Report: Has AI Adoption Reached Critical Mass in Purpose-Led Organizations?
3 Sided Cube released its AI for Good Adoption Report 2025, revealing that AI use is now the default across the purpose-led sector. In a survey of decision-makers at charities, NGOs and mission-aligned businesses, 89% say they are using AI, 77% report noticeable improvements, and 56% now have an AI policy in place.
“AI has moved from if to how,” said Duncan Cook, CEO of 3 Sided Cube. “The best teams are past the demos. They start small, prove value in human terms, and put simple guardrails in place. This report is a shortcut. Pick one workflow, ship a tiny proof, measure what changed, and scale what works.”
Key Findings
- Adoption is mainstream: 89% of organisations use AI in some way.
- Depth is growing: roughly 73% are integrating AI into day-to-day work, and 17% report full integration.
- Value is showing up: 77% report improvements, led by efficiency and productivity gains.
- Guardrails are catching up: 56% have an AI or ethics policy.
- Forward momentum: about 9 in 10 plan to deepen adoption in the next 12 months.
- Mind the gap: 46% rarely involve affected communities in AI work, only 14% do so often.
Who Took Part
Respondents included leaders and practitioners from organisations such as Oxfam, WWF, Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, and UN Women, alongside a wider mix of charities, NGOs and mission-aligned businesses across programs and operations, product and digital, data and impact.
Why It Matters
The “for good” sector has crossed a tipping point. With adoption high, the job now is making AI useful, safe and measurable. The report turns headline stats into decision rules, shows human-centered metrics to prove value, encourages guardrails teams to form, and provides a 30-day plan any organization can start.
Methodology
Responses were anonymised and aggregated for analysis. This is the third report in 3 Sided Cube’s annual series tracking AI adoption and practice in the purpose-led sector.
