AI strategy consultancy
Responsible AI strategy for mission-driven organizations
Caldera helps foundations, nonprofits, and other mission-driven organizations develop strategies for AI adoption that are responsible, practical, and aligned with their values.
What we do
Strategic advisory.
Hands-on when you need it.
AI Readiness Evaluation
For organizations looking for an exploratory first step, we provide a baseline understanding of where you have the biggest opportunities and risks — given your operational priorities, technology stack, data flows, and existing governance mechanisms.
AI Strategy
We help clients develop an overarching strategy for AI adoption that aligns with their values, mission, and operational priorities. Clients get clear on their rationale for investing, the outcomes they expect, how they'll approach governance, and which solutions to prioritize.
AI Governance
Most staff are already using AI tools. Without guardrails, organizations face legal and reputational risk. We help you craft explicit policies on approved data types, tools, and use cases — and build the structure for decision-making and ongoing oversight.
AI Solutions
When you're ready to design and build, we evaluate potential use cases, prioritize them against your goals, map a solution that fits your workflows and systems, and build prototypes to prove out the value before scaling.
How we work
Grounded in a deep respect for human agency.
Unbiased
We're not a vendor——we're tech-agnostic, and work across platforms and products. Our recommendations come from evidence and fit, not ideology.
Practical
Strategy that's aligned with your existing operations and priorities. We meet you where you are, desiging for the team, budget, and IT capacity you have today.
Equity-first
We bring a deep personal commitment to building more inclusive, more equitable technologies. We center the people your mission is meant to serve.
Who we are
Our advisors work as partners
With deep experience in AI implementation and a proven track record of working with foundations, nonprofits, and other social impact organizations, we provide our clients the technical expertise and operational know-how they need to navigate the opportunities and risks of using AI.
Our guidance is unbiased, grounded in a deep respect for human agency, and focused on helping you increase your impact.
Bryan Pon, Ph.D.
Strategy & Governance
Bryan leads on strategy and governance for Caldera. Ex-Kiva, ex-Caribou Digital, he combines a social science background with commercial expertise in his work building more equitable outcomes with digital technology.
Savita Bailur, Ph.D.
Gender, Equity & Measurement
Savita leads on gender, equity, and measurement for Caldera. She is currently a member of MERL Tech, Associate Professor in digital development at Columbia University, and an Expert Board Member for actor behavior at Meta.
Marissa Dean
Ventures & Innovation
Marissa brings expertise in early-stage ventures and ecosystem development in digital economies. Ex-Accenture, ex-Caribou Digital, she currently leads the Innevation Center at University of Nevada, Reno.
Our advisors have worked with
