There is brilliance in difference.
Mentorship from the AI industry's leaders - for the charities and social impact organisations building a fairer future.
Four hours of expert AI mentorship, free to charities supporting diverse and underrepresented communities.
Request mentorshipPractical AI expertise.
AI is changing how organisations work, communicate and serve their communities. But knowing where to start - and what's actually useful - isn't always straightforward.
The Different Foundation connects charities and social impact organisations with experienced leaders from across the AI industry. You get four complimentary hours with one matched mentor, shaped around the challenges that matter to your organisation. No procurement process. No obligation to continue.
0 hours
Complimentary mentorship
0 matched mentor
Chosen around your needs, sector and expertise required
0 areas of support
From board-level AI strategy to the everyday work of writing a newsletter
How mentorship works
Tell us what you need
Tell us about your organisation and the problem you're trying to solve. It's fine if you're not sure what kind of AI support you need yet.
We match you with a mentor
We find someone based on your sector, the expertise you need and availability.
You work together
Use your four complimentary hours however works best — one deep session or several conversations over time.
We check in
A short review helps make sure the relationship is useful for everyone.
Continue if it's useful
There's no obligation to go further. If you do want to continue with the same mentor, additional mentorship is £50 an hour, donated in full to the Foundation to help fund complimentary mentorship for another charity.
Why we do this
AI is shaping society. We partner with the organisations building a fairer one.
The Different Foundation exists to equip charities and social enterprises with the skills, tools and confidence to innovate with AI for social good - and to make sure the benefits of this technology reach the communities that are too often left out of it.
Our founders
The Barber Shop
The Different Foundation was founded by The Barber Shop, an independent strategy agency built around a belief in the power of difference.
The Barber Shop works with organisations to solve complex challenges through strategy, creativity and technology. The Foundation takes that same spirit and applies it to social impact - opening up access to expertise, networks and emerging technology for organisations that might otherwise be left behind.
It's a simple idea: use what we know, who we know and what we can do to help create meaningful change.
The Barber Shop continues to support the Foundation and its mission, helping connect charities and social enterprises with expertise from across AI, strategy and technology.
Discover The Barber Shop →