The NTEN 2025 conference wrapped up about two weeks ago, but it’s still top of mind for this Communications Associate. I’ve been reflecting on the presentations from nonprofits, their supporters, and advocates, and the unique intersection NTEN addresses around technology and innovation. What stood out most was how much hope was present alongside the insights. No one skirted around how hard it’s been to show up for this work in the past year (and, let’s be real, the years before that). Still, everyone did show up—with scrappiness and heart.
Over the course of three days, I witnessed a world where technology—so often a tool for harm in the wrong hands—was instead being wielded by the inherently compassionate and justice-minded people who lead nonprofits. In their hands, tech becomes a tool for subversion, one that defends the dignity and safety of our communities.
The keynote speakers stood out as leaders we in the nonprofit space should keep in our back pockets as guides for using tech in bold, new ways. If you attended, you know:
- Allissa V. Richardson, PhD, assistant professor of journalism at USC Annenberg, is using tech to correct the historical record and elevate voices misrepresented by mainstream media.
- Ashley Shew, philosopher of technology and biotech ethicist at Virginia Tech, is reshaping the disability narrative in tech—her work earned an NSF CAREER Award.
- Michael Running Wolf, AI ethicist and founder of IndigiGenius, is researching automatic speech recognition for highly polysynthetic Indigenous languages.
Their work inspires a crucial question: How will we use technology to protect and uplift our communities? As creative and innovative nonprofit professionals, we can imagine limitless ways to apply tech to the problems our missions set us out to address.
Since returning from NTEN, I’ve been turning over the phrase: “Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.” Yes, it’s originally attributed to Al Capone (not exactly an ideal icon), but fun fact—he’s also the person behind expiration dates on food. So, in a roundabout way, we can thank him for saving us from curdled milk in our coffee. I digress.
What matters is that the phrase feels like a motto for the nonprofit sector. In a time when the landscape feels more hostile than ever, NTEN 2025 reminded me that nonprofits are full of surprises: brimming with innovation, resilience, and quiet strength.
We’re not just vessels for generosity or talking heads on hard issues. We are organizations like:
- Center for American Progress, which built a dedicated Project 2025 web page that garnered so much traffic it rose to the top of search results—educating and empowering visitors on how to respond.
- Evergreen Action, which mobilized trusted influencers with tailored talking points and legal guidance to drive public comments supporting the EPA’s proposed carbon rules.
We are using the tools of today to do our work in new and impactful ways. And as those tools—and our reach—continue to grow, so must our determination to keep reaching.