For someone passing by, the office may simply look like a conference space.
But the United Way Institute, located at 201 N. Rupert St., is more than just four walls and a roof, said Adam D. Powell, United Way of Tarrant County president and CEO. The innovation and research hub, which opened on April 20, is set to provide nonprofit leaders and community members access to technology previously siloed and inaccessible.
“There is a demand in this community for a heightened level of investment and understanding in AI and in understanding emergent technologies,” Powell said. “How do we use that for problem solving? This was the result of a lot of feedback.”
The institute consists of conference room space with small group breakout tables, office spaces and state-of-the-art computer systems supplied by Dell Technologies.
The Texas-based company is investing in similar spaces internationally to bring emergent technology, like artificial intelligence and virtual assistant tools, to communities that may not currently have access, said Carly Tatum, senior director of giving and impact at Dell Technologies.
How can you use the space?
Any organizations or individuals looking to use the United Way Institute should reach out to Institute@unitedwaytarrant.org to schedule appointments.
She pointed to a similar hub in the Amazon rainforest, where nonprofit organizations have created a solar-powered space alongside Dell to incubate technology needed for research.
“We’re not here to tell you what it is you’re solving for. We’re here to enable you to do what you do better and more efficiently,” Tatum said. “It’s a model that we’re trying to duplicate everywhere.”
Technologies provided by Dell for the institute include laptops, large touch-screen monitors, computer systems and AI tools.
The Fort Worth institute is one of the first Dell has invested in specifically for nonprofits, Tatum said.
A United Way of Tarrant County employee uses a virtual AI tool that provides direct feedback after a mock interview or teaching assistance. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)
“If this is a model that can work here, maybe it can work in other places as well,” she said.
Initial investment in the Fort Worth facility was based on conversations before the institute opened, Powell said. That includes AI tools such as a virtual assistant that provides feedback based on desired situations like a mock interview. More can be provided based on feedback and requests, he said.
“We had a series of town halls back in fall 2025 … and I think the question that was probably the most ubiquitous is, ‘What do we do with this AI?’” Powell said. “‘How do we use this? How do we integrate this? How do we use this in our models?’”
Alongside the virtual assistant, United Way kicked off the institute’s opening with an “AI Day of Learning,” during which local nonprofits were able to talk with technology experts to see how best to incorporate the new tool into their work.
Future conference-type events will include a “Day of Innovation” event on June 16.
Powell began serving as the regional United Way chapter’s leader last year. He said the nonprofit world often is last when it comes to newer technologies.
The United Way Institute, located at 201 N. Rupert St., allows nonprofits in Tarrant County access to technologies and resources provided by Dell Technologies. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)
He noted nonprofits often help families and individuals living paycheck to paycheck, and if the industry lags behind, so does a nonprofit’s ability to help people in need.
“We’ve got to make sure they’ve got up-to-date tools to make sure that they and we collectively are doing what we can to really resolve those issues, particularly around education, health and financial security,” Powell said.
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
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