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Metropolitan Council CEO Highlights AIs Role in Nonprofit Work as New York Launches FutureWorks Commission
On June 4, David Greenfield, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), warned nonprofit leaders that embracing artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer optional if they want to stay competitive. He made the remarks during an AI summit in Lower Manhattan co‑hosted by the Met Council and the Robin Hood Foundation.
When speaking to the Jewish News Syndicate, Greenfield highlighted that the Met Council is the first U.S. organization to guarantee its employees that AI will not trigger layoffs. "We believe that AI should be used to help people," he said. "It should be human‑centered, and it really should be a tool rather than a replacement."
The summit attracted over 100 nonprofit executives, including leaders from Commonpoint Queens, the Hispanic Federation, and the UJA‑Federation of New York. Participants listened to panels and joined workshops that explored how AI could solve organizational challenges.
Greenfield detailed the council’s training program, which pays staff two hours per week to learn AI and allocates an AI budget to each department for experimentation. Recent initiatives include a digital food pantry that leverages AI to forecast demand and optimize delivery routes, and an intake bot called "Reggie" that directs clients to the right department—be it food assistance, senior housing, domestic‑violence services, or Holocaust‑survivor support.
All council initiatives, Greenfield said, center on enhancing the client experience. "Everything we’re doing has three things in common. First, it improves the client experience," he explained. "We have to compete like for‑profit businesses, ensuring our clients receive faster service, higher satisfaction, and the best possible experience."
AI‑driven efficiencies have enabled the council to broaden its reach from 325,000 to over 350,000 people this year, all without increasing staff workload. Greenfield noted that staff now spend less time on paperwork, giving them more capacity to focus on client needs.
Beyond his council role, Greenfield has been named by Gov. Kathy Hochul to the newly formed FutureWorks Commission, which will advise the state on AI’s impact on the workforce and economy. The commission’s membership, announced publicly, includes former U.S. labor secretary Tom Perez as co‑chair alongside Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA, and Molly Kinder of the Brookings Institution.
Greenfield emphasized that the commission’s aim is to "put the people and the humans back into the AI conversation." He stressed the importance of safeguarding jobs and autonomy, stating, "Ideas like universal basic income are not good ideas. The notion of paying you $1,000 to stay home for the rest of your life is a terrible idea."
Greenfield warned that AI could funnel wealth and power into the hands of a handful of tech firms. "It keeps me up at night," he said. "I really think they’re creating a society where a quarter of one percent will amass all the wealth and all the power."
He also highlighted a demographic shift in those seeking aid. The council has seen an uptick in calls from people in their 20s struggling to find employment and requiring SNAP benefits. "We’re getting calls from people in their 20s now who can’t find jobs, who need help, who need SNAP," he said.
Greenfield attributed the trend to AI’s effect on entry‑level positions. "We have college‑educated students who have graduated and can’t find jobs," he said. "A lot of that is due to AI and the fact that AI is fast replacing entry‑level work."
According to Greenfield, the commission’s inaugural meeting is slated for the coming weeks. He expects the council’s AI experience to shape the commission’s guidance on how New York can protect workers while capitalizing on AI’s economic potential.
The Met Council’s AI strategy—investing in staff training, allocating departmental budgets, and preserving human oversight—offers a template for other nonprofits. Greenfield underscored that technology should assist, not replace, human judgment when decisions impact people’s lives.
The FutureWorks Commission is poised to influence state policy on AI, workforce training, and economic security. Stakeholders will be watching closely as the commission prepares to meet, eager to see how its recommendations balance AI innovation with job protection.
Together, the council’s AI initiatives and the commission’s forthcoming work highlight the escalating importance of responsible AI deployment within the nonprofit sector and across New York’s economy.
When speaking to the Jewish News Syndicate, Greenfield highlighted that the Met Council is the first U.S. organization to guarantee its employees that AI will not trigger layoffs. "We believe that AI should be used to help people," he said. "It should be human‑centered, and it really should be a tool rather than a replacement."
The summit attracted over 100 nonprofit executives, including leaders from Commonpoint Queens, the Hispanic Federation, and the UJA‑Federation of New York. Participants listened to panels and joined workshops that explored how AI could solve organizational challenges.
Greenfield detailed the council’s training program, which pays staff two hours per week to learn AI and allocates an AI budget to each department for experimentation. Recent initiatives include a digital food pantry that leverages AI to forecast demand and optimize delivery routes, and an intake bot called "Reggie" that directs clients to the right department—be it food assistance, senior housing, domestic‑violence services, or Holocaust‑survivor support.
All council initiatives, Greenfield said, center on enhancing the client experience. "Everything we’re doing has three things in common. First, it improves the client experience," he explained. "We have to compete like for‑profit businesses, ensuring our clients receive faster service, higher satisfaction, and the best possible experience."
AI‑driven efficiencies have enabled the council to broaden its reach from 325,000 to over 350,000 people this year, all without increasing staff workload. Greenfield noted that staff now spend less time on paperwork, giving them more capacity to focus on client needs.
Beyond his council role, Greenfield has been named by Gov. Kathy Hochul to the newly formed FutureWorks Commission, which will advise the state on AI’s impact on the workforce and economy. The commission’s membership, announced publicly, includes former U.S. labor secretary Tom Perez as co‑chair alongside Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA, and Molly Kinder of the Brookings Institution.
Greenfield emphasized that the commission’s aim is to "put the people and the humans back into the AI conversation." He stressed the importance of safeguarding jobs and autonomy, stating, "Ideas like universal basic income are not good ideas. The notion of paying you $1,000 to stay home for the rest of your life is a terrible idea."
Greenfield warned that AI could funnel wealth and power into the hands of a handful of tech firms. "It keeps me up at night," he said. "I really think they’re creating a society where a quarter of one percent will amass all the wealth and all the power."
He also highlighted a demographic shift in those seeking aid. The council has seen an uptick in calls from people in their 20s struggling to find employment and requiring SNAP benefits. "We’re getting calls from people in their 20s now who can’t find jobs, who need help, who need SNAP," he said.
Greenfield attributed the trend to AI’s effect on entry‑level positions. "We have college‑educated students who have graduated and can’t find jobs," he said. "A lot of that is due to AI and the fact that AI is fast replacing entry‑level work."
According to Greenfield, the commission’s inaugural meeting is slated for the coming weeks. He expects the council’s AI experience to shape the commission’s guidance on how New York can protect workers while capitalizing on AI’s economic potential.
The Met Council’s AI strategy—investing in staff training, allocating departmental budgets, and preserving human oversight—offers a template for other nonprofits. Greenfield underscored that technology should assist, not replace, human judgment when decisions impact people’s lives.
The FutureWorks Commission is poised to influence state policy on AI, workforce training, and economic security. Stakeholders will be watching closely as the commission prepares to meet, eager to see how its recommendations balance AI innovation with job protection.
Together, the council’s AI initiatives and the commission’s forthcoming work highlight the escalating importance of responsible AI deployment within the nonprofit sector and across New York’s economy.
