INSIGHTS - Free Me Up AI
Published March 2026 - 7 min read
If you work in an Australian not-for-profit, chances are your team is already using AI tools - or asking whether they should. The two names that come up most often are ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.
They're both AI assistants. They both help with writing, summarising, and thinking through problems. But they work differently, live in different places, and carry different governance considerations - especially for NFPs where data privacy and accountability matter.
Here's a practical guide to help you decide which tool (or combination of tools) is right for your organisation.
Microsoft Copilot is built into Microsoft 365 - the same platform most Australian NFPs already use for email (Outlook), documents (Word), meetings (Teams), and files (SharePoint).
Copilot works within your existing Microsoft environment. It can:
Crucially: Copilot operates within your Microsoft 365 tenant. It uses your organisation's existing security and compliance controls. It does not train on your data.
For NFPs already on Microsoft 365, Copilot may already be available - sometimes at no additional cost through Microsoft's non-profit licensing program.
ChatGPT is a standalone AI assistant made by OpenAI. You access it through a browser or app, separate from your other tools.
ChatGPT is excellent for:
The key governance consideration: ChatGPT Free and Plus accounts (the ones individuals sign up for personally) can use your inputs to train future AI models by default. This means anything you paste in - including client information, beneficiary details, or confidential reports - could potentially influence future model training.
ChatGPT Teams and Enterprise versions do not train on your data, and are designed for organisational use.
The most important distinction for not-for-profits is this:
Microsoft Copilot stays inside your existing organisational environment. Your data doesn't leave your Microsoft tenant.
ChatGPT (Free or Plus) is an external tool. Data you input leaves your systems.
For NFPs handling beneficiary data, community member information, or confidential funder communications, this distinction is critical.
Our recommendation for most Australian NFPs: Use Microsoft Copilot for any task involving organisational documents, client/beneficiary information, or internal knowledge. Use ChatGPT Teams (not Free) for individual thinking, drafting, and research - with a clear policy on what data staff can and cannot input.
The pattern: Copilot for internal, organisational, data-connected tasks. ChatGPT for individual thinking and external research.
For either tool, NFPs need a clear AI Use Policy covering:
Free Me Up AI can help you build this policy - or review what you already have.
Book a free 15-minute AI clarity call. We'll help you understand which tools fit your team, your data, and your governance requirements - without the sales pitch.