Fast Forward

Ting Gao’s mission is personal. The co-founder of Lenny Learning grew up with a brother who faced serious mental health challenges. His teachers didn’t know how to support him — and they were not alone. Nine in 10 teachers feel unprepared to address student behavioral health. The implication? Students in the classroom aren’t always getting the help they need. Along with fellow Yale grad Bryce Bjork, Ting launched AI-powered nonprofit Lenny Learning to fill the gap. The platform empowers educators with tailored lesson plans (thanks to AI) that address their classrooms’ specific mental health needs. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNvK_wZd

Big problems need bold solutions. I'm thrilled to re-ignite our partnership with Fast Forward, Shannon Farley, Kevin Barenblat and their incredible team including Kendall Arthur and Jessica Galen. First up, we're proud to support 10 tech nonprofits in Fast Forward’s 12th annual?Accelerator. From expanding healthcare access to closing the racial wealth gap to fighting climate change, they’re using tech to drive scalable impact. This year, AI is at the forefront: 70% of the cohort are AI-powered nonprofits, harnessing its potential to tackle these challenges in new and powerful ways.

#AI is reshaping the #nonprofit sector, but without the right policies, it can be risky. Fast Forward’s #Nonprofit AI Policy Builder makes it easy to craft a responsible, mission-driven AI policy—protecting data, reducing risk, and ensuring ethical AI use. Start now: https://spr.ly/6040FKUT6 #AI4Good #AI4Nonprofits #NPTech #NonprofitTechnology

Fast Forward is growing! And we’re looking for bold, mission-driven leaders to join our team in San Francisco. If you’re passionate about tech for social impact and ready to roll up your sleeves to support entrepreneurs solving the world’s biggest problems, we want to hear from you. We’re currently #hiring for three senior roles: -VP of Programs -VP of Fundraising and Partnerships -Director of Corporate Fundraising and Partnerships These full-time, in-office roles are based in San Francisco. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gDuGXjqR

“AI has the potential to bridge learning gaps, but only if it is intentionally designed to expand access rather than reinforce exclusion.” In the latest feature of our “Humans of AI for Humanity” series, Fast Forward interviewed Lauren Lichtman and Navya Akkinepally – two of the three co-executive directors of PJMF partner Learning Equality – to learn more about the transformative potential of AI for education equity around the world. In addition to their offline-first curriculum design platform, Kolibri, the two are exploring new pathways for AI tools to improve learning pathways for teachers and students in under-resourced schools. Their approach prioritizes five core values – equity, constant learning, community building, openness, and above all, empathy. Check out the full interview here: https://loom.ly/jOzKalw #TechForGood #AI

The browser wars of the ‘90s shaped the internet as we know it. Now, history’s repeating itself… with AI. This month’s AI for Humanity newsletter dives into how Mozilla is continuing to advocate for an open, human-centered future. Mozilla is creating open tools, funding builders, and rallying the open source community to keep this powerful tech in the hands of the many — not the few. We spoke with Stephen Hood, Mozilla’s Principal Lead for Open Source AI, about why open AI matters, how Mozilla’s building safety tools like ROOST, and what nonprofits can learn from a mission-driven org that’s advocated for ethical tech for decades. Plus: a look at Ersilia, the AI-powered nonprofit making biomedical research more accessible in the Global South.

Big news out of Maryland: Gov. Wes Moore just announced a partnership with SIRUM and Good Pill Pharmacy to expand access to affordable prescription drugs across the state. Powered by SIRUM’s innovative model of redistributing surplus medication, Good Pill is now available statewide. They’re delivering prescriptions directly to Marylanders’ doors, most for just $2/month. No insurance required. “Healthcare should be about making it easy for families to get the medications they need — not a complicated process of figuring out costs and coverage,” said SIRUM Co-Founder Kiah Williams. “SIRUM is proud to partner with the State of Maryland to make our pharmacy Good Pill a simple, affordable option for Marylanders to access prescription medicine.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gwx2ter5

What if the most powerful AI tools were built for classrooms that could benefit from them most? Even ones without internet. This month’s Humans of AI for Humanity, written in partnership with The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, features Lauren Lichtman and Navya Akkinepally, co-executive directors of Learning Equality. They’re making offline AI a reality for education. With their offline platform Kolibri, they’re developing AI-powered tools designed to work anywhere — from rural schools to refugee camps — so teachers can spend less time prepping and more time doing what they do best: teaching. Read the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gmBpt_5G

In a recent Forbes article, Koko founder (and Fast Forward alum) Rob Morris, PhD explores how social media platforms can play a pivotal role in addressing the youth mental health crisis. He shares: "But this debate over the dangers of social media can sometimes obscure a critical opportunity right in front of us: To address the youth mental health crisis, we have to reach young people where they spend most of their time — on social media." By leveraging the power of social media for good, there's a chance to make real progress in supporting youth mental health. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/djUfS7GZ

At PagerDuty, we know that technology can transform how organizations operate and create lasting impact. That’s why we’re proud to support Fast Forward's 2025 Accelerator, which is fueling the growth of tech nonprofits tackling complex global challenges such as climate, mental health support and economic empowerment.