By: Charly Schwartz, Managing Director of People, Culture, and Operations

As leaders, we are constantly making choices about the tools we adopt and the systems we build. These choices shape our culture, our effectiveness, and our impact on the communities we serve. With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, those choices carry even greater weight. For organizations rooted in community, how we adopt AI matters. 

According to BDO’s 2025 Nonprofit Benchmarking Survey, more than 90% of nonprofits are using AI, yet few have the governance, training, or ethical frameworks needed for responsible adoption. It’s clear that while AI is prevalent across the sector, organizations that don’t build governance and capacity around it now risk getting left behind. 

As a first-generation Cuban-American and as someone responsible for how Latinos for Education aligns operations and culture to drive our mission, I don’t approach AI as a neutral tool. Rather I approach it with a deeper sense of responsibility, knowing that too often new technologies are introduced to Latino communities rather than shaped by them. And this is a pattern we’re committed to breaking. 

Building Shared and Responsible AI Fluency at Latinos for Education 

Internally, we are approaching AI adoption in our nonprofit as a cultural and operational capability that is intentionally aligned to our values, our people, and our mission. At Latinos for Education, we’veembraced AI with intentionality. We see this moment not simply as a technology shift, but as an inflection point in the nonprofit sector and for the Latino community. If AI is already changing how schools, communities, and nonprofits operate, then we have a responsibility to ensure it is used in ways that are ethical, culturally grounded, and truly in service of people. That’s why we are taking a structured, values-centered approach to internal adoption, grounded in three practical commitments: 

1. Clear policy and guardrails. We are finalizing a Responsible AI framework that emphasizes transparency, human-in-the-loop oversight, and mission alignment, so that AI strengthens (rather than replaces) the creativity, judgment, and lived expertise of our team. 
2. Ongoing staff training and support. We are building shared fluency across the organization through training, guidance, and peer learning, so staff can use AI confidently and responsibly without fear, confusion, or pressure to adopt before they’re ready. 
3. AI literacy and integration into systems. We are investing in AI tools that integrate with our existing platforms and workflows, ensuring adoption reduces friction and increases clarity, particularly in a remote, cross-functional nonprofit environment. 

We’re beginning to see the impact of this intentional approach internally. A recent pulse survey conducted with our team shows meaningful growth in AI fluency and confidence over just six months, alongside strong verification habits and a shared sense of psychological safety around experimentation. Most importantly, staff report that AI is saving real time (collectively dozens of hours each week) in their day-to-day work, freeing up capacity for deeper thinking, interpersonal connection, collaboration, and mission-critical priorities, while keeping human judgment and accountability at the center of decision-making. 

Equipping Educators to Lead in an AI-Driven Era 

We’re also investing in the field. Through our AI in Education Leadership Catalyst, we’re equipping education leaders across the country not just to use AI, but to shape how it shows up in schools and communities. Our first two cohorts in 2025 supported 100 education leaders in an experience intentionally designed around a “community first, content second” principle. Participants engaged in relational, culturally responsive approaches to integrating AI in their practice through practical AI-focused projects that address challenges in their schools and communities. And the learning didn’t end with these participants. Through structured templates and flexible action planning guides, participants shared their learning with colleagues, reaching more than 1,000 additional educators nationwide. 

More broadly, the Catalyst is an opportunity for communities of color to be at the forefront of shaping emerging technology in service of equitable education. And the results speak for themselves: 

• 96% of participants report increased confidence using AI responsibly 

• Nearly all report greater ability to deliver culturally relevant AI learning 

• 100% plan to support colleagues in integrating AI into their work 

As one participant shared, “I’m starting to see AI less as something distant or purely ‘tech’ and more as something leaders like us can actively shape to reflect values of inclusion and trust.” 

Looking Ahead: Leading in the AI Era with Care and Courage 

Our internal work and our efforts with educators reflect a core belief: Latino communities must not only participate in the AI era… we must lead it. If Latino communities are going to thrive in an AI-driven future, we must continue building the skills, guardrails, and collective power to lead. Together. 

At Latinos for Education, we’re proud to be building a model of shared and responsible AI fluency across teams and integrating AI into our strategy with care and cultural competence. Personally, I’m energized to continue collaborating with my colleagues and our broader community to ensure AI expands opportunity, elevates voice, and advances equity in education. 

If you are an education leader, nonprofit professional, or community advocate interested in how AI is shaping the future of education, we invite you to stay connected. Sign up for the Latinos for Education newsletter to be the first to learn when applications open for the next AI in Education Leadership Catalyst cohort, along with updates on the work we’re doing across the organization. 

For those who want to continue building their AI knowledge now, you can also explore additional learning opportunities and resources through Generation AI, which offers accessible information and professional learning related to AI in education. 

By staying engaged, you can be part of a growing community of leaders working to ensure AI is used with intention, care, and accountability in education. 

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Charly Schwartz is the Managing Director of People, Culture, and Operations at Latinos for Education, where he leads efforts to cultivate an inclusive culture, and aligns operations and talent strategies to drive organizational effectiveness. With over 20 years of experience in strategic operations and people leadership, Charly’s career spans the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. At Music Will and America SCORES, he led strategic planning, infrastructure alignment, and capacity building. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Charly co-founded the award-winning LeadDog Marketing Group. A first-generation Cuban-American, Charly is committed to advancing equity in the Latino community. Charly holds a Master’s in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.