AI enablement for your team
A 17-week AI enablement program for mission-driven organizations · Summer – Fall 2026
Made possible with support from The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
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Ignition is a hands-on program designed to build real AI capability across your organization — no prior experience required. Participants get access to every major AI model, structured learning paths, live workshops, mentoring, and a community of peer organizations — all in one place.
Your team will develop practical AI skills they can apply immediately, build awareness of how AI fits into different roles and workflows, and create working prototypes on real organizational problems. By the end of the program, participants will be more capable with AI, more strategic about where it fits, and better equipped to drive impact at their organizations.
There is no cost to participate. Ignition is fully funded by the Davis Foundation.
What's included
The Platform
Every major AI model in one place. No per-seat licensing. Your data is secure, and not used to train AI models.
Self-guided Learning
Three paths from beginner to advanced. Six modules each. Real work, real pace.
Live Workshops
Live workshops covering topics from AI fundamentals to agent building.
Mentoring and Support
Mentoring sessions, Slack community, and support from AI experts at the Center for Data Science and AI.
Design Sprint and Closing
An in-person design sprint mid-program and a closing event where participants share outcomes and learn from peers.
Self-guided learning paths
Explore
Use AI Confidently
Anyone new to AI. No prerequisites.
6 modules
- Get comfortable using AI on your actual work
- Learn what different AI models are good at — and where they struggle
- Walk away with techniques you can use every day
Build
Build with AI
Ready to move from using to building. Explore experience helpful.
6 modules
- Design and build a working agent that solves a real problem at your organization
- Test with real users and improve based on what you learn
- Share what you built so other organizations can learn from it
Create
Code with AI
Developers and power users. Build experience ideal.
6 modules
- Build with code, CLI tools, and custom integrations beyond the platform
- Connect AI to your organization's data and systems via APIs and MCPs
- Ship a working tool that goes further than the platform alone can take you
Program timeline
Register your cohort and get platform access for your team.
Ignition officially begins.
Biweekly live workshops and weekly mentoring sessions.
Participants gather in person to accelerate one or more high-impact projects.
Wrap-up event. Participants share what they built, what they learned, and what's next.
Ignition is the founding cohort of campusLaunch, our AI enablement program. It brings together mission-driven organizations across Hampden County — working in education, public health, workforce development, housing, food security, and community services.
FAQ
What’s expected of cohort leaders?
Cohort leaders are welcome and encouraged as full participants.
How many people should I register?
Your cohort works best as a group small enough to actually connect — most are 3 to 15 people. The program posts bi-weekly discussion prompts in your cohort’s Slack channel, so the more your team engages with each other, the more value everyone gets. Three people engaged together will get more out of this for your organization than 30 people in isolation.
Can my organization have more than one cohort?
Yes.
What’s the time commitment?
1–2 hours per week across 17 weeks. Self-guided modules take 10–20 minutes. Workshops are optional and recorded.
Can participants switch learning paths?
Yes. Start anywhere, switch anytime.
Is there a cost?
No. Ignition is fully funded by The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation.
Register your cohort
One form per cohort. Takes about five minutes.
Register your cohort →Your executive sponsor should review the platform data guidance before you register.
Questions? tbd@umass.edu
Ignition is made up of a diverse group of mission-driven organizations with footprints in Hampden County and across Western Massachusetts. The program exists because of the curiosity, vision, and commitment of The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, the founding organizations who participated in program scoping and development, and the team at the Center for Data Science and AI at UMass Amherst.
Thank you to everyone who worked to get us to launch.
Ignition is part of campusLaunch — the AI enablement program created by the team at the Center for Data Science and AI at UMass Amherst.