Presenting our project at the final year conference was a significant moment that showed how important our work is. It was more than just sharing what we had achieved, it was about showing how our solution could make a difference for nonprofits in the real-world. Engaging with a live audience of professionals, students, and community members allowed us to highlight the challenges that nonprofits face and the innovative ways we addressed them through AI. The feedback we received, including the enthusiastic response from a local nonprofit executive who wanted to onboard our platform was especially encouraging. It validated our belief that our work not only solves problems but also inspires others to see how technology can drive social good.
One of the main highlights of the event for us was that four members of the MeaningfulWork team came to the final conference! This really meant a lot to us because we have worked so closely with them this whole semester, and it was great to have them be personally involved in the presentation of the final product. They were able to meet and speak with the other community partners, mentors, industry mentors, and students. This was a valuable opportunity for everyone to network and build connections with each other, and a nice way to end off the project with everybody together!
The last session of the event wrapped up with a panel discussion featuring a mix of educators from secondary and post-secondary schools and an industry leader. The conversation was inspiring and covered everything from the importance of teaching social impact to how much potential young minds have when given a chance. One part that really stood out, especially for our project, was the focus on optimism. With so much fear around AI taking over jobs and replacing people, it was refreshing to reflect on how our project is an example of AI being used for good. FundrAIse shows how ethical AI can tackle important problems, like helping small to mid-sized nonprofits get more done and grow in ways they couldn’t otherwise. It’s a reminder that AI doesn’t have to be a threat—it can be a tool to empower, uplift, and create real, meaningful change. That optimistic perspective is what we hope to bring to every nonprofit we work with.
By presenting our work to both high school and UVic students, we were able to showcase the real impact that we had in the nonprofit space in just four months. We demonstrated how we used AI to help nonprofits save time and expand their reach, showing students that cutting-edge, cool technology can drive social impact. By sharing the success of our project, we showed what is possible for students to complete in such a small amount of time. This has been a fantastic way to inspire students to think about how their skills and ideas could lead to a meaningful career in social impact!
This term at Inspire taught us so much about doing meaningful work and creating meaningful connections. One big takeaway is how powerful it is to involve the community in our development process. By constantly interviewing the nonprofit community, we really got to understand their needs and designed something that could actually help them.
We also learned the importance of resilience and adaptability. The development process was challenging; there were times where our ideas didn’t work out as expected, or when we got feedback that required us to rethink our approach. But we used these moments as opportunities to grow and improve, which reinforced the importance of keeping an open mind and allowed us to focus on our goals and find ways to overcome the challenges that we faced.
Finally, we learned how important it is to build technology that works for everyone. Nonprofits serve such a wide range of people, and that made us realize just how crucial it is to make our designs inclusive and accessible. On top of that, working in a diverse team showed us how different perspectives can make ideas stronger and solutions more impactful. Each team member brought their own unique background, expertise, and way of thinking to the table, which challenged us to approach problems in new ways. It also showed us that collaboration is about more than just dividing up tasks – it is about playing to each other’s strengths and filling in the gaps to create something that truly makes an impact. These lessons have been super valuable, and we’ll carry them forward as we keep working towards positive change.