Charities risk losing the public’s confidence in their work unless their oversight of artificial intelligence use is improved, a report is warning.

The report by Charity Excellence Framework found that while artificial intelligence (AI) use among charities “has continued to accelerate, governance has not kept pace’.

It adds that “momentum is building faster than confidence, and we risk loss of public trust unless we act to significantly improve governance oversight of AI by trustees”.

Its report also warns that while the public is not against charities using AI, they are still “cautious” and that trust in charities using the technology responsibly is “conditional”.

A specific area of risk is using AI generated imagery.

“Many charities have tried it and then stopped, citing ethical, reputational or authenticity concerns,” says Charity Excellence Framework.

“Research shows strong public support for authentic imagery, with lower acceptance where AI images appear realistic or emotionally manipulative, especially in sensitive contexts.”

A report released in March by academics at the University of East Anglia also warned that charities risk breaking a “bond of trust” with the public through using AI images.

While most charities are using AI in some form, Charity Excellence Framework found, “it is not often being seen within the strategic context of the huge impact it will have on society”.

It adds that “only a very small minority of charities are deploying AI with clear organisational oversight, agreed policies or trustee level ownership”.

Fewer than one in four have approved tools, policies and training in place around AI.

This lack of action around AI governance also “creates a growing gap between what is happening in practice and what boards believe is happening, even though trustees remain legally responsible for AI related risks such as data protection, safeguarding and bias”.

Charity Excellence Framework says that specific governance areas that need addressing include strategic assessment of AI’s impact, clear trustee or committee responsibility for using the technology, and organisational wide training and compliance.

The report also found that most charities are “still at the start of their AI journey” with staff or volunteers using tools like Microsoft Copilot.

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