Research, Development, and Ethical AI Adoption for nonprofits and foundations.
Advisory work for organizations navigating AI adoption — frameworks, policy, and implementation guidance grounded in real organizational realities. Co-developed the AI Governance Framework for Nonprofits with Microsoft. Current and recent partners include CZI, SEAL, AnnieCannons, and GenForward at the University of Chicago.
The Principal
Rose Afriyie has spent more than a decade building public-interest technology — and putting AI to work for social impact.
She is the co-founder of mRelief, a platform — online and over text — that helps people sign up for SNAP. Since 2017, mRelief has woven AI through its tools, from speech-to-text that cuts hold times to a tailored chatbot and streamlined document verification.
Today, Rose conducts qualitative research on AI at the University of Chicago and provides technology advisory services to nonprofit organizations. She believes this era of AI holds incredible promise — and that social-impact leaders are uniquely positioned to apply it to some of the world's biggest challenges.
- Experience
- 10+ years in public-interest technology, including roles at Google and the White House.
- mRelief
- 5.7 million people have accessed over $2.2 billion in government food benefits.
- Research
- University of Chicago · Dondo.ai, a Mozilla-backed African-language technology project.
- Boards
- mRelief and Recidiviz — leveraging AI while centering ethics, privacy, and accessibility.
- Beyond work
- Writes speculative fiction exploring the limits and possibilities of AI for a more just world.
The literacy gap
Nonprofit leaders want to adopt AI responsibly. Most don't have the in-house expertise to do it safely.
Source — 2025 Chronicle of Philanthropy Technology Leadership Survey
How AfriyieRND helps
From policy and frameworks to hands-on coaching — meeting leaders wherever they are with AI.
Across 29 coaching sessions with nonprofit leaders, four areas of need surfaced again and again. The practice is built around them.
Foundational AI Support
For organizations with little to no AI background: an introduction to core concepts, tools, and capabilities — anchored by an AI Adoption Framework and policy adoption to guide decisions and future planning.
Generative AI, in practice
Practical strategies for grant writing, email, and data analysis: prompt engineering, custom GPTs and Gems, and clear-eyed comparisons of Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, and Perplexity to inform purchasing.
Thought Partnership
Guidance on integrating AI into specific projects and organizational goals — prototyping conversations, strategies for embedding AI into core processes, and reviewing platform privacy policies and their implications.
AI Engineering Scoping
For teams ready to build or customize AI tools: scoping technical projects, supporting engagement with third-party platforms, and developing SOPs that are ready for engineering support.
Workshops & sessions
Standalone or integrated learning — connecting strategic frameworks to lessons from the field.
Deciding on AI
Adopt AI ethically and align it with mission while balancing efficiency and privacy.
Scaling Technology as a Nonprofit Leader
Building scalable products in resource-constrained environments — mRelief from 5,000 to 5M+ users.
AI & Communications
Chat interfaces, transcription, and image generation to streamline how teams communicate.
Trial, Error & Navigating Challenges
Honest reflections on the iterations and pivots behind successful nonprofit innovation.
AI & Operations
Automating repetitive tasks and introducing metrics to track impact on efficiency and outcomes.
Thoroughness & Onboarding
Models for "drip" onboarding to foster trust and commitment in the first 100 days.
AI & Programs
Applying AI to programmatic work without overwhelming already-stretched teams.
Partnerships Prowess & N2B
Scaling from 1 pilot partner to 20 — and closing corporate partners like Lyft, DoorDash, Kroger, Walmart, and Microsoft.
Recent & current partners & collaborators
In their words
What nonprofit leaders say about working with Rose.
Our AI use policy seeks to create a baseline so our community, our staff, and the people we serve are clear on how we use these tools — and how we want them governed in the future.
BetaNYC — a leading civic-technology organization improving lives in New York City through open data, civic design, and technology — published its first AI use policy using a template Rose Afriyie co-developed with Afua Bruce and that NTEN amplified.
Heterotaxy.org
“I was at a conference last week and was talking about Rose and how she helped me with a lot of my work in AI. And everybody was like, ‘I didn't realize you could take notes with AI or leverage ChatGPT to draft mass emails.’ And I said ‘yes, Rose is the best.’
Downtown Crenshaw Rising & Liberty Ecosystem
“This is awesome. There was not really one element of the work that we're doing that I did not think could benefit from some of the AI tools that Rose mentioned. She has really helped me to avoid being overwhelmed.
The team
A small, multidisciplinary team across research, design, and operations.
Contact
Let's talk about ethical AI adoption.
For advisory, hiring, operations, or partnership matters, reach the team below.