Café PANO: Generative AI in Action, Practical AI for Mission-Driven Work

Café PANO: Generative AI in Action
Practical AI for Mission-Driven Work
Tuesday, August 25 | 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM | Virtual Gathering (PANO Members)

Hosted by: Stephanie Chapuis, PANO's Membership & Consultant Collaborative Manager

Guest Speaker: Aaron Proietti, Founder of Today’s Innovator

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday, August 24, 3:00 PM

Calling all PANO Members!

One thing PANO has heard loud and clear from our members, regardless of geography, mission, organization size, or what have you, is the ongoing need for connection. To that end, we introduced Café PANO in April 2024: a supportive space for PANO Members to come together, share experiences, and find inspiration - building a sense of community, one conversation at a time.

Since that first virtual convening, we've begun hosting monthly gatherings for PANO Members, switching up the day of the week and time of day in an effort to include different folks each time. Roughly every other month, we'll offer unprogrammed time with your peers (30 minutes) and in the opposite months, we'll extend our time together to 45 minutes for deeper discussion on a particular topic, to be identified and share in advance. We hope this will allow folks to address those in-the-moment needs that we don't always have time to plan for as well as the need for more focused dicussion around relevant themes that are popping up around the state. Topics we covered in 2025 include Legislative Updates & PANO's 2025 Advocacy Priorities, Understanding Nonprofit Finances, Scenario Planning, Utilizing Tech for Efficiency & Visibiity, and The State of Fundraising. Got a topic in mind for a future gathering? Share it with us here, along with any recommendations for time of year for the discussion and suggested facilitators.

"Generative AI in Action
Practical AI for Mission-Driven Work

Generative AI is moving fast, and nonprofits don't have time to sort hype from what's actually useful. In this session, Aaron Proietti, founder of Today's Innovator, will bring you up to speed on where AI stands today and how to put it to work for nonprofits.

Attendees will:

• Get a clear, jargon-free grounding in what generative AI is and how it works
• See how the landscape has evolved and where it's headed next
• Compare the major AI platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and more) and when to use each
• Understand the real risks and common concerns organizations should watch for
• Walk away with practical, ready-to-use applications for nonprofit work
• Get a preview of what's coming next in AI, and how to prepare for it

Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting, you'll leave with a clearer picture and ideas you can put to use right away.

Get to know Aaron in the bio below, and we look forward to seeing you!"

So, if you're feeling discouraged, seeking guidance, in need of a sounding board, or simply craving connection with like-minded individuals, Café PANO is the spot for you. Join us to see how we can help each other through the ups and downs of the nonprofit journey. From fundraising challenges to communications questions, from volunteer management practices to exciting new program ideas, no topic is off-limits.

What keeps you up at night? What innovative experiment is working really well at your organization that might be worth sharing with others? What would you love to try at your nonprofit and want to see if others have had success?

The beauty of being part of this network is that none of us needs to have all the answers on our own - we are stronger together. We hope that you'll join and learn with us as we explore the art of gathering, designed with a purpose for a specific group of people (that group, of course, being PANO members!). 

So, PANO Members, brew up your favorite morning beverage and then let's brew up some community together!

Single Login Cost:
FREE for PANO Members | Not-Yet Members, look out for other opportunities to join us throughout the year or become a member today!

Terms of Participation
Your registration entitles you to a single login. Please do not share the login information with others, as it may interfere with your ability to join. If multiple individuals from your organization would like to participate, please register each person separately.

Materials & Login Instructions:
Materials (PowerPoint and other handouts), along with instructions on how to login, will be emailed to attendees a day or two prior to the program date. PANO uses Zoom as our virtual gathering platform; you can familiarize yourself with Zoom and/or join a test meeting prior to these sessions.

This program will NOT be recorded. If you’d like to attend but can’t make the date, look out for future gatherings at Café PANO!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday, August 24, 3:00 PM

About the speaker:

Aaron Proietti, Founder of Today's Innovator.

Aaron is a generative AI strategist, keynote speaker, author, and founder of Today’s Innovator. He works with nonprofit, business, and community leaders to help them understand emerging technologies, strengthen decision-making, and build more adaptive organizations. His work focuses on translating complex ideas into practical approaches that leaders and teams can apply immediately.

About the Member Benefit:

PANO is the statewide membership organization supporting the thousands of nonprofits that serve millions of people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While other associations cater to specific nonprofit trades, PANO is the only one that supports PA’s nonprofit sector as a collective whole. And THAT is the number one benefit of joining PANO – connection to other nonprofit professionals! Yes, the discounts on trainings, free Standards for Excellence resources, discounted products and services, and other benefits are great, too, but the true value of a network like this is that you are not alone. Together, we are 25,000 voices strong.

Learn more about PANO membership here and, if you're not already a member, join today!