AI and Christian Philanthropy - Fall Learning Lab Series

Across our network, we see a wide spectrum of engagement: some of you are early adopters and super-users; others are just beginning to think about the possibilities. Most of us are somewhere in the middle—curious “tinkerers,” experimenting with ways AI might enhance our effectiveness, streamline our work, and deepen our discernment.

Our hope is that this series will help us learn together, grounded in our shared faith and professional roles and responsibilities. Whether you’re skeptical, intrigued, or already building tools, this series is designed to serve you.

Fall Learning Lab Series: AI and Christian Philanthropy

Redemptive Framing of AI
with Andy Crouch

Thursday, September 4 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET (60 mins) 

We’re thrilled to open the series with Andy Crouch, who has spent significant time reflecting, writing, and speaking on AI and its implications. He’ll help us frame our engagement spiritually and strategically, using the redemptive lens developed by the Praxis team as a way of thinking about AI’s highest uses, and its potential dangers. We’ll reserve plenty of time for Q&A for our community to engage together with Andy’s ideas.

AI Tools Overview
with Albert Chen

Thursday, October 9 | 12:00–1:30 PM ET (90 mins)

Albert Chen is an AI consultant who works closely with nonprofits and foundations. He’ll provide a practical walkthrough of core tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, and others, as well as more advanced, use-case-specific platforms in the $100–$150/month range — tailored for the work we do. This will be an extended session to give us enough time to dive more deeply with Albert into how to leverage these tools in our grantmaking contexts. 

AI in Practice: Member Case Studies
with five PCP members sharing real use cases

Thursday, November 20 | 12:00–1:15 PM ET (75 mins)

In this final session of the series, we’ll hear from five PCP members who are actively integrating AI into their daily grantmaking work. Each will share a brief case study highlighting how they are experimenting with and applying AI in practical, mission-aligned ways. These real-world examples will open the door to meaningful dialogue and shared learning. This session is designed to reflect various stages of the grantmaking process and will provide relevant, accessible examples for funders across the spectrum of AI familiarity.

Featured Use Cases

Emily Tamanaha, Executive Director, The Hu & Luo Family Foundation
Using AI as a thought partner in a one-person shop

De Wet Spies, Regional Manager, Mergon Foundation
Leveraging AI to prep for partner meetings—identifying key themes, questions, and points of focus

Brian Decker, Executive Director, Madala
Applying AI to support the due diligence process with potential grantees

Lee Behar, Strategy Director, The Maclellan Foundation
Enhancing near-final grant write-ups before presentation to trustees

Kim Tanner, Executive Director, ALIA Group
Collaborating with a consultant to develop a custom AI tool for financial management (a work in progress, with early insights shared)