DSC launches Speed Read guide to AI for charities

Howard Lake | 30 April 2026 | News

• Tagged with:
• artificial intelligence
• Directory of Social Change
• fundraising book

The Directory of Social Change (DSC) has published Speed Read: Artificial Intelligence, a short practical guide to help voluntary sector staff understand AI and start using it without a big budget or specialist knowledge.

Written by Matt T. I. Hill, the 38-page guide explains what AI is, what it can do for charities, and how to choose suitable tools. It also sets out how to put governance in place so that AI is used safely and ethically, how to prepare staff, and which common pitfalls to avoid.

What the guide covers

The book is organised around five areas:

• AI and the voluntary sector
• The foundations of AI governance
• What AI can do for you and your organisation
• Choosing the right tools
• Avoiding the pitfalls of AI

It is written for anyone working in the voluntary sector, so fundraisers wondering where AI might support their work, and what safeguards to agree first, will find it a useful starting point. Like other titles in DSC’s Speed Read series, it includes top tips, case studies and “where next” ideas for readers short on time.

Early readers quoted by DSC include charity chief executives and technology and data specialists, who describe it as clear, practical and focused on people, purpose and impact rather than hype.

About the author

Matt T. I. Hill has worked in the charity sector for over 12 years, designing and implementing services for people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion. He focuses on people-focused charities supporting individuals facing challenges including homelessness, mental ill health, bereavement, the criminal justice system and, most recently, addiction recovery and clinical support services.

Availability

Speed Read: Artificial Intelligence (ISBN 9781784821395) is available only as a digital download, in PDF or epub format, priced at £8.95 each. It can be bought from the Directory of Social Change website.

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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.