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Practical AI for Non-Profits: Real Lessons from the Field

Practical AI for Non-Profits: Real Lessons from the Field

Workshop Overview:

AI isn’t just for tech companies—it’s becoming a practical tool that non-profits of all sizes can use to do more with less. From marketing and storytelling to community outreach and donor engagement, AI can help you work smarter, not harder. But where do you start?

Join a panel of peers and small business leaders who have rolled up their sleeves and tried AI tools firsthand—sometimes successfully, sometimes learning the hard way. They’ll share real lessons, simple strategies, and honest insights about how AI can help you amplify your mission without adding complexity or big expenses.

What You’ll Learn:

  • What AI Can (and Can’t) Do for Non-Profits:
    Get a clear, no-jargon introduction to how AI is being used in marketing, fundraising, and communications today.
  • Lessons from Real-World Experience:
    Hear from panelists who’ve tested AI tools in their day-to-day operations—what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known before starting.
  • Practical Use Cases:
    Explore how AI can help with tasks like drafting social posts, brainstorming content ideas, managing outreach lists, and analyzing engagement data.
  • Starting Small and Staying Human:
    Learn how to get started with AI without losing the personal touch that makes your organization special.
  • Ethical Considerations:
    Understand the importance of using AI responsibly—protecting privacy, avoiding bias, and keeping mission-driven values front and center.

Whether you’re curious about AI but don’t know where to begin, or you’ve dabbled a bit and want to compare notes with others, this workshop will help you find simple, budget-friendly ways to start leveraging AI to support your non-profit’s goals.

This session will be facilitated by Armando Chacon, Founder of Real Hearts Give and Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Non-Profit Committee.

About our Panelists

Aaron Byzak is Chief Strategist for Galvanized Strategies, a public affairs and fractional leadership firm supporting healthcare and nonprofit clients. He currently serves as Interim CEO of Grossmont Healthcare District and Chief Strategy Officer for Mission Critical Protocols.

With 30+ years of experience in healthcare, EMS, and public policy, Aaron has led award-winning campaigns, shaped crisis responses, and advised organizations at every level. A four-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer among numerous other accolades, also a sought-after mentor and coach to emerging leaders.

He holds an MBA from UC Irvine, a BA from Chapman University, and executive leadership certificates from UCLA and Cornell.

Roxana Pavel is a hospitality professional with over 15 years of management experience raging from freestanding restaurants to hotels and everything in between from Massachusetts to Southern California, via Washington DC. She is the owner of allmine, a restaurant in Oceanside, CA, established in 2022. She earned a Master’s of Science in Hospitality and Tourism services from Rochester Institute of Technology and passed Level 2 Sommelier, but most of her knowledge comes from her extensive career, the people she met along the way and the guests who validated her efforts.
Originally from Romania, Roxana started her hospitality career in Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She learned hospitality in a town that prioritizes art and community, freedom of expression and embraces one and all. That lifestyle transcends in all aspects of life, including how they run and manage businesses and fundamentally shaped her as an adult and her leadership style.
She eventually made her way to Southern California looking for sunshine and kindness, but mostly for community. She felt the warm embrace of the Oceanside community when she opened allmine, a neighborhood restaurant serving artisanal pizza and natural wines and continues to build her tribe with warm hospitality and great food.

Julian Garcia is an attorney and activist based in Oceanside, California. His legal practice is focused on strategic advising in high-risk business situations such as formation, hiring, and fundraising. Julian’s legal work funds his cannabis activism, in which he continues to advocate for reasonable regulation, economic opportunity, and medical access. Despite his minimal IT background, Julian has spent over a year using ChatGPT across his personal and professional life—exploring its utility as well as its limitations; he now shares what he’s learned at workshops and panels for similarly situated professionals to help expedite their learning curve.

Guajome Community Mixer – 5/30/25

Join Us for an Unforgettable Evening at the Guajome Community Mixer!

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 30th, 2025 and get ready for an inspiring and entertaining night dedicated to bringing our community together! This special event is designed to celebrate the incredible individuals who have contributed to our Guajome Park Academy and the Foundation, highlight the milestones we’ve achieved over the past year, and raise funds to continue our impactful work.

Event Highlights:

  • Location: The Vistonian (306 S Santa Fe, Vista, CA 92084)
  • 5:00 – 6:00 PM – Exclusive Early Access for Guajome Staff
  • 6:00 PM – Reception and Check In Begins: Meet and connect with professionals, exchange business cards, and expand your network. Stop by the open bar to enjoy a selection of handcrafted cocktails, wine, and beer while you mix and mingle, don’t forget to capture the moment at our photo booth!
  • 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Unlimited Buffet Dinner: Indulge in a variety of ten artisanal pizza styles and fresh salads, all served buffet style from Criscito Pizza, all crafted with the finest ingredients and cooked fresh on-site in an imported Italian wood-burning oven.
  • 7:30 PM – Speaker & Awards Ceremony – Join us as we recognize outstanding contributors and celebrate the progress we’ve made as a community.
  • 5:00 – 7:30 PM – Silent Auction – Bid on exclusive items and experiences, with all proceeds supporting the Foundation’s ongoing efforts.
This is more than just an event—it’s a chance to connect, celebrate, and make a lasting impact! Secure your ticket today and be part of a night filled with delicious food, great company, and meaningful recognition. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Stakeholders Day – Guajome Park Academy

Join us for Stakeholders Day at Guajome, a fantastic school-wide celebration showcasing the incredible talents and achievements of our students! Wander through campus and explore interactive and informative exhibits, amazing student artwork, and captivating performances on stage—including drama, music, dance, and our exciting international runway show.
At Guajome Park Academy, we believe that everyone plays a role in the success of our school. That means you—families, students, staff, and community members—are all valued stakeholders, and this event is a celebration of everyone in our school community.
Enjoy delicious food, fun games, creative crafts, and merchandise, all brought to you by over 30 school clubs and sports teams. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the excellence of Guajome! Plus, connect with a variety of community groups joining us to share resources, opportunities, and ways to get involved.
Don’t miss this exciting day of learning, entertainment, and celebration! We can’t wait to see you on March 1st!

San Diego Gives 2024 Information Session

During this virtual session, we’ll discuss the latest updates and enhancements to this year’s campaign. As it’s our first year at the helm, we’ve taken great care to listen to your valuable feedback from previous years and have implemented some exciting changes to make San Diego Gives 2024 even more impactful! You will also here from our partners and their support with San Diego Gives Day of Service on September 6th and San Diego Gives University presented by Impact Cubed.

Registration to participate in San Diego Gives opens on May 1st and will close on July 8th. Your participation plays a vital role in continuing to strengthen our community, and we can’t wait to embark on this journey with you once again.

 

Register for the virtual info session.

Run Your Fundraising Event Like a Pro

Managing the day of your fundraising event can be daunting, even for someone who has prior experience working on events. There are so many details that need to come together, so many people to manage, and so many vendors to coordinate.

Yikes!!!!

Don’t worry, I can help! I am A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, of Queen Bee Fundraising and I am a 20-year nonprofit event producer, and I am going to host a FREE webinar that will show you strategies and resources used by professional event planners to ensure events run smoothly. This webinar is for any nonprofit staff member or volunteer who wants to succeed when it comes to managing ​the day of their event like a pro.

Successful Fundraising Events & Sponsorships Workshop

Get your organization poised for success with both fundraising events and sponsorships! These two half-day workshops, led by 20-year nonprofit event producer A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, are the perfect way to get your nonprofit ready to succeed with both.

It is highly encouraged to take both of the workshops together in order to maximize the impact of the training. There is a discount for taking both workshops together.

Details of Successful Events workshop: 9am-12:30pm

Nonprofits devote enormous amounts of time and resources annually to their fundraising events, yet each year they are frustrated by the lack of return on their investment.

Now is the time to break that cycle of frustration and give your events a fresh start by learning the strategies, tips, and resources used by professional event planners to create engaging and profitable events.

In this workshop we will walk you step-by-step through:

  • Starting Out Right
  • Event Committees & Honorees
  • Finding & Managing Volunteers
  • The Secret to Engaging Events
  • Running Your Events Like a Pro
  • Turning Guests into Donors

This workshop will give you the tools to create events that engage and inspire with less stress in the planning phases.

Details of Successful Sponsorships Workshop: 1:00pm-5:00pm

SPONSORSHIPS! Organizations want them and need them, but lack the know-how and training to prospect them, attract their attention, and keep sponsors happy. In this workshop A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, of Queen Bee Fundraising will walk you through the steps to take to get your organization primed for sponsorship dollars.

In this workshop you will learn:

  • What sponsors are looking for
  • What your organization has to offer
  • How to craft professional-quality marketing materials
  • How to prospect and solicit potential sponsors
  • How to treat sponsors like VIPs so they sign on year-after-year.

About the presenter, AJ. Steinberg, CFRE, of Queen Bee Fundraising

With over 20 years’ experience as a nonprofit event planner and engagement strategist, A.J. Steinberg has produced over 100 successful events and raised millions of dollars for organizations with her Los Angeles-based production company. In 2015 A.J. launched Queen Bee Fundraising to share the art of nonprofit event planning and engagement strategies with organizations worldwide. She is a recognized topic expert, and presents on subjects such as nonprofit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational giving, and guest engagement.

San Diego Grant Professionals Conference

The San Diego Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association presents the San Diego Grant Professionals Conference, March 10, 2023 from 8 am to 3pm at Leichtag Commons. Register at https://grantprofessionals.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?

Key Note by Pamela Gray Payton, San Diego Foundation and breakout sessions which include: Building Internal and External Relationships, Personal and Professional Growth, and Meet the Funders. Ticket includes free headshots, lunch and refreshments. Early Bird pricing until January 30th. Registration closes Feb. 22nd.

Successful Nonprofit Events and Sponsorships Workshops

Do you want to get your organization poised for success in 2023 with both fundraising events and sponsorships? Then these two half-day workshops, led by 20-year nonprofit event producer A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, are the perfect way to set yourself up to succeed with both.

NOTE: You can take just one workshop or take both workshops. Each workshop is $99, and if you take both you receive a $25 discount.

Successful Events workshop: 8:30am-12:00pm, January 9, 2023

Nonprofits devote enormous amounts of time and resources annually to their fundraising events, yet each year they are frustrated by the lack of return on their investment.

Now is the time to break that cycle of frustration and give your events a fresh start by learning the strategies, tips, and resources used by professional event planners to create engaging and profitable events.

In this workshop we will walk you step-by-step through:

  • the stages of successful event planning
  • sponsorship integration
  • venue and catering management
  • invitation suites and tribute books
  • volunteer assessment, recruiting, and management
  • event and stage program sequencing
  • post-event engagement

This workshop will give you the tools to create events that engage and inspire with less stress in the planning phases.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE

Successful Sponsorships Workshop: 1:00pm-4:30pm, January 9, 2023

SPONSORSHIPS! Organizations want them and need them, but lack the know-how and training to prospect them, attract their attention, and keep sponsors happy. In this workshop A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, of Queen Bee Fundraising will walk you through the steps to take to get your organization primed for sponsorship dollars.

In this workshop you will learn:

  • what sponsors are looking for
  • what your organization has to offer
  • how to craft professional-quality marketing materials
  • how to prospect and solicit potential sponsors
  • how to treat sponsors like VIPs so they sign on year-after-year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE

About the presenter, AJ. Steinberg, CFRE, of Queen Bee Fundraising

With over 20 years’ experience as a nonprofit event planner and engagement strategist, A.J. Steinberg has produced over 100 successful events and raised millions of dollars for organizations with her Los Angeles-based production company. In 2015 A.J. launched Queen Bee Fundraising to share the art of nonprofit event planning and engagement strategies with organizations worldwide. She is a recognized topic expert, and presents on subjects such as nonprofit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational giving, and guest engagement.