Changing Lives with Microsoft 365 Copilot
About This Project
Children International
Client
1936
Established in
Kansas City, MO
Location
Overview
Children International is a global nonprofit working to end poverty through education, healthcare, and social programs for children and young adults. Operating in some of the world’s most underserved communities, their mission is simple, but the logistics are anything but.
“By leveraging technology, we can spend more time forming human connections with the families we serve,”
In 2024, Children International became one of the first nonprofits to adopt Microsoft 365 Copilot organization-wide. Their goal wasn’t just productivity, it was to enable staff to focus on the mission, not the mundane.
“We are getting huge wins with Copilot.” referring to the dramatic time savings in program document management.
The Turning Point
Tech That Helps You Be More Human
It started with small wins: Copilot helped staff write emails, take meeting notes, and draft documents– then, creative use cases began to emerge:
Fundraising teams began using Copilot to review and align grant applications with existing programs, improving speed and relevance in funding requests.
Program managers leveraged Copilot to review and categorize thousands of program documents. This task used to take weeks or even months, but with Copilot, it was completed in about one day, dramatically freeing up time for strategic program work.
Remote teams relied on live transcription and translation to break language barriers. Conversations that once required interpreters became direct, real-time exchanges.
These weren’t just productivity gains, they were cultural shifts. The tech empowered people to do their best work, connect more meaningfully, and move faster with confidence.
“It’s phenomenal. I'm able to have conversations without having to drag in an interpreter. It's a much more genuine connection.”
Rapid ROI with Real Impact
It didn’t take long for Copilot to deliver results.
At first glance, the savings were measurable:
Staff reported reclaiming up to 7 hours per month previously spent on routine tasks
Tasks like document categorization that took weeks or months were now completed in a single day
Copilot-enabled efficiency spread quickly, with 98% of employees actively using the tool within weeks
“It’s a no-brainer when you look at time savings. But it’s how we spend that time that’s making the real difference.”
Boosting Confidence, Not Just Efficiency
The impact wasn’t just quantitative.
Staff satisfaction surged. Stress dropped.
In one instance, a team member’s Apple Watch even recorded a lower heart rate after using Copilot to prep for a difficult conversation– proof that the tool was doing more than boosting efficiency. It was boosting confidence.
Seamless Adoption Backed by eGroup
To ensure high adoption and long-term success, Children International partnered with eGroup for strategic rollout and training.
“You guys cared about making it successful because you understood the impact it would have on our mission.”
eGroup supported the rollout by:
Aligning Copilot with organizational goals
Providing training for global champions and departmental leads
Delivering ongoing resources and support through each rollout phase
This collaborative approach helped turn initial champions into AI advocates and paved the way for organization-wide enthusiasm.
“They didn’t just give us a plan and walk away. They stuck with us through implementation, answered every question, and helped build internal confidence.”
“Communication is open, the eGroup team listened, understood what we wanted to get done, came back with best practices which we morphed into where we were going.”
Leading the Way in Copilot Adoption
eGroup provided strategic direction, training materials, and ongoing support, ensuring a smooth and effective implementation.
Initially, training focused on a few global champions. In the latest round, that reach expanded to the department level.
This multi-tiered approach has led to one of the highest Copilot adoption rates among nonprofits.
Security, Ethics, & Responsible AI
For an organization working with children and sensitive data, security and ethical use were non-negotiable. Microsoft’s Enterprise Data Protection and eGroup’s guidance made all the difference.
“We told people: Look for the green shield—you’re protected. Go for it.”
Children International also created an AI Advancement Committee, reviewing use cases monthly and establishing a clear policy:
“We will never represent a child in images, text, or voice with AI ... Our concerns are fewer and fewer because they're not in the shadows."
The result is a culture of responsible innovation, where AI is used thoughtfully and always in service of the mission.
AI for the Next Generation
The impact of AI isn’t limited to internal staff. Children International is using Copilot as a teaching tool, too.
“We teach digital skills so children can thrive in the modern workforce. AI is a part of that future.”
From Office tools to AI literacy, the organization is working to bridge the gap between the global North and South, so no child is left behind in a tech-driven world.
“As AI becomes more prevalent in the global North, the global South is falling further behind. We want to close that divide.”
A Human-Centered Vision of the Future
“Copilot helps us act like the people we want to be– less burdened, more focused on what matters.”
AI doesn’t replace human connection, it amplifies it. With Copilot, Children International can scale their efforts, support their staff, and stay focused on what matters most: helping children escape the cycle of poverty.
“Technology gets us away from computer tasks and lets us focus more on that connection with the children, the families, to really make a difference.”
“Copilot is a good example of how technology allows us to be more human. It helps us act like the person we want to be, because we’re not burdened down by all these extra things and allows us to really focus on the things that make us unique, make us powerful.”
Advice to Other Nonprofits
“If you’re not bringing AI to your staff, they’re bringing it themselves. Why not give them the right tools and visibility?”
“One of the keys for us and for any organization is having a partner that doesn’t just customize the plan for you, but stays through the implementation of that plan to drive adoption.”
Tim Bachta credits their high adoption rate and their success with having the right partner:
“At a Microsoft conference, they said we had one of the highest Copilot adoption rates they’d seen. I give that credit to eGroup.”
Reduced manual tasks & meeting time with AI automation
Decreased document review time from months to days
Achieved 98% Copilot adoption across global staff
Transform Your Mission with AI, Not Just Your Processes
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