Guides & Tools
Templates you can adapt today, practical guidance on AI and digital change, and answers to the questions organisations ask most.
Practical tools you can adapt today
Board roles toolkit
Who does what on your board, with a simple annual calendar for governance tasks.
Governance · TemplateSafeguarding policy template
A starting policy with reporting routes you can adapt to your context and size.
Safeguarding · TemplateProject budget template
A clear budget layout with categories funders commonly ask for.
Finance · SpreadsheetRisk register
List, rate and track project risks, with example entries to get you started.
Project management · TemplateStory consent form
Get clear, informed consent before sharing photos or stories of the people you work with.
Communications · FormSimple results log
Record outputs and outcomes consistently, with a note on what each result is based on.
Impact measurement · TemplateEvery resource will show its owner, source, version and last review date. Titles show the intended structure; final launch content is being prepared. More learning is in Learning Pathways.
Digital change that fits your organisation
Learn what AI and digital tools can do for your work, use them responsibly, and take the next practical step at your own pace. No hype, and no pressure to adopt anything you don't need.
Four places to start
Short, practical learning in Vision Academy, written for NGO teams with mixed digital skills and limited time.
AI literacy
What generative AI is, where it helps, where it invents things, and how to check what it produces.
In the AcademyResponsible use
Bias, consent, transparency with the people you serve, and a starter policy your board can adopt.
See the policy starterDigital readiness
A self-check across tools, skills, data and security, with a clear next step for where you are now.
Explore the ladderData protection basics
What personal data you hold, who can see it, how long to keep it, and what never goes into an AI tool.
In the AcademyWhere is your organisation today?
Four levels, described in plain terms. There's no wrong answer: most small NGOs start at level one or two, and the goal is the next step, not the top.
AI tools arrive only when they pass these checks
We may later add AI features, such as help explaining an opportunity's eligibility in plain language or drafting from your own profile. None are in V1. Each would be piloted separately, and only switched on once it meets every guardrail.
- Tested for accuracy. Evaluated against real NGO tasks before release, with results written down and errors tracked afterwards.
- Source links. Answers about opportunities or rules link to the original source so you can check them.
- Data limits. A clear statement of what data a tool uses, where it's processed and whether it's kept. Evidence and assessment answers are excluded by default.
- Cost ceiling. An agreed operating budget per feature, so AI never quietly becomes a cost members pay for later.
- Human oversight. AI can suggest, but people decide. It never makes verification, eligibility or moderation decisions.
- A non-AI path. Every task can still be done without AI, with no loss of access or quality of service.
An AI use policy your board can adopt
A one-page starter that sets out when your team may use AI tools, what never goes into them, and who checks the results. Fill in the highlighted parts and take it to your next board meeting.
- Written in plain language for small teams and volunteers.
- Linked to the Responsible use and Data protection basics learning.
- A starting point, not legal advice. Check it against the law in your country.
AI use policy for [Organisation name]
Adopted by the board on [date] · Review every 12 months
This policy explains how our staff and volunteers may use AI tools safely and honestly in our work.
- Drafting and editing text that a person then checks
- Summarising public documents
- Translating non-sensitive material, checked by a fluent speaker
- Entering personal data about the people we serve
- Making decisions about individuals
- Presenting AI output as a person's own words without review
[Role] keeps a list of approved tools and answers questions about this policy.
Does Vision Network use AI at launch?
No. V1 offers learning and guidance about AI and digital tools, but no AI assistants. Recommendations in V1 come from simple rules that our team maintains and can explain.
Will our data be used to train AI?
V1 has no AI features, so your data isn't sent to any AI tool. If an AI feature is added later, it will state what data it uses, where it's processed and whether it's kept, before you choose to use it. Evidence and assessment answers are excluded by default.
We're not very digital. Is this for us?
Yes. The readiness ladder starts at the very beginning, and the learning is written for people with mixed digital skills. Pages are designed to work on phones and slower connections.
Will you recommend specific AI products?
We explain how to choose and assess tools against your needs, data rules and budget. We don't endorse vendors, and any tools mentioned in learning are examples, not recommendations.
Does it cost anything?
No. The pilot is free, including the AI and digital learning. If paid services are ever introduced, we'll say clearly what is free and what isn't before anything changes.
How can we help?
Straight answers about the pilot, verification, privacy and accounts. Can't find what you need? Our team in Helsinki is happy to help.
Getting started
What is the pilot, and does it cost anything?
The pilot is the first version of Vision Network, tested with a small group of NGOs before it opens more widely. Taking part is free. If paid services are ever introduced, we'll say clearly which features are free and which are not before anything changes.
Does joining make us members of United Vision ry?
No. Vision Network is led by United Vision ry, but taking part is separate from membership of the association. It is also not an accreditation and does not provide funding.
Pilot countries and languages are being confirmed. You can register interest wherever you're based.
Verification
What does verification check?
A trained reviewer checks specific things, such as whether your organisation is registered as it says and whether the person applying is authorised to represent it. Your profile then shows what was checked and when.
Verification is not an endorsement, an accreditation or a judgement of your work. Read more on the verification page.
Will verification help us get funding?
It shows partners what was checked about your organisation. It doesn't make you eligible for any grant: each funder sets and decides its own eligibility. If you disagree with a decision, you'll be able to correct your evidence or appeal.
Privacy & data
Who can see our assessment answers and documents?
Only your organisation's team, by default. Assessment answers never appear in the directory and there are no public rankings. Verification documents are seen only by your administrators and the reviewer handling your case.
Can we choose what appears on our public profile?
Yes. Each profile field shows whether it is public, visible to members or private, and you can preview your profile before publishing. You can ask for your data to be exported or deleted under the privacy policy, which is being drafted.
Accounts & teams
Can several people from our organisation use it?
Yes. An administrator invites colleagues, and each person gets their own account and a role that controls what they can do. There is no shared organisation password. If your only administrator leaves, contact us and we'll help you regain access safely.
My invitation or reset link doesn't work. What now?
Links stop working after a while, and after they've been used once. Ask the person who invited you to send a new invitation, or request a new reset link from the sign-in page. If that doesn't work, contact us.
Get in touch
The Vision Network team is part of United Vision ry in Helsinki. We read every message.
info@unitedvision.fi
Write to usPhone
+358 41 327 7475
Weekdays 10:00–16:00, Finnish time
Visit
United Vision ry
Sturenkatu 11, 00510 Helsinki, Finland
Weekdays 10:00–16:00
Report a problem
Something broken, wrong or inappropriate? Tell us the page, what happened and the device you used.
Report by emailPolicies and terms
Participation terms
In draftHow organisations join, what they agree to when they take part, how access can be suspended or ended, and how to leave the network. Taking part in the pilot is free and separate from membership of United Vision ry.
Privacy notice
ApprovedVision Network follows the United Vision ry privacy notice. United Vision ry is the data controller. When you register interest we store your organisation details, your name, work email and role so the pilot team can contact you. Only the pilot team can see them. You can ask for a copy, a correction or deletion at any time by emailing info@unitedvision.fi.
Verification policy
In draftWhat reviewers check, which evidence is requested, how decisions and reasons are recorded, and how to correct evidence or appeal. It also explains when a status expires or can be suspended.
Accessibility statement
In draftOur target is to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA. We design for keyboard use, readable contrast, clear focus indicators, labelled form fields, plain language and light pages for slower connections.
This website has not yet been independently tested for accessibility. If something is hard to use:
- Email info@unitedvision.fi with the subject "Accessibility barrier".
- Tell us the page, what you were trying to do and any assistive technology you use.
- If you prefer, call +358 41 327 7475 on weekdays, 10:00–16:00.
Cookies
CurrentThis website sets no tracking or advertising cookies and runs no analytics. If you choose "Save and continue later" on the registration form, your draft is kept only in your own browser. Member accounts, when they open, will use only the cookies needed to keep you signed in and secure. See also the United Vision cookie policy.
Still have a question?
Email or call us on weekdays. If you're ready, register your organisation's interest in the pilot.