OpenAI People-First AI Fund

OpenAI has launched the People-First AI Fund, a $50 million commitment to provide unrestricted grants to U.S.-based nonprofits and mission-focused organizations. The fund aims to ensure the benefits of AI are broadly distributed by supporting organizations that work at the intersection of innovation and public good.

Grant Focus Areas

The People-First AI Fund provides support for organizations operating at any stage of AI adoption, including those with no prior AI experience. Funding is directed toward three primary pillars:

AI Literacy and Public Understanding

This pillar focuses on equipping communities with the knowledge and skills to navigate artificial intelligence. Supported initiatives include:

  • Education programs and media initiatives.
  • Training for trusted local leaders, such as artists, youth mentors, faith leaders, and educators, to make AI discussions more accessible.
  • Programs that provide practical skills for engaging with the technology.

Community Innovation

This pillar supports participatory design and decision-making to ensure AI strengthens civic life. Priority is given to organizations working in place-based settings like clinics, libraries, schools, or community centers. Key priorities include:

  • Expanding access to and improving the delivery of essential services.
  • Co-designed approaches to health, mental well-being, and community trust.
  • Initiatives involving residents, including youth, and serving populations traditionally excluded from digital innovation, such as rural communities, linguistically isolated groups, or older adults.

Economic Opportunity

This pillar focuses on leveraging AI to expand access to meaningful work in fair and inclusive ways. Priority is given to approaches that enhance human work rather than replace it. Supported initiatives include:

  • Preparing young people and others for future jobs.
  • Tools supporting local businesses and caregivers.
  • Initiatives helping workers build economic security.
  • Models of shared value, such as community-based platforms or cooperatives that center worker needs.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be eligible for the People-First AI Fund, organizations must meet the following criteria:

  • Legal Status: Must be a U.S.-based public charity with valid 501(c)(3) status.
  • Location: Must be located in and primarily conduct work within the District of Columbia or the 50 U.S. states.
  • Budget: Annual operating budgets must be between $500,000 and $10 million.
  • Exclusions: The fund will not consider fiscally sponsored projects, organizations using resources for regranting, or programs and departments housed within larger institutions, even if those departments have separate budgets under $10 million.
  • Scope: All proposed work must be U.S.-focused.

Timeline and Process

Applications must be submitted via the official grant portal by 11:00 p.m. PT on October 8, 2025. Grants will be distributed by the end of the year. Organizations are limited to one application each, though multiple collaborators may be included on a single proposal.

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