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Nonprofit AI: Papal Encyclical and Longview Philanthropy RFP

2 Jun 2026 · 25 min · S7 E42

Carolyn Woodard covers a landmark moment in the global conversation about AI governance: the release of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, and what it means for nonprofits and philanthropy navigating an AI landscape increasingly shaped by concentrated power.

The encyclical, released May 25, 2026 and addressed to people of every faith and none, draws a deliberate parallel to the 1891 Rerum Novarum, which addressed the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution. It argues that technology built and governed by a small elite cannot serve the common good, and calls for AI to be "disarmed" from the logic of competition and monopoly. Nonprofit tech thought leaders responded quickly, with voices like Cassie Gruenstein of AI x Impact, TechSoup CEO Marnie Webb, and former TAG Executive Director Chantal Forster each bringing distinct lenses: worker dignity and organizational culture, the economics of AI pricing and shared sector solutions, and the case for philanthropy to invest not just in AI adoption but in the civic institutions that shape it.

This episode also covers a cross-faith coalition context and closes with an action item: Longview Philanthropy has an open RFP funding work on AI power concentration, with a July 2 deadline.

• Why the encyclical's arguments on power concentration, worker dignity, and environmental impact speak directly to nonprofit values, regardless of religious affiliation. • What three nonprofit tech thought leaders are drawing from the document for their own practice and recommendations. • The cross-faith convergence building around shared demands for accountability, transparency, and human dignity in AI development. • A concrete funding opportunity for organizations working on AI governance and power concentration.

Resources Mentioned:

• Magnifica Humanitas, full text – The Vatican • Pope Calls for Robust Regulation of AI – PBS NewsHour • Cassie Gruenstein on Magnifica Humanitas – LinkedIn • Marnie Webb on Magnifica Humanitas – LinkedIn • Chantal Forster: 10 Favorite Passages – LinkedIn • How Magnifica Humanitas Offers a Template for the AI Moment – MIT Technology Review • AI Must Remain Under Human Control – Christian Daily International • Faith-AI Covenant – Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities • AI Power Concentration RFP – Longview Philanthropy

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Links in the notes 13

• https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pope-calls-for-robust-regulation-of-ai-in-manifesto-that-ponders-the-future-of-humanity
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cassiegruenstein_futureofwork-leadership-ai-share-7465493348770840576-SXIU/
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marniewebb_goodtechsummit26-share-7465407306323914753-Q1_6/
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chantalforster_magnificahumanitas-share-7464865693218545664-zBie/
• https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/29/1138107/how-the-popes-magnifica-humanitas-offers-a-template-for-individuals-to-meet-the-ai-moment/
• https://www.christiandaily.com/news/ai-must-remain-under-human-control-say-christian-and-jewish-leaders-in-new-statement-on-ethical-boundaries-for-ai
• https://faithaicovenant.com/
• https://www.longview.org/request-for-proposals-on-extreme-power-concentration/
• https://communityit.com/webinars/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-it-innovators/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/NonprofitITManagement/
• https://communityit.com