The Nonprofit AI Almanac

Program design and client services

Summarize real client case notes

Looks like a time saver, but real case notes hold some of the most sensitive information you have.

Don't paste this into an AI tool — Case notes can include health, family, legal or immigration details that must not be pasted into general AI tools.

A safer way: Ask the AI to write a blank case-note template and a summary template with placeholders, then fill in the real details yourself offline.

Please note: This site is only a guide to help people understand. Consult your IT, security and/or privacy department for clarification.

Before you start, gather

Choose [PROGRAM TYPE] and [SECTIONS YOU NEED] from your records policy or an existing blank template. Do not paste any case notes, names or details. The template stays blank until you fill it in your secure system.

Starter prompt

Create a blank case-note template for [PROGRAM TYPE] with sections for [SECTIONS YOU NEED]. Then create a one-paragraph summary template with placeholders like [CLIENT ID], [SERVICES PROVIDED] and [NEXT STEPS]. Leave every field as a labeled blank. Do not fill in example client details, even made-up ones. Do not guess what a field should hold. Do not ask me for real client information.

Check the result

Check the templates against your records policy and any rules for your field, then fill them in only inside your own secure system.

What it might get wrong

Template sections that nudge staff to record more than needed, like immigration status or health history. Labels beyond [CLIENT ID] that suggest a format your system does not use.

Why AI makes things up