New frontiers

Throughout history, each of our defining eras has played a role in shaping philanthropy. The industrial revolution brought mass wealth redistribution, the post-war decades birthed institutions dedicated to global development, and the digital age unlocked new models of giving.

Today, we stand at the threshold of a new frontier: the rapid growth and evolution of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), to drive deeper, more inclusive, and future-ready impact.  The opportunities are countless, but the dangers ever present.

Philanthropy has often embraced technology to increase efficiency, for example, using digitised fundraising platforms, blockchain for transparent donations, or data analytics to measure outcomes.

But the rise of AI and other powerful innovations presents more than an opportunity to improve efficiency; it demands a rethinking of how philanthropy is done.

The core question is no longer “How can technology help us do more?” but rather “How can technology help us do good in a responsible and sustainable way?”

Ethical use of emerging technologies must be at the heart of future-ready philanthropy. Without it, we risk perpetuating inequities, compromising privacy, or creating new divides in access to opportunity.

AI is already reshaping sectors as diverse as healthcare, education, and climate action. In philanthropy, it holds promise in the following areas:

• Predictive analysis for humanitarian needs. AI can anticipate where hunger, homelessness, or health crises may spike, enabling philanthropic actors to intervene earlier and more strategically.
• Bespoke charitable giving journeys. AI-driven platforms can match donors with causes that align closely to their values, deepening engagement and loyalty.
• Organisational efficiency for charities. Automating back-office tasks allows organisations to devote more resources to frontline impact.

Yet the risks are real. Think bias embedded in algorithms, surveillance creeping into service delivery, or over-reliance on machine logic at the expense of human dignity.

Indeed, through attacks on civilians in Palestine with armoured drones we can see that Ai also poses a genuine threat to human life itself. Countless aid workers have been murdered in targeting killing and this must be challenged.

It is therefore essential that ethical guardrails – such as transparency, accountability, and inclusivity – are in place to guide AI’s adoption in the sector.

One of the challenges which is already emerging amid the rapid digitisation and automated giving, is the loss of the soul and spirit that can connect humanity through the spirit of charitable giving. Being able to invest time in understanding problems and the plight of vulnerable people not only educates but works on the very heart of the individual giver. This is why many faiths connect individuals with the divine through charity.

For example, in the Islamic tradition the Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings upon him, calls out to humanity: “No one of you truly believes, until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Al-Bukhaari,13)

The softening of the heart and inculcating of compassion is a real benefit from charitable giving. It has a benefit beyond the beneficiary of the giving, as the action itself of understanding and then contributing breads empathy, compassion, love, and mercy.

These qualities have a far-reaching impact on the life of a charitable giver, their families, workplace, and communities benefit from their character exemplifying these qualities to different degrees.

As Scott Adams, the cartoonist behind Dilbert, once said: “There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness, every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

This whole consideration must also be looked at in the light of the motivations for giving. Recent research by the Lilly School at Indiana University found Americans with religious affiliations made average annual charitable donations of US$1,590, versus U$695 for those with no religious affiliations.

There is a risk that by making the process of giving more technical and artificial, there could be an impact on the amount of funds that move because the actual cognition process from a faith motivation declines.

Beyond Islam, giving is not just a social or moral act—it’s a sacred one and motivation often stems from a desire to align with divine will or teachings, which can deepen the emotional and spiritual impact of their giving.

In the Hindu tradition we see man is reminded: "Relieving the ravaging hunger of the poor is the most secure use of a rich man's wealth." (Tirukkurral, 226.)

And in the Bible, it says: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews, 13:16)

Beyond people’s motivations for giving, Philanthropy itself must evolve from being a funder of solutions to a shaper of systems. And, new technologies like AI emerge, the sector has both the moral obligation and the leverage to support for ethical application and equitable distribution.

Philanthropy can help in the following areas:

• Building ethical standards. Creating cross-sector guidelines for responsible use of AI and tech in social impact.
• Investing in access. Ensuring marginalised communities benefit from (as opposed to being excluded by) emerging technologies.
• Fostering collaboration. Uniting technologists, philanthropists, policymakers, and communities to co-create future-ready solutions.

The new frontier of impact should not about choosing between technology and humanity. We need to be able to weave them together in ways that preserve dignity, expand opportunity, and unlock creativity.

Emerging technologies are mirrors of our values: they will either reinforce inequality or reimagine justice. The choice is ours.

Philanthropy—rooted in purpose, equity, and hope—is uniquely positioned to lead this choice. By harnessing AI and other innovations ethically, it can help build solutions not just for today’s challenges, but for tomorrow’s unknowns.

The future of impact will be written by those bold enough to cross this frontier with wisdom, courage, and care. - PA