Over the past few months, Lanrex has partnered with Microsoft Elevate to deliver a series of three webinars for leaders across the NFP sector. Thank you to everyone who joined a session live, sent through a question, or took part in one of our polls. Whether you attended one webinar or all three, your participation shaped these conversations and confirmed something we hear from clients often:
NFP organisations do not need more technology. They need a clear starting point and a practical path forward.
Here is a look back at what each session covered, and what stood out along the way.
Webinar 1: From Chaos to Clarity
Our first session named four forces creating chaos across the sector: information overload, fragmented technology, underused investment, and AI pressure without a plan. Attendees told us this felt familiar. Teams are drowning in manual processes, paying for platforms they barely use, and fielding board questions about AI with no roadmap to answer them.
We also shared a real client story. An organisation approached Lanrex asking for a legal services CRM. Once we looked closer, the picture was broader. Teams were working in silos, similar challenges existed across departments, and the security foundations needed attention before any new system could be introduced safely. The CRM ended up being one part of a much larger transformation roadmap, built on our four stage Business Review framework: a strategic consultation, a technology audit, a security assessment, and a technology leadership plan.
One statistic from the session stuck with a lot of attendees. 67 percent of Australian NFPs are already using generative AI, yet only 14 percent have a policy or guideline in place. Clarity has to come before adoption, not after.
Webinar 2: Unlocking Microsoft 365 Copilot
Our second session moved from foundations to practical use. We explained what Copilot actually is: an assistant that helps you understand information, works inside the Microsoft 365 tools your team already uses, and creates a starting point for drafts and documents. We were equally clear on what it is not:
Copilot will not fix poor data or an unclear strategy, and it does not replace the judgement, empathy, and relationships that stay with your team.
We walked through how Copilot works behind the scenes, using your prompt, your existing work context, and your existing permissions, before a human reviews the output. It does not expand anyone’s access rights or reach into systems outside Microsoft 365.
Attendees saw four practical examples in action: turning a 200 page board pack into a one page briefing, drafting grant applications and funder reports, preparing policy documents, and turning meetings into clear follow up actions.
We also shared a simple approach to prompting, built around task, context, source, and output, followed by review and refinement. A responsible use checklist rounded out the session, covering accuracy, safety, fairness, approval, and accountability before acting on any AI-generated result.
Webinar 3: From Copilot to Agents
Our final session tackled the next question many organisations are asking. What is the difference between Copilot and an agent, and is my organisation ready for one?
We defined the distinction simply. Copilot helps a person complete a task. An agent supports a defined workflow with a clear owner and appropriate human oversight. We demonstrated this live with a Grant Funding Agent, which reviewed an opportunity, assessed eligibility, identified gaps in the evidence, and prepared a review-ready application draft. Throughout the demonstration, people stayed responsible for verifying the details, deciding whether to proceed, and approving the final submission.
We also looked at where agents create the most value across the sector, from grant funding and HR onboarding to volunteer coordination and reporting. Before building anything, we encouraged attendees to ask five questions covering outcome, knowledge, workflow, risk, and people. Once an agent is live, ongoing questions around scope, security, oversight, and transparency matter just as much as the initial build.
Where to from here?
Across all three sessions, one message stayed consistent. Clarity and strong foundations come before any AI tool, whether that is Copilot, an agent, or whatever comes next. Getting the basics right now means your organisation can adopt AI with confidence later, rather than retrofitting governance under pressure once something has already gone wrong.
Thank you again to everyone who took part in this series. If you missed a session or would like to revisit the material, please get in touch and we can arrange access to the recordings.
Ready for the Next Step?
Every organisation is at a different stage of its AI journey. Whether you are just getting started, exploring Microsoft 365 Copilot, or considering AI agents, our team can help you identify practical opportunities aligned to your organisation’s goals.
