AUSTIN, Texas — Today Google.org — the company’s philanthropy — announced $1 million in funding to Austin Community Foundation to provide AI training to 20 local nonprofits through the company’s AI Opportunity Fund. Project Evident—another recipient of the Fund—is supporting community-based nonprofits in Austin, providing a range of capacity building support, including technical assistance and a program to help them adopt AI skills for improved efficiency and impact. Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund aims to equip one million Americans with AI skills.
In a 2024 report on the use of generative AI among nonprofits, Google found that, of the nonprofits surveyed, more than 40% of respondents said that none of their staff were trained, educated, or fluent in AI. With support from Google, Project Evident will help the Austin Community Foundation provide AI training to nonprofits. The programming will include in-person working sessions, webinars, development of a tailored AI adoption roadmap, access to one-on-one coaching, and peer learning opportunities. This work recently started with a “Discovery Day” launch event in Austin where local nonprofit organizations attended a day of programming and AI training.
“Nonprofits are addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, and Google.org is committed to empowering them with AI skills to help them accelerate their impact,” said Maggie Johnson, VP and Global Head, Google.org. “We’re proud to support Project Evident and Tech:NYC as they provide nonprofits with technical assistance and AI training at no cost. This will help nonprofits improve efficiency, focus on their mission, and reach even more people
“Google.org’s AI Opportunity Accelerator creates a collaborative pathway for nonprofits to explore how artificial intelligence can meaningfully enhance their operations and program outcomes,” said Mike Nellis, CEO, Austin Community Foundation. “We’re grateful to collaborate with Google.org and Project Evident on this innovative initiative and are excited to see how local organizations will leverage AI to work more effectively, ultimately creating a stronger, more resilient Central Texas.”
Founded in 1977, Austin Community Foundation is a trusted partner in Central Texas focused on closing the opportunity gap through advancing economic mobility and housing affordability. The Foundation’s philanthropic investments support long-term solutions for the critical and evolving needs of Central Texans. Their team collaborates with community-minded individuals, families, and businesses to create greater impact.
Today’s announcement builds on the impact of Google.org’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which will help over one million Americans learn essential AI skills by providing funding to best-in-class workforce development and education organizations across the country. To date, Google has trained more than 1 million Texans on digital skills through partnerships with organizations such as public libraries, chambers of commerce, community colleges, and more.
Central Texas nonprofits participating:
/ Asian Family Support Services of Austin
/ Austin Youth River Watch
/ AVANCE – Austin
/ Black Mamas ATX
/ Building Promise USA
/ Catch the Next, Inc.
/ Code2College, Inc.
/ Con Mi MADRE
/ DivInc
/ E4 Youth
/ El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission
/ Latinitas
/ Lirios Pediatrics
/ Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
/ Measure Austin
/ Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas
/ Saint Louise House
/ Seedling Foundation
/ Texas Advocacy Project
/ Thinkery
About Google in Texas
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps in, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Google Cloud, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google has proudly called Texas home for more than 18 years with an office presence across the state in Austin, Dallas and Houston and its Midlothian data center.
About Austin Community Foundation
Austin Community Foundation (ACF) mobilizes ideas and resources to strengthen Central Texas. ACF is focused on advancing economic mobility and housing affordability, and it uses varied tools – data, convening, and philanthropic dollars – to implement its strategy. Established in 1977, ACF stewards $579 million in total assets under management. In 2024, ACF granted $64 million to the community, mostly through donor advised funds. Learn more at AustinCF.org.
About Project Evident
Project Evident harnesses the power of data, evidence, and technology to create greater impact. We are at the forefront of next-generation evidence practice in the social and education sectors. Project Evident enables practitioners (nonprofits, districts, and state education agencies) and their funders to make better use of these resources by advancing an inclusive R&D approach, and embracing scalable, ethical, and cost-effective technology, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful and equitable outcomes.
