Phase 1: Research & Discovery — Underway

Reducing Administrative Burden

in the Cultural Sector

A pilot initiative by the NWCT Arts Council

Exploring how responsible, human-centered automation can free up staff time for mission-driven work — and build reusable infrastructure for arts & culture nonprofits across Northwest Connecticut.

🛠️ Try Our ToolsJoin the Research →
30 hrs
Saved / Week
$39K
Annual Savings
$315/hr
Dev ROI
30 hrs
Saved per week
1,560 hrs/year
$39K
Annual savings
Across 2 projects
$315/hr
Avg. dev ROI
All case studies
3
Projects complete
2023–2025
About the Project

Closing the AI Access Gap

The Automation Lab is a pilot initiative by the NWCT Arts Council exploring how responsible, human-centered automation can reduce administrative burden and strengthen operational capacity for arts & culture nonprofits in Northwest Connecticut.

Through discovery, pilot projects, and shared documentation, the project identifies practical approaches that free up staff time for mission-driven work while building reusable infrastructure for the sector.

Read our Theory of Change →
🔍
Research-Driven
Every tool we build is grounded in real nonprofit needs — identified through sector surveys and direct partnership.
🤝
Human-Centered
Technology should reduce burden, not add complexity. We design with the humans using these tools at the center.
📦
Reusable Infrastructure
Solutions that work for one organization are documented and packaged so others can adopt them.
Proven Results

Case Studies

Real automation projects with measurable results for the cultural sector.

20231 year (400 hours)

Arts Council Internal Process Automation

Funded by: Foundation for Community Health · $10,000
30 hrs/wk
Labor Saved
1,560 hrs/year
$31,200/yr
Cost Offset
Annual savings
$78/hr
Dev ROI
Return on time
Tech Stack
ZapierGivebutterSalesforceQuickbooksGmailSlackMailchimpAirtableDuda
20251 week (20 hours)

Print Calendar Automation

Funded by: Ethan Brewerton
20 hrs/mo
Labor Saved
240 hrs/year
$4,800/yr
Cost Offset
Annual savings
$240/hr
Dev ROI
Return on time
Tech Stack
Google Gemini AI StudioCustom PythonCivicLift
20251 day (4 hours)

Email Newsletter Automation

Funded by: Ethan Brewerton
3 hrs/wk
Labor Saved
~150 hrs/year
$3,000/yr
Cost Offset
Annual savings
$750/hr
Dev ROI
Return on time
Tech Stack
Google Gemini AI StudioCivicLiftMailchimp
Free Tools

Tools Built for Nonprofits

Free, open tools developed through the Automation Lab — ready for your organization to use today.

📅● Live

Camp Scheduler

A full-featured weekly activity scheduler for camps and programs. Drag-and-drop scheduling, conflict detection, one-click resolution, instructor availability management, venue tracking, and Google Sheets integration.

Drag & drop schedulingConflict detection (6 types)Auto-resolution engineInstructor availability16+ venue managementGoogle Sheets sync
Open Tool →
📧Coming Soon

Email Newsletter Automator

Automate your nonprofit email newsletter workflow. Connect your event data source and let AI draft, format, and schedule your newsletters.

AI-generated draftsMailchimp integrationEvent data importScheduled sends
In Development
📋Coming Soon

Grant Tracker

Track grant deadlines, requirements, and reporting cycles. Never miss a funder deadline or renewal window again.

Deadline trackingReport remindersFunder CRMImpact metrics
In Development
2026 Timeline

The Plan

Three phases from research to replicable infrastructure — all within 2026.

01
Research & Discovery
Jan – Mar 2026
Underway
Goals
  • →Understand how nonprofits handle administrative work and AI use
  • →Identify common pain points and readiness levels
  • →Determine realistic candidates for automation
Deliverables
  • ✓Sector-wide survey results and analysis
  • ✓Summary of shared operational challenges
  • ✓Clear criteria for pilot project selection
  • ✓Shortlist of high-potential automation use cases
02
Pilot Projects
Mar – Oct 2026
Up Next
Goals
  • →Test automation approaches in real nonprofit environments
  • →Reduce administrative burden without adding complexity
  • →Learn what works, what doesn't, and why
Deliverables
  • ✓Implemented pilot automation workflows
  • ✓Documentation of decisions and constraints
  • ✓Observations on staff experience and sustainability
  • ✓Measured time and labor savings
03
Systematization
Oct – Dec 2026
Planned
Goals
  • →Translate pilot learning into repeatable approaches
  • →Identify solutions adaptable by other organizations
  • →Support smarter future investment in shared infrastructure
Deliverables
  • ✓Reusable frameworks, templates, and documentation
  • ✓Guidance on when automation is/isn't appropriate
  • ✓Public case study and implementation framework
  • ✓Prioritized recommendations for next-phase funding
Who We Are

Our Team

Two collaborators bridging nonprofit operations and modern technology.

Steph Burr
Project Manager

Steph Burr

artsnwct.org ↗

Nonprofit leader with hands-on experience improving operations through technology, automation, and systems design. As Executive Director of the NWCT Arts Council, she has implemented workflows across fundraising, grants, and membership programs using a wide range of software platforms.

Zapier Wizard's Guild member
Executive Director, NWCT Arts Council
Fundraising & grants automation
Ethan S. Brewerton
Development Lead

Ethan S. Brewerton

ethansbrewerton.com ↗

Creative technologist dedicated to operational efficiency. With two years of specialized experience in computational models and generative scripting, Ethan has mastered automating intricate, multi-step processes — applying that expertise to the nonprofit sector.

Computational modeling & generative scripting
Custom tool development
AI workflow architecture
📋Call for Nonprofit Participation

Is Your Organization a Fit?

We are currently seeking feedback from arts & culture nonprofit organizations in Northwest Connecticut. Fill out our brief survey to share your experience and see if you might be a good match to partner with us.

Take the Survey →

Takes 5–10 minutes · Open to NWCT arts & culture nonprofits