Ketty Dones, a first-generation college graduate from the University of Central Florida (UCF), is making strides in supporting local nonprofit organizations through artificial intelligence (AI). At 24, Dones is pursuing dual graduate degrees and has played a key role in developing the AI for Nonprofits course at UCF.
Dones immigrated to Miami from Cuba as a child. She initially saw college as an unlikely goal due to her family’s financial situation and lack of mentors with higher education experience. However, after joining her high school’s International Baccalaureate program and learning about scholarship opportunities, she secured $20,000 in funding from groups like the Key Biscayne Community Foundation to attend UCF.
While at UCF, Dones mentored high school students and encouraged them to pursue internships. Her involvement deepened when Josefina Rosario, assistant director for access and student support at UCF’s Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement, suggested she enroll in a dual-degree program in public administration and nonprofit management.
Through this program in UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education, Dones gained practical experience working with nonprofits and public sector agencies. She helped develop fundraising strategies for local organizations, created budgets for the City of Orlando, and analyzed social media use by government offices.
Her most significant contributions have come through her work with the UCF Applied AI Innovation Initiative. Collaborating with associate lecturer Maritza Concha, Dones used generative AI tools to create digital resources such as apps, websites, data dashboards, chat bots, online courses, and even a board game focused on financial management skills.
“I never thought I would be able to build an app, but now we can with the help of AI,” Dones said. “When I saw that I can do something like that or create a website with the help of AI, I wanted to continue doing it. Nonprofit organizations tend to get left behind when there’s new technology out there. I imagined how AI can help a nonprofit with time or resource constraints, and that’s how my passion for learning about it started.”
Dones also contributed to creating an AI Impact Hub app designed to connect nonprofits with resources and foster discussion among nonprofit leaders. She has helped host workshops on using AI for tasks such as social media management, fundraising, compliance, and evaluation.
The highlight of her recent work was helping develop the AI for Nonprofits course in partnership with UCF Continuing Education. The course covers topics including grant writing with AI tools, ethical considerations in technology use, accountability measures, security practices, and integrating AI into daily operations. It is also part of the Innovation and Technical Assistance Program that provides hands-on support for nonprofits adopting AI solutions.
Last month, 26 Orange County nonprofits completed this program and received certificates recognizing their engagement with AI-powered tools.
Reflecting on her journey from receiving scholarships herself to now mentoring others in leveraging technology for social good, Dones said: “I always think about the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and other nonprofit organizations that helped me receive funding to go to school. It’s kind of full circle for me now. I feel that I can give back to my local community in understanding not just the challenges nonprofits face but also how I can help them in the future.”
Maritza Concha added: “Ketty has impressed me since day one. Between her contributions to the AI for Nonprofits course and developing impactful resources using AI and advanced prompting techniques, she is a prime example of a student without a technical background using AI for social good.”
Dones plans to continue working on developing new tools within the Applied AI Innovation Initiative while considering future roles related to product management or sales in artificial intelligence.
