today, we invite you to explore the findings and trends shaping the future of civil society.
Start with the timely, summary report and take a deeper dive through the interactive dashboard. Based on the Mapping and Needs Diagnosis on AI adoption by CSOs, these resources bring together data, community voices, and local perspectives to guide the next phase of digital transformation.
What the Report Reveals
The report does not just offer numbers; it tells a story of emerging needs, resource gaps, and future opportunities. Here are a few high-level takeaways:
The Foundational Gap is Real: CSOs cite lack of funding, limited digital skills, and insufficient technical support as the top barriers to digital participation.
Digital Skills Are Now Essential: Majority of organizations said upskilling their teams is a top priority over the next 2–3 years.
AI Should Serve the CSO Mission: Instead of generic tools, CSOs want custom-built AI solutions aligned with their values and activity.
🔗 Get more insights and read the full report:
Groundwork for Smarter Support
Digital tools, and now AI, are becoming increasingly critical for organizations focusing on a wide range of topics: from youth development and education to civic tech and advocacy. Yet, for many CSOs, entering the AI landscape is not just a technological leap; it's a systemic challenge. To support CSOs effectively, the TechSoup team’s approach is rooted in the principle that effective support must be evidence-based, adaptive, and locally grounded. This Mapping and Needs Diagnosis initiative began by asking two important questions:
How can AI meaningfully support civil society organizations?
What do the CSOs need to use AI in ways that align with their mission?
To answer this, we conducted an Online Survey across nine countries, complemented by Country Mapping Reports and Key-informants' Case Studies. The findings indicate not only where CSOs stand today, but where they hope to go.
Turning Insights into Action
This report is not an endpoint. It’s the beginning of a smarter, more responsive approach to supporting digital transformation in civil society. Based on these insights, TechSoup will:
Design practical training and tools tailored to CSOs’ real-world needs,
Launch peer-learning opportunities via the Community of Practice,
Expand a Resource Library focused on AI readiness and responsible use,
Provide funding opportunities to support mission-aligned AI use.
Together with our Partners, we aim to turn challenges into opportunities and data into action.
It’s your turn now to explore the dashboard!
We’ve built an interactive dashboard to let you dive deeper into the survey results. Filter by country, theme, or sector. Compare insights across the regions. Use it as a tool for strategic planning, funding, or simply to better understand where your organization stands. Whether you're a funder, activist, technologist, or researcher, this dashboard is here to support your work!
👉 Dive deeper and explore the dashboard:
Be Part of the Change
The civil society sector is standing at the crossroads in the digital age, and AI is both a challenge and an opportunity. As the ecosystem evolves, so too must our support, strategies, and understanding. By exploring our resources, using the insights and making them work for you and your organization, you’re becoming a part of a growing, learning community striving to make a stand for a resilient and informed civil society.
About AI for Social Change: a Project Rooted in Listening to the Community
“AI for Social Change: Skills, Tools, Community” is a regional initiative within TechSoup’s Digital Activism Program, run with support from Google.org. It is carried out with a supportive network of Partners across 10 countries in the EMEA region: France, Spain, Italy, Poland, the UK, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. The goal is to equip 10,000 civil society professionals with the AI knowledge, skills, tools, and community support they need: ethically, practically, and in line with their missions.