Our Approach
This calculator uses conservative, research-backed estimates to project time and cost savings from AI integration.
All estimates are drawn from peer-reviewed research and large-scale surveys of nonprofits.
Key principles:
- All estimates based on peer-reviewed research and large-scale surveys
- Conservative assumptions (many organizations see higher savings)
- Confidence levels clearly marked for each estimate
- Transparent about limitations and what's not included
- Designed for planning purposes, not guarantees
Research Sources
📚 MIT: Experimental Evidence on AI Productivity
Noy & Zhang (2023) - 444 professionals, 40% faster completion, 18% quality improvement
📊 Google.org: Nonprofits & Generative AI Report
8,000+ organizations, 92% using AI writing tools report time savings
📊 Fast Forward: 2025 AI for Humanity Report
84% of AI-powered nonprofits cite funding as barrier to scaling
📚 Stanford HAI: AI Index 2024
Comprehensive analysis showing 30-50% productivity gains for text-based work
How to Validate Our Estimates
Don't take our word for it. Here's how to test these projections with your own data:
- Select one high-confidence task from the calculator
- Track baseline time for 2 weeks without AI
- Use AI for the same task for 2 weeks
- Compare actual time saved to our estimate
- Update the calculator with your real numbers
- Expand to other tasks based on results
Task-Specific Methodology
Each task card includes detailed methodology explaining:
- Baseline assumptions and industry averages
- Supporting evidence from research and case studies
- What AI does vs. what humans do
- Typical range of time savings
- Confidence level based on quality of evidence
Click "Show methodology & sources" below any task to see full details.
🎓 Training Impact Methodology
Why does training accelerate AI results? Research consistently shows that structured training significantly amplifies the benefits of AI adoption in organizations.
The Training Effect
Our training boost calculations are based on:
- Skills Development: Training teaches advanced prompting techniques, workflow optimization, and AI tool selection that typical users don't discover on their own
- Confidence Building: Formal training reduces hesitation and increases willingness to use AI for more tasks
- Best Practices: Learning from others' successes and failures accelerates the adoption curve significantly
- Change Management: Structured rollout with training increases organization-wide adoption rates
Research Foundation
📚 BCG/Harvard Study on AI Training
Consultants who received AI training showed 43% better performance vs. 17% for untrained users (Dell'Acqua et al., 2023)
📊 Workplace Learning Research
Organizations with structured training programs see 218% higher productivity impact from new technologies (ATD Research, 2023)
📈 Technology Adoption Studies
Training reduces time-to-proficiency by 40-60% and increases sustained usage rates by 70% (Gartner, 2024)
How We Calculate Training ROI
Our model uses conservative multipliers based on the research above:
- Half-Day Workshop ($500): 15% boost to time savings
Covers fundamentals, quick wins, and basic prompting techniques
- Full-Day Training ($1,200): 25% boost to time savings
Includes advanced workflows, hands-on practice, and organizational planning
- Multi-Session Series ($2,500): 35% boost to time savings
Deep implementation support, ongoing coaching, and custom use case development
Why These Numbers Are Conservative
The research cited above shows training effects ranging from 40-218% improvement. Our model uses much lower multipliers (15-35%) because:
- We want to provide realistic, achievable projections
- Not all training translates equally to all task types
- Individual results vary based on engagement and practice
- We'd rather you exceed expectations than fall short
Real-World Example
Scenario: Your team saves 10 hours/week through AI adoption
With Full-Day Training ($1,200):
- Additional 2.5 hours/week saved (25% boost)
- At $30/hour = $3,900 additional annual value
- Training pays for itself in ~8 weeks
- Net benefit: $2,700 in year one
- Continues delivering value in subsequent years
Important Note: Training is an investment in capability that compounds over time. While our calculator shows first-year ROI, trained teams continue to discover new applications and efficiencies long after the initial training.
Questions or Feedback?
This methodology represents our best understanding based on current research and practice.
As the field evolves, we'll update these estimates.
If you have questions about our methodology, want to share your organization's actual results,
or spot an error, please reach out to us at Filament Essential Services.
Last updated: November 2025
Version: 2.0
