# Employee survey highlights charities as least likely to be using AI in the workplace

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/01/28/employee-survey-highlights-charities-as-least-likely-to-be-using-ai-in-the-workplace/
- Published: 2025-01-28T09:00:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**A survey of employees in 12 industries and professions has found those in charities
and not-for-profit organisations the least likely to be using AI.**

Overall, the Access Group’s survey found that half use AI today. Most likely to 
be using it were those in the tech sector (74%) and in HR (68%). Charities and not-
for-profit organisations are least likely to use it (29%), just behind health and
social care (30%). 

The [research](https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/evo/insights/) is based on 1,134
responses to a survey, with each industry / profession accounting for 10% of these.

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#### Reducing workload & helping productivity

Respondents who already use AI in their charity or not-for-profit highlighted a 
number of benefits, of which reducing workload (62%) and helping productivity (45%)
were seen as the biggest. 32% said it saves money, while 28% felt it gives staff
time to focus on what matters most, and 28% also said it resulted in better customer
service.

#### ChatGPT most popular AI tool

ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool in the sector, with around 51% using it – just
behind the all-sector average of 55%. Around 46% also say generative AI tools like
ChatGPT have relieved stress or anxiety about their job or workload. 

Shaf Mansour, Senior Product Manager at Access, Non Profit Division, said:

> “Many charities run on a shoestring without in-house technical expertise to innovate
> using new capabilities such as AI. Tight budgets and limited resource only strengthen
> the case for adopting AI due to the efficiencies that can be made. Our survey 
> showed around 36% of professionals in the sector use generative AI for content
> creation, so it could be a huge help speeding up the content creation process 
> for campaigns across websites, social media and email.”

Ropinder Gill, Chief Executive at [Lymphoma Action](https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/),
which is looking at how best to use AI, commented:

> “Like other digital tools, using AI for certain aspects of our work could free
> up staff and volunteer time to do more of what we do best – supporting people 
> affected by lymphoma and their families. We’ve been developing our approach to
> AI with input from our community and through a cross-team working group who have
> helped to put policies and guidance in place to support staff whilst they learn
> and explore. We feel this is the best way to ensure that our use of AI is ethical,
> effective and transparent whilst also enabling us to be innovative.”

 * **[Artificial intelligence, real funding advice](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/09/artificial-intelligence-real-funding-advice/)(
   9 January 2023)
 * **[Breast Cancer Care now uses AI photos to convey hope](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/03/13/breast-cancer-now-uses-ai-photos-to-convey-hope/)(
   13 March 2024)
 * **[Framework launched to promote ethical AI fundraising practices in fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/07/27/framework-launched-to-promote-ethical-ai-practices-in-fundraising/)(
   27 July 2023)**