AUTOMATION LAB
Reducing Administrative Burden in the Cultural Sector
Through Technology
A pilot initiative by the
About the Project
The Automation Lab is a research-driven pilot 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 aims to identify practical approaches that free up staff time for mission-driven work while building reusable infrastructure for the sector.
Our Theory of Change
We aim to help close the widening AI access gap and ensure that arts & culture nonprofits are not left behind as technology advances.
2023 - 2025
Case Studies
2023 Arts Council
Internal Process Automation
Funded by: Foundation for Community Health
Funding Amount: $10,000
Project Timeline: 1 year (400 hours)
Results:
Labor Savings: 30 hours/week (1560 hours/year)
Cost Offset: $31,200/year
Development Time ROI: $78/hour*
Tech Stack: Zapier, Givebutter, Salesforce, Quickbooks, Gmail, Slack, Mailchimp, Airtable, Duda
2025 Arts Council
Print Calendar Automation
Funded by: Ethan Brewerton
Funding Amount: In-Kind Development Time
Project Timeline: 1 week (20 hours)
Results:
Labor Savings: 20 hours/month (240 hours/year)
Cost Offset: $4,800/year
Development Time ROI: $240/hour*
Tech Stack: Google Gemini 3- AI Studio, Custom Python Application, CivicLift
2025 Arts Council
Email Newsletter Automation
Funded by: Ethan Brewerton
Funding Amount: In-Kind Development Time
Project Timeline: 1 day (4 hours)
Results:
Labor Savings: 3 hours/week (~150 hours/year)
Cost Offset: $3,000/year
Development Time ROI: $750/hour*
Tech Stack: Google Gemini 3- AI Studio, CivicLift, Mailchimp
Print Calendar Automation
(Before and After)
CURRENT PHASE
Research
Call for Nonprofit Participation
We are currently seeking feedback from arts & culture nonprofit organizations in Northwest Connecticut to help identify common pain points and opportunities for sector-wide capacity building.
Please fill out this brief survey to help guide our work and see if you might be a good match to partner with us on this program.
The Plan
Phase 1
Research & Discovery
(underway: Jan-Mar 2026)
Goals
- Understand how nonprofits are currently handling administrative work and AI use
- Identify common pain points and readiness levels across organizations
- Determine which processes are realistic candidates for automation
Deliverables
- Sector-wide survey results and analysis
- Summary of shared operational challenges and opportunities
- Clear criteria for pilot project selection
- Shortlist of high-potential automation use cases
Phase 2
Pilot Projects
(Mar- Oct 2026)
Goals
- Test automation approaches in real nonprofit environments
- Reduce administrative burden without adding complexity or risk
- Learn what works, what doesn’t, and why
Deliverables
- Implemented pilot automation workflows
- Documentation of decisions, constraints, and adjustments
- Observations on staff experience, sustainability, and maintenance needs
- Measured time and labor savings where applicable
Phase 3
Systematization
(Oct - Dec 2026)
Goals
- Translate pilot learning into repeatable, maintainable approaches
- Identify which solutions can be adapted by other organizations
- Support smarter future investment in shared infrastructure
Deliverables
- Reusable frameworks, templates, and documentation
- Clear guidance on when automation is and is not appropriate
- Public case study and implementation framework
- Prioritized recommendations for next-phase funding or expansion
Our team
Steph Burr
Project Manager
Steph Burr is a 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. She has extensive technical proficiency and is a member of the Zapier Wizard’s Guild.
Ethan S. Brewerton
Development Lead
Ethan S. Brewerton is a creative technologist dedicated to operational efficiency. With two years of specialized experience in computational models and generative scripting, he has mastered the art of automating intricate, multi-step processes.
Previously using these skills to enhance hand made artistic production, Ethan now applies his automation expertise to the non-profit sector. He helps organizations modernize their operations by building custom tools that democratize access to technology, streamline daily tasks, and amplify overall impact.
