AI Equity Project releases 2026 report on nonprofit AI adoption, accountability, and community voice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2026
Three years of research and more than 2,400 survey responses inform a growing body of practical resources for nonprofits, funders, and technology developers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — September 29, 2026 — Namaste Data today released the AI Equity Project 2026 report, the third annual report in a research and listening initiative examining how nonprofits experience, adopt, govern, and resource artificial intelligence.
Drawing on 880 survey responses in 2026, the report explores AI readiness, organizational culture, governance, funding, accountability, and community participation. Across three annual surveys, the project has gathered more than 2,400 responses, primarily from people working in and with nonprofits in the United States and Canada.
This year’s work centers a question with growing importance for the sector: Who gets to shape AI adoption, and who is accountable for its consequences?
The report examines the structures surrounding AI use: whether staff have shared guidance, whether organizations can evaluate meaningful impact, whether funders support responsible practice, and whether communities have influence over decisions that affect them. It invites readers to consider how access to technology connects to decision-making power, resources, and responsibility.
“Every year, this work teaches me something about AI and something about who we are becoming as a sector,” said Meena Das, founder of Namaste Data and the AI Equity Project. “My hope is that this report gives us language for the conversations we need to have — and a little more courage to have them. The people affected by AI deserve a meaningful role in shaping how it enters their lives and their communities.”
Research designed for reflection and action
The report combines survey findings with community reflections, discussion prompts, and actions for four audiences: nonprofit leaders and teams; funders; technology developers; and sector networks, associations, and policymakers.
The annual surveys use independent samples rather than tracking the same organizations over time. Three-year comparisons offer insight into emerging patterns, with attention to changes in survey questions and measures.
The project also includes the AI Equity Framework and practical learning resources that help organizations examine data equity, accountability, transparency, resource equity, participation, and self-determination.
Alongside the surveys, an ongoing “Report Data and AI Harms” form provides a space for people to share their experiences. This parallel listening work has informed resources including AI Equity Harm Signals, a guide to recognizing and responding to harms in everyday nonprofit practice.
The project continues to deliberately avoid producing a single AI Equity Score, emphasizing contextual reflection over organizational rankings.
Explore the AI Equity research and resources
About Namaste Data
Founded by Meena Das, Namaste Data supports nonprofits and social impact organizations through equitable data collection, community surveys, responsible AI consulting, and education. Its work centers the people, relationships, and decisions behind data and technology.
Media contact
Meena Das CEO, Namaste Data and Founder of the AI Equity Project meenadas@namastedata.orgwww.namastedata.org
For interviews, commentary on the findings, or questions about the research, please contact Meena directly.
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