Agentic AI Design Exchange: Helping Canadian Nonprofits Design Their Own AI Agents
The Human Feedback Foundation (HFF), with support from RBC, has launched the Agentic AI Design Exchange, the first national program to help Canadian nonprofits responsibly design, build and deploy their own AI agents.
Funded through the RBC Stronger Nonprofits Program, it helps nonprofit teams put AI agents to work for their missions, safely and strategically.
Now accepting expressions of interest. Free for participating nonprofits; the first cohort begins in fall 2026.
Why now
2/3
of Canadian charities report increased demand for their services
CanadaHelps, The Giving Report 2026
6 in 10
large organizations are deploying or scaling AI agents
KPMG Global AI Pulse
20%
of Canadian nonprofits use AI for more than three activities
Imagine Canada & CCNDR, 2026
How it works
01
Build AI agents with a cohort of peers
Join practical, hands-on workshops and bootcamps with other nonprofits, and work through a facilitated, collaborative design process to build AI agents that make common workflows more efficient or handle specific tasks.
02
Build in responsibility from the start
Human oversight, performance measurement and evaluations are all part of the design. The program is built with proven, human-centered methodology at the core.
03
Share what you learn
Selected designs go into an open, Creative Commons-licensed library that other nonprofits can learn from and build on, so together we can start seeding an Agentic Commons for the sector, built by nonprofits for nonprofits.
Is this for you?
For nonprofit teams ready to move past experimenting and put AI to work, from programs and fundraising to marketing, finance and HR. No technical background needed. Workshops run 90 minutes, bootcamps are 4–6 weekly one-hour sessions, and prep is kept to a minimum. You’ll walk away with working AI agents and the hands-on skills to build and manage more, free for participating nonprofits.
Express interest
Toward an Agentic Commons
Selected designs from the Exchange will go into an open, Creative Commons-licensed library that other nonprofits can learn from and build on. Together, we’re seeding an Agentic Commons for the sector, built by nonprofits for nonprofits.
Launching early 2027
Hear from our partners
Nonprofits are the backbone of communities across Canada, and many Canadians rely on nonprofits to catch them when things fall apart, yet too many are still working with clipboards in a computer world. When used strategically and responsibly, AI can multiply what nonprofits already do best and better support the communities they serve. This community investment from RBC builds capacity that compounds right when the sector needs it most.
Elena YunusovExecutive Director and Founder, Human Feedback Foundation
Canada’s nonprofits are under significant strain, being asked to do more than ever, and funding alone isn’t enough. Through the RBC Stronger Nonprofits Program, we’re helping organizations build the capacity, skills and confidence needed to embrace new AI tools responsibly so they can spend more time and resources creating impact in their communities.
Andrea BarrackSVP, Sustainability & Impact, RBC
Built on RAISE Phase 1
The Exchange builds on RAISE Phase 1 (2025–26), led by the Human Feedback Foundation in partnership with The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University and Creative Destruction Lab, backed by DIGITAL. Together, we helped leading nonprofits, including CAMH Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society, put AI to work; trained more than 550 nonprofit professionals and leaders across Canada on AI Governance and AI literacy essentials, and published the AI Adoption Playbook for the sector.
Express your interest
Apply to join the Agentic AI Design Exchange! We’ll be in touch with next steps.