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Where knowledge, technology,
and nonprofits intersect.

StrefaTECH is a newsletter for people doing the work — practical, honest writing about AI and technology for nonprofit leaders. 144 issues and counting.

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Deb Stuligross

Hi, I'm Deb.

I've spent years in nonprofit technology consulting and IT leadership — the room where technology meets mission, and where good intentions don't always survive contact with the tools.

StrefaTECH is my way of making sense of it all: one idea at a time, for people who care about doing it right. No vendor hype, no academic jargon. Just practical thinking from someone who's been in the room.

  • For nonprofit leaders, not engineers Written for people running programs, managing teams, and making decisions — not debugging code.
  • Practical over theoretical Every issue is anchored in what actually works in the real world — not what sounds good on a whiteboard.
  • Warm, first-person, occasionally wry Like a note from a colleague who read the hard stuff so you don't have to.
144 issues published
5+ years of writing
Free always

The intersection is where things get interesting.

The three circles aren't just a logo — they're the whole idea.

StrefaTECH Venn diagram — the intersection of knowledge, technology, and nonprofits

Knowledge

What's actually happening in AI, data, and tech — researched, sourced, and fact-checked before it lands in your inbox.

Technology

The tools, platforms, and practices that matter to the sector right now — not last year's news.

Nonprofits

The context, constraints, and mission realities that shape how technology actually works — or doesn't — in your organization.

Recent issues

A sampling of what's been on my mind lately.

Issue #144 cover Latest

#144 — My AI Confessions: I Talk More Than I Type

I stopped typing. Mostly. The first in an occasional series about the tools I use, how I use them, and whether they're worth your time.

Read on Substack →
Issue #143 cover Also Recent

#143 — Are Your AI Habits Hurting the Planet?

What every AI user should know about the hidden costs of a simple prompt. The thermostat analogy that changes how you think about every query.

Read on Substack →
Issue #139 cover Most Popular Ever

#139 — Can I Upload This?

The data privacy question every nonprofit staffer is afraid to ask out loud — and the framework for thinking it through.

Read on Substack →

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NTC Detroit — March 2026

Let's continue the conversation.

If you're here from my NTC talk — welcome. The question I posed isn't rhetorical. The conversation in the comments on issue #143 is already going, and it's a good one.

"There are so many questions surrounding AI, climate and the personal choices we make about how we use it. In that way it's similar to other energy-consuming choices — modes of travel, the types of appliances we get... and yes, the temperature we set our thermostats at."
— Kim
"Right-sizing your model is probably the single easiest way to cut both cost and carbon."
— Pawel
"A long-time AI avoider — been including it in small ways lately. Reading this was very helpful. It will be a yes-AI for me with these tips in mind."
— Samuel

Two practical things you can put in your AI acceptable use policy right now.

Use the simplest AI model that gets the job done.

Generate images and video with intention, not habit.

What are you going to do differently? What questions did the talk leave you with? I read every comment.

Jump into the discussion →

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Make Good Choices