Don't Let AI Fool Your Vision: The 6-Step Guide To Creating An AI Policy
Build guardrails before you scale, protect your mission from the hidden risks of AI.
Build guardrails before you scale, protect your mission from the hidden risks of AI.
Published: May 23, 2025 URL: https://buildtolaunch.ai/p/dont-let-ai-fool-your-vision-the-6-step-guide-to-creating-an-ai-policy Engagement: 38 likes, 13 comments, 13 restacks Word count: 1241
Note: This is a guest post by Joel Salinas, creator of Leadership in Change, where he shares practical tools to help modern leaders thrive through change.
As "AI" now becomes mainstream with ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other LLMs being all over the media, leaders are having a fear of falling behind while unsure of how to move forward.
A few months ago, a church leader told me something I haven't forgotten:
"We're automating everything we can, emails, social posts, reports. It's saving us hours every week."
I asked, "How are you avoiding misuse as you automate? Do you have an AI policy?"
She paused.
That pause? It's exactly where most leaders are right now.
AI promises speed without sacrifice. And after years of burnout, tight budgets, and digital overwhelm, that's a deeply tempting offer.
But here's what we're seeing in the wake of that relief:
- Ethical questions are being postponed
- Cultural consequences are being ignored
- Risks of misuse are not seen
And the deeper risk isn't what AI does to us, but what WE do with AI.
72% of organizations do not yet have AI policies or guidelines in place. — Diligent, 2024 survey
Why Guardrails Matter for Mission-Driven Work
Here's what can go wrong:
- You won't know what's AI-generated. No system = no visibility. Your team may unknowingly publish untracked, unlabeled content.
- You risk putting out false or unchecked data. AI doesn't fact-check. Unreviewed content could mislead donors, partners, or your board.
- You won't be ready if regulations tighten. If laws require AI disclosure, you'll have no audit trail for what was human vs. machine.
- You'll lose clarity and voice across your team. Without shared rules, people default to what's fastest, not what's faithful or accurate.
But with the right framework, AI can become a force multiplier for what matters most.
What a Healthy AI Use Policy Looks Like
Most organizations don't need a 30-page legal doc. They need a clear, shared agreement about how AI gets used — and where it doesn't.
Here's a simple, 6-part outline to create an AI Acceptable Use Policy (AUP):
1. Purpose Statement
Clearly articulate why your organization is engaging with AI.
"Our organization uses AI tools to enhance productivity, improve access to information, and support creative workflows. We are committed to using these tools ethically, transparently, and in ways that reflect our mission and values."
2. Guiding Principles
List 2–4 guiding principles that serve as decision filters. For example:
- Human-focused — Does this tool enhance or erode the human element of our work?
- Transparency — Would our stakeholders feel misled if they knew AI was involved in a particular output?
3. Approved Use Cases
Name the areas where AI is welcome as a support tool.
✅ Examples:
- Drafting internal summaries
- Generating content ideas for human review
- Analyzing trends or donor data
- Translating content for multilingual audiences
4. Prohibited Use Cases
Clarify what should never be automated or outsourced.
Examples:
- Hiring or performance evaluations
- Original donor communications (without human review)
- Verification of stats or quotes in external communications
5. Review & Oversight Process
Build in accountability — don't let AI become "set it and forget it."
All AI-generated content must be reviewed by a designated human lead before publication.
6. Dissemination & Team Training
Don't just write the policy — teach it.
Ideas:
- Introduce this policy in new staff onboarding
- Host short, annual refresher workshops
- Share real examples of good and poor AI use
Bottom Line
Your AI policy doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be real, readable, and rooted in your mission.
If you're ready to turn these six steps into something your team can actually adopt, a free AI Policy Template is available to get you started. Use it as a base. Share it with your board. Tweak it with your team. The important part is to start with clarity.
TL;DR:
- Ethical leadership in AI begins before the first tool is installed.
- Guardrails protect your mission.
- Most leaders feel rushed into AI — guardrails slow you down just enough to lead wisely.
Curious: what's one thing you would never delegate to AI?