Bentonville event brings Arkansas nonprofits together as part of nationwide initiative led by OpenAI, in collaboration with Walton Family Foundation and Heartland Forward
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (July 17, 2025) – More than 1,000 nonprofit leaders from across the country convened in 10 cities today for the inaugural Nonprofit Jam, a one-day, hands-on event designed to help community organizations harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI). In Bentonville, local nonprofit leaders gathered at a regional event co-hosted by Heartland Forward and the Walton Family Foundation, bringing national innovation directly to Arkansas.
The Nonprofit Jam is a collaborative initiative led by the OpenAI Academy, in partnership with the Emerson Collective, Walton Family Foundation and a network of regional nonprofit organizations. The series of events—from Arkansas to California and New York to Ohio—aimed to expand equitable access to generative AI tools that can amplify the missions of organizations working on the frontlines of their communities.
“Nonprofits are often first to step up when communities face tough challenges, but they’re usually the last to benefit from transformative and disruptive new technologies,” said Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI. “The Nonprofit Jam flips that script, ensuring nonprofits have access to our leading AI tools. It’s about democratizing innovation so that AI’s benefits reach as many people as possible, not just a select few.”
The Bentonville event convened 150 nonprofit professionals from across the region to explore how tools like ChatGPT can streamline case management, enhance outreach and improve service delivery. Participants received 12 months of free access to ChatGPT Plus, along with curated training resources and an invitation to join a national learning community focused on responsible AI integration in nonprofit work.
“The Nonprofit Jam is a chance to give community leaders the tools, skills and mindsets to strengthen connection, collaboration and impact,” said Stephanie Cornell, Executive Director at the Walton Family Foundation. “By combining proven approaches and new ways of working, nonprofits can model how to best use AI to solve real-world challenges.”
“We are honored to support the Nonprofit Jam in Bentonville alongside incredible partners at OpenAI, the Walton Family Foundation, Emerson Collective and the many other local partners,” said Angie Cooper, President and COO of Heartland Forward. “This gathering reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that communities in the heartland are not just adapting to the AI era—but helping to lead it. By bringing together mission-driven organizations and cutting-edge innovators, we’re unlocking new possibilities for economic growth in the middle of the country.”
The Arkansas event was one of 10 regional activations hosted on the same day in:
- Oakland, CA – TechSoup
- Los Angeles, CA – Center for Nonprofit Management and Goldhirsh Foundation
- Salinas, CA – Digital NEST
- Denver, CO – Community Resource Center, Colorado Nonprofit Association and Philanthropy Colorado
- Dallas, TX – Heartland Forward, North Texas Commission and NTEN
- Chicago, IL – NTEN
- Columbus, OH – The Columbus Foundation
- New York City, NY – Robinhood Foundation
- Wilmington, DE – Tech Impact and Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA)
- Bentonville, AR – Heartland Forward
In August 2025, OpenAI will publish a national summary report featuring case studies, key insights and early examples of how nonprofit organizations are beginning to integrate AI into their daily work.
About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness. Learn more at www.heartlandforward.org.
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company with a mission to ensure artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. Through responsible development and collaboration, OpenAI builds cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT to help individuals, organizations, and communities solve real-world challenges. OpenAI partners with mission-aligned organizations to promote innovation, accessibility, and the safe use of artificial intelligence around the world.
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving Education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Jimmy Warren
501-499-2200
jimmy.warren@wffmail.com