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NotebookLM Sample Notebooks for Nonprofits

Welcome to the NotebookLM Sample Notebooks playbook! This guide provides ready-to-use NotebookLM notebooks that nonprofits can import into their own accounts to quickly test and learn Google's AI-powered research and writing assistant.

Overview​

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Goal: Help nonprofits quickly understand and leverage NotebookLM's capabilities through hands-on experimentation with pre-built sample notebooks.

  • 💡 Key Insight: Learning by doing with real nonprofit scenarios accelerates AI adoption and reveals practical use cases.
  • 📊 Metric to Watch: Number of team members actively using NotebookLM for research, grant writing, and content creation within 30 days.

Why NotebookLM for Nonprofits?​

NotebookLM can transform how your organization handles:

  • Grant Research & Writing: Analyze funding opportunities and craft compelling proposals
  • Impact Reporting: Synthesize program data into compelling narratives
  • Board Materials: Create executive summaries from complex documents
  • Content Creation: Generate newsletters, social media content, and donor communications
  • Strategic Planning: Research best practices and synthesize insights
🚀 Step 1: Set Up Your NotebookLM Account
  1. Create Account: Visit notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your Google account
  2. Understand the Interface: Familiarize yourself with notebooks, sources, and the chat interface
  3. Review Privacy: NotebookLM keeps your data private - Google doesn't use your content to train AI models
  4. Why This Matters: Having your own account ensures you can save and build upon the sample notebooks
📚 Step 2: Import Sample Notebooks

Choose from our curated sample notebooks below:

Sample Grant Application Review​

  • Grant Applicationk
    • Comprehensive guide to AI tools and applications
    • Use case examples across nonprofit operations
    • Implementation strategies and best practices
    • Perfect starting point for AI adoption planning

Grant Writing & Compliance​

  • HRSA Grant Conditions and Reporting Requirements
    • Federal grant compliance requirements and guidelines
    • Reporting template examples and best practices
    • Risk management for grant-funded programs
    • Essential for health-focused nonprofits and grant writers

Risk Management & Operations​

🔍 Step 3: Explore Each Sample Notebook

For each notebook you import:

  1. Review the Sources: Examine what documents and data are included
  2. Try the Sample Queries: Use the pre-written questions to see NotebookLM in action
  3. Experiment with Your Own Questions: Ask follow-up questions relevant to your organization
  4. Generate Content: Use the "Create" features to produce summaries, outlines, and drafts

Pro Tip: Start with the notebook most relevant to your immediate needs, then explore others as time permits.

✏️ Step 4: Adapt for Your Organization

Once you're comfortable with the samples:

  1. Create Your First Custom Notebook: Start with your most pressing project
  2. Upload Your Documents: Add your own grant guidelines, program reports, or strategic plans
  3. Develop Your Query Library: Build a collection of useful prompts for your team
  4. Train Your Team: Share successful queries and workflows with colleagues
📈 Step 5: Scale and Integrate
  • Weekly Practice: Dedicate 30 minutes weekly to exploring NotebookLM with real work
  • Team Training: Host monthly "NotebookLM Office Hours" to share discoveries
  • Workflow Integration: Identify 2-3 regular tasks where NotebookLM adds value
  • Success Tracking: Monitor time saved and quality improvements in key areas
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Ready-to-use notebooks available now! Each link will allow you to:

  • Import the complete notebook into your NotebookLM account
  • Access all source materials and sample queries
  • Start experimenting immediately with nonprofit-specific scenarios

Available Now:​

Coming Soon:​

  • Impact Measurement & Reporting Notebook
  • Donor Communications Notebook
  • Volunteer Management Notebook
  • Event Planning & Marketing Notebook

AI Prompts for NotebookLM Success​

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Use these prompts within NotebookLM to maximize your learning from the sample notebooks:

Getting Started Prompts​

"What are the key themes across all the documents in this notebook?"

"Create a summary of the main strategies mentioned in these materials."

"What questions should I be asking based on these sources?"

Content Creation Prompts​

"Based on these examples, write a [grant proposal/newsletter/board report] outline for [your specific project]."

"Generate 3 different versions of [communication type] using the style from these samples."

"Create a checklist for [process] based on the best practices in these documents."

Analysis Prompts​

"Compare the approaches mentioned in these documents and highlight the pros and cons."

"What trends or patterns do you see across these [grant opportunities/donor profiles/program evaluations]?"

"Identify potential risks or challenges mentioned in these materials."

Quick Start Checklist​

  • Create NotebookLM account
  • Import first sample notebook (start with your biggest need)
  • Try all pre-written sample queries
  • Ask 3 custom questions relevant to your work
  • Generate one piece of content using the "Create" feature
  • Share findings with one colleague
  • Plan next notebook to explore

Success Metrics​

Track your NotebookLM adoption with these simple metrics:

  • Usage Frequency: How often team members use NotebookLM weekly
  • Time Savings: Hours saved on research and writing tasks
  • Quality Improvements: Feedback on content generated with NotebookLM assistance
  • Team Adoption: Number of staff actively using the platform after 30 days
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Next Steps: Once you've mastered these sample notebooks, consider creating custom notebooks for your organization's specific needs. The skills you develop here will transfer directly to your real-world nonprofit challenges.