Microsoft Non Profit Online - Free AI Training Courses for UK Charities
A huge range of 30+ free online AI training courses for charities, other non profits and individuals of all levels and abilities provided by Microsoft, our Microsoft Partner Companies and ourselves. Accessible online learning for everyone, from trustees through to junior staff and volunteers, and from non IT people just wanting to understand the basics, through to those who are looking for more formal, specialist or in-depth AI training. You simply pick and choose the AI training courses you want and how you wish to access it - webinars, on-demand video, and certified Microsoft e learning programmes.
To begin or continue your charity AI journey visit our AI Ready programme and, for all of our free AI services, guides, toolkits and training courses, visit our charity AI page. To access all of our services and resources, including funding directories, register now; everything is free.
Free Charity Excellence AI Training Webinars
We schedule these for anyone, with details in our weekly newsletter and social and make these available on our You Tube Channel AI Play List. To date (May 25), these have been watched more than 10,000 times.
We also deliver free bespoke webinars to networks, groups of charities and small infrastructure charities, such as CVSs. Get in contact - ian@charityexcellence.co.uk.
- An Introduction to AI – What the new generative AI is, the key risks, how to manage these and also how to exploit the opportunities, and what AI can and cannot do. You don’t need to know anything about AI or tech. It's also available as a video (35 mins) on our You Tube Channel AI Playlist.
- How Anyone Can Use AI - You don’t need to know anything about AI or tech but by the end of the webinar you’ll be able to start using it immediately and, if you already are, top tips on how to get more out of it. It's available as a video (29 Mins) on our You Tube Channel.
- Is Your Charity Ready for AI and How to Choose the Best for Your Charity - the best free AI for charities, plus AI discounts/grants, and how to choose the best AI for your charity. The current state of charity AI readiness, what needs to be done, and the results of our latest strategic thinking - emerging key issues for the sector. It's also available as a 14 min video.
- AI and the Future of the Charity Sector. What that might look like, including the changing world of work, new jobs, and the skills needed, as well as digital moats, AI roadkill, holistic impact & digital super exclusion. It's available as a video (39 mins) on our You Tube Channel.
- How to use AI to Find Funding. AI can be great for finding funding but it's not the best for everything. Find out what AI can and cannot do and when and what to use it for. And here's Kate's really simple AI Grant Finder toolkit. Click the link for her You Tube video (5 Mins).
- How to Get the Most from Our AI. Our AI supports 1000s of people each month. From finding funders, writing bids and providing fundraising support to downloading policies, answering 20k non profit questions, and supporting individuals. Learn how to make the most of our AI services, with tips and tricks and a behind the scenes view of what our AI does and how it does it.
- AI Deepfakes. AI deepfake imagery and video is rapidly proliferating and represents a significant risk to charities and their beneficiaries, not only of scams and misinformation, but also abuse. What deepfake is, how to spot them and a range of ways to manage the risk to keep people safe.
- AI Imagery - Ethical Use. The advent of AI has raised new issues for charities regarding the safe and ethical use of imagery but the manipulation and faking of imagery has existed at least since the advent of photography. How to think through these new and existing risks to ensure your use of imagery is legal, ethical and respectful of your beneficiaries.
- AI Slop. What AI slop is, how to spot it, why it matters and simple steps to protect your charity from this growing AI risk.
- AI Bot Attacks on Meetings/Webinars. How to keep your charity meetings and webinars safe from AI Bots - how to assess risk, oversight and management, registrations, during a meeting, what to do if attacked, and after an attack, and using AI Assistants.
- How to Use AI to Write Policies. AI is great for drafting but is far from perfect and getting policies wrong can have serious implications. This webinar explains how to use AI to get the most from it, whilst avoiding these risks.
- How to Use AI for Fundraising. AI is a powerful fundraising tool but it has limitations. The key is to exploit its strengths and harness these to your passion and very human skills to make your fundraising even more effective. This video explains how this works and how to do it, including how the Charity Excellence systems enable anyone to benefit.
- AI Risk - what the key risks are, for charities and wider society, including the less obvious but potentially most important one, in the short, medium and long term, ways in which to respond to these and how to assess if AI poses a risk or an opportunity to your charity. Watch it video (31 mins)
Microsoft Partners - Online AI Training Courses
Exquitech UK are a global AI company with a London Office. They support UK charities and also built our first next generation AI bot pro bono. As part of their support for AI Ready, they will also be delivering security and compliance webinars. Here's their latest webinar.
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- Build Your Nonprofit’s AI-Ready Security Foundation, 3 Jul 25 (1 pm to 2.30pm). AI is bringing new and greater risks for non-profits. In this free webinar you’ll get real-world tips for securing your nonprofit and, as we love free stuff and discounts, practical strategies to lower IT costs and special Microsoft nonprofit offers from Exquitech. IT
Qlic IT have 20 years of experience in providing managed IT support and services to charities, including us. A one hour on-demand video.
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- Unlock the Power of AI: Exploring ChatGPT, Copilot & More. Learn about the latest AI platforms, including in-depth demos of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, and discover how they can revolutionise your organisation. Includes, the different types of AI platforms and their applications, demos of ChatGPT and Copilot, and key pricing insights to help you plan your AI strategy.
Microsoft Learn
AI Fluency
- Covers foundational AI concepts, history, and real-world applications
- Includes modules on generative AI, responsible AI, and Microsoft Copilot
- Tailored for beginners and non-technical users
Explore AI Basics
- Duration: 11 units
- Description: Discover the world of artificial intelligence by exploring its foundational concepts and history. Learn how AI technology powers everyday items and transforms daily life.
Fundamentals of Generative AI
- Duration: 1 hr 13 min (11 units)
- Description: Explore how language models enable AI applications to generate original content based on natural language input. Learn how generative AI assists in creative tasks.
- Link: Fundamentals of Generative AI
Microsoft Copilot
Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot
- A short module (about 27 minutes) that covers Copilot’s purpose, functionality, and Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI.
Get Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- A full learning path (1.5 hours) with three modules that walk through how Copilot works across Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. No prior AI knowledge needed.
Summarise and Simplify Information with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Learn how to use Copilot to draft proposals, summarize reports, and generate persuasive content
- Includes prompt engineering tips for Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Ideal for staff writing funding bids or impact reports
- Duration: 27 min (8 units)
- Description: Use Microsoft 365 Copilot to create, draft, and brainstorm new ideas and materials in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.
- Link: Create and Draft with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Edit and Transform Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Duration: 31 min (8 units)
- Description: Craft effective prompts to edit, transform, and rewrite information using Copilot in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Link: Edit and Transform Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Ask Questions and Analyse Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Duration: 38 min (9 units)
- Description: Prompt Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook to ask, analyse, and receive recommendations for fresh ideas and content.
- Link: Ask Questions and Analyse Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft - AI Ethics & Governance
Explore Responsible AI
- Covers ethical implications of AI-generated content, including imagery
- Discusses fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI use
- Includes guidance on deepfakes and misinformation
- Teaches how to critically analyse AI-generated content and spot misinformation
- Includes global implications of human-AI interaction
Embrace Responsible AI Principles and Practices
- Introduces Microsoft’s six core principles: fairness, reliability, privacy, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability
- Explores how to build internal governance systems for ethical AI use
- Includes real-world examples and decision-making frameworks for leaders
Responsible AI: Ethical Policies and Practices
- Offers guidance on how to implement governance structures for AI within organisations
- Includes tools like the Responsible AI Dashboard and Human-AI Experience Workbook
- Ideal for trustees setting strategic direction and oversight
Microsoft AI Cyber Security
Describe the basic concepts of cybersecurity
- A beginner-friendly module introducing online safety, threats, and best practices
- Perfect for quick awareness training for staff and volunteers
Security for Nonprofits
- Offers free training and resources tailored to nonprofit organisations
- Includes modules on phishing, malware, and data protection
- Also check out the Cybersecurity Awareness Kit for staff training materials
- Includes Cybersecurity is for Everyone (4 courses).
- Cyber Security Concepts, Guiding Principles and Core Components of Zero Trust, Ransomware and Extortion Based Threats, Securing You: Basics & Beyond.
Cybersecurity skills hub - The demand for skilled security professionals is urgent and growing. Security skilling at scale and at speed can fill the gap for in-demand trained cybersecurity roles.
Microsoft Learning Pathways
MS AI For Creatives
- Photoshop Essential Training, Illustrator Essential Training, Generative AI Skills for Creative Content and Advanced QGIS Analysis and Machine Learning.
MS AI Skills for Educators
MS Driving transformation in government
Explore cybersecurity skills - cyber security learning pathway.
Guidance for leaders
Learn how to lead your organisation in the era of AI with insights and skills for managers and leaders.
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- AI for managers and leaders
Lead with confidence in the era of AI. Explore tools, best practices, and strategies to grow your AI capabilities and enhance your leadership skills.
Learn how to lead AI transformation
Learn about AI for people managers
Ground your organizational AI strategy in data and insights from the latest work. Find trends for workplace skills, sector changes, AI adoption rates, and more.
Get insights from Work Trend Index
Explore LinkedIn AI at Work
Human skills in the age of AI
- Build essential human skills—like adaptability, decision-making, communication, and social intelligence—to stay competitive in an AI-driven world. Start the learning path
Microsoft 365 Copilot QuickStart Training for Nonprofits
A 2.5-hour hands-on session for Copilot Beginners. Learn how to start using Copilot as your own AI assistant - how to summarise and draft emails, create PowerPoints within seconds, and explore the Copilot in Word. For the less numerically inclined, using Excel with the help of some natural language prompting. Plus the art of ‘Prompting’ for the best results, and hands-on demos of how to use Copilot.
Microsoft Azure
Azure AI Fundamentals
- Duration: Self-paced
- Description: Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform and service. Demonstrate fundamental AI concepts related to the development of software and services on Microsoft Azure to create AI solutions.
Azure Skilling for Non Profits
- 4 courses ranging from beginner to advanced.
Microsoft AI Training - YouTube
Subscribe to Microsoft AI Skills on YouTube for quick learning tips, success stories, live trainings, and deep dive sessions into new learnings. Subscribe on YouTube
Microsoft AI Training Courses - LinkedIn
Join Microsoft AI Skills on LinkedIn for live trainings, panel discussions from AI skilling leaders, news, training opportunities, and success stories. Follow Microsoft AO Learning on LinkedIn
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