Free AI Training Courses for UK Charities

We've been building charity AI since 2022 and delivering AI training course since 2023. We provide free, accessible AI courses for everyone, from board level teams through to junior staff and volunteers.

Why AI Training for Charities is Urgently Needed

We have been using our data systems to track AI adoption within the charity sector since January 2025. It is a huge opportunity but the metrics we track have barely improved and, currently, only one of the 13 indicators is at green and 8 are at red.  That very strongly suggests we are not yet able to exploit the benefits of AI and are at increasing risk of not being able to manage the impact of AI effectively and safely.  Moreover, opting out is not an option.  AI is being built into everything, much not even visible and there are the growing risks from AI scams, disinformation and deepfakes. Those most at risk are the vulnerable, many of whom are charity beneficiaries.

With support and funding from Microsoft, we have built a completely free AI training programme to meet that need.

AI Training for Everyone

Our AI courses are for anyone. From making everyone aware of the threats from phishing e mails, to comms safeguarding against deepfakes, finance spotting cloning scams and fundraisers using AI effectively to find and secure income, through to senior management and the Board understanding the new ethical and oversight issues that AI brings.  We all need some knowledge.  The programme meets all of the above needs and requires no digital or tech expertise to complete. Our aim is to give anyone the confidence and skills to not only benefit from using AI but also to keep themselves, others and their organisations safe.

Supporting Your Career Aspirations

AI will change and be fundamental to the majority of roles in the near future.  Our free courses enable you to acquire the AI skills you need to progress your career, by providing a range of certificated training.  You can start knowing nothing and progress as far as you wish, because our courses give you the confidence and skills to progress to more advanced AI learning, if you wish to. Each course not only has downloads and links to resources but also links to other relevant free AI training from expert organisations, such as Microsoft, the ICO and NCSC. These enable you to either widen your AI learning into new areas and/or progress to more advanced, in-depth learning.

AI Course Content

Each course takes about 45 mins but is delivered in short units you can take at any time and at your own pace.  It comprises short lessons, demo videos, tasks, quizzes, infographics and checklists you can download, as well as links to other resources and further free AI training courses.

AI Training Courses - Programme & Launch Dates

• 18 November: An Introduction to AI.  This course equips you with a clear understanding of how AI works, what AI can do, and how to use it safely and effectively in everyday tasks.
  • It is suitable for anyone who will oversee or manage AI, or who wants to know more about it.
• 25 November: Getting Started Using AI.  This course will give you the confidence and practical skills to use AI effectively, including AI’s strengths and weaknesses, writing prompts, improving your results and troubleshooting any problems you may have.
  • This course is for anyone who wants to use AI, such as Microsoft Copilot.
• 2 December: Understanding AI Risks.  This course will help you to understand how AI is changing the risks you and your organisation face, and learn simple, practical steps to keep yourself, others and your organisation safe.
  • It contains essential knowledge if you are involved in running an organisation (no matter how small) but will be of benefit to anyone.
• 9 December: AI Safety for Everyone: Deepfakes, Scams, Misinformation and Slop.  This course will help you to understand how AI is being used to attack and exploit individuals and organisations, and learn simple, practical steps to keep yourself, others and your organisation safe from these threats.
  • It contains essential knowledge if you are involved in running an organisation, or supporting vulnerable people, but will be of benefit to anyone.
  • It contains essential knowledge for those at greater risk, such as women and children, and groups such as our Jewish, Muslim and LGBTQI+ communities.
• 25 December - Fundraising With AI: How to Use AI to Find and Win Grants.  This course is non profit specific and will help you use AI confidently and effectively to search for funders and also to work with AI to quickly create compelling and emotionally engaging funding bids.  It would be useful to have completed the Understanding AI course first.  However, you do not need fundraising experience, as it includes an introduction to the Charity Excellence free AI bots that will help you both find funders and write bids.
  • It is for anyone who is involved in researching or sourcing charitable funding and/or writing funding bids, both professionals and amateurs.
  • The funding bid part of the course contains information of value to grant makers.
• January 2026: AI For Management & Boards. This course will cover AI ethics and governance, including risks and responsibilities, how to guide safe, ethical, and practical AI adoption and what you need to know and do about updating existing policies and procedures, training and supporting your people.
  • It contains essential knowledge for directors and management of even very small organisations and others involved in AI oversight and/or procurement.

Most training can be pre-ordered now by going to learning.charityexcellence.co.uk and creating an account, logging in and ordering courses.  You'll be notified by e mail as each is made available.

Scaling Sector AI Training

We do not have the technical expertise to create courses for every aspect of AI use and we recognise that larger organisations may need/want more control over their training provision.

• Learner tracking - we can issue codes for larger organisations that enable them to track progress of their learners.
• Social Franchising
  • Large Organisations - we will licence our IP, content and materials to larger organisations that wish to create and run their own branded courses.
  • Expert organisations - we will support organisations to create their own online learning in specialist areas to be hosted by Charity Excellence Learning and promoted through our networks.

Our aim is to catalyse the rapid adoption of AI, not to generate funding. However, commercial companies would be expected to contribute financially and non profits to meet any costs that we would incur in supporting them.

Microsoft Learn

As you complete each training course, its resource download will connect you to a range of relevant, related online AI courses, if you wish to broaden or deepen your knowledge. All are free and many are certificated.  I've listed a selection below.

AI Training Courses

AI Fluency.  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. Discover the world of AI 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). Explore how language models enable AI to generate original content based on natural language input. Learn how generative AI assists in creative tasks.

Microsoft Copilot Training

Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Duration about 27 minutes.  Copilot’s purpose, functionality, and Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI.

Get Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Duration - 1.5 hours (3 modules). A 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, summarise reports, and generate persuasive content.  Includes prompt engineering tips for Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Ideal for staff writing funding bids or impact reports.

• Create and Draft with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 27 min (8 units).  Use Microsoft 365 Copilot to create, draft, and brainstorm new ideas and materials in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Edit and Transform Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 31 min (8 units).  Craft effective prompts to edit, transform, and rewrite information using Copilot in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

Ask Questions and Analyse Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 38 min (9 units). Prompt Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook to ask, analyse, and receive recommendations for fresh ideas and content.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 QuickStart Training for Non-Profit Organisations - a 2.5-hour training session: Working Smarter with Microsoft Copilot AI Agents.

Microsoft AI Ethics & Governance Courses

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 Training

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.
  • Securing you: Basics and beyond.  34 min.
  • Describe the concepts of cybersecurity. 6 modules. 2 hr 17 min.
  • Establish the guiding principles and core components of Zero Trust. 7 modules. 1 hr 46 min.
  • Examine ransomware and extortion-based threats. 4 modules. 1 hr 22 min.

Data Protection Training Courses

• Protect Sensitive Data in a Digital World.  Intermediate. Topics - data classification, labelling, and encryption, insider risk management, AI-generated data protection and security monitoring tools.
• Implement Information Protection and Data Loss Prevention Using Microsoft Purview.  Intermediate. Topics - sensitivity labels and auto-labelling, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies and information governance.

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.

• • 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

• • Data and insights. 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

Developing Your Skills and Career With Microsoft

Career Essentials in Generative AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn

AI Skills Navigator - nonprofit skills collection.

AI Skills Navigator – develop your AI skills by topic and/or role.

Microsoft Scenario Library - find your industry or functional area.

Great Copilot Journey - onboarding and skill-building experience.

Human Skills in the Age of AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn

Microsoft Nonprofit Events

Nonprofit – Microsoft Adoption: operational efficiency.

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 Training

Azure AI Fundamentals. Self-paced. 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.  Four 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 AI Learning on LinkedIn

Find the Funding and Free Help Your Charity Needs

A registered charity ourselves, the CEF works for any non profit, not just charities.

• Funding Finder - with categories for Core Cost Funding and Small Charities & Community Groups.
• Help Finder – find anything for free, including companies that make financial donations and raffle prizes.
• Data Finder – for fundraising bids & research, impact reporting, planning and campaigning.

Plus, 60+ policies, 8 online health checks and the huge resource base.

Quick, simple and very effective.

Find Funding, Free Help & Resources - Everything Is Free.

Register Now!

Thank You.  Our thanks to the fabulous Nik and the team at Big Picture Charity Films, without whom this programme would not have been nearly as good.  Also to everyone in our community testing group and Aliza Uppal whose input into this page and draft programme enabled us to improve both.