People-First AI Fund

The People-First AI Fund is a $50 million initiative launched by OpenAI in July 2025 to support nonprofits and mission-driven organizations working at the intersection of innovation and public good. The Fund reflects OpenAI’s stated mission of ensuring artificial intelligence benefits humanity broadly, while supporting organizations that are already working on the frontlines of pressing community challenges. This program was shaped by feedback gathered through extensive engagement with more than one hundred organizations, five hundred individuals, and community-based partners including the American Federation of Teachers and Older Adults Technology Services at AARP. These consultations emphasized the need for AI to be deployed in ways that strengthen communities and expand opportunities for those often excluded from digital innovation. The Fund focuses on three main areas of nonprofit and community activity. The first is AI literacy and public understanding, which aims to increase knowledge and confidence among communities so that individuals can navigate the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. Eligible initiatives may include educational programs, media outreach, or community-based learning efforts that build practical skills and make AI discussions accessible and relevant. Priority is given to projects that empower trusted local leaders such as educators, mentors, and cultural figures to engage their communities in meaningful ways. The second funding focus is community innovation, which supports efforts to co-design AI applications with community members, ensuring that technology addresses real needs and strengthens civic and social life. Projects may include health and mental well-being initiatives, trust-building activities, and co-created service delivery models. OpenAI emphasizes that priority will be given to organizations working in community-based settings such as schools, libraries, and clinics, and to those involving residents, including youth, in the design of their projects. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on serving populations traditionally excluded from digital innovation, such as rural communities, older adults, and groups facing linguistic barriers. The third focus area is economic opportunity. The Fund supports programs that expand access to meaningful work in ways that are inclusive, fair, and community-centered, while ensuring AI is used to enhance human labor rather than replace it. Eligible efforts may include job training for future-oriented careers, tools that support caregivers and small businesses, and cooperative or community-based platforms that prioritize worker well-being. The goal is to ensure that AI-driven economic benefits are broadly distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of a few. Eligibility for the Fund is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with valid 501(c)(3) status. Applicants must be located and conducting their work in the fifty states or the District of Columbia. Organizations must have an annual operating budget greater than $500,000 but less than $10 million. While AI experience is not required, the fund is not open to fiscally sponsored projects or organizations using funds for regranting purposes. Each organization may only apply once, and applications must be submitted through the official online portal. Applicants may include multiple collaborators on a single application. OpenAI has emphasized that only complete submissions will be considered. The application process is straightforward: interested organizations must request access through the People-First AI Fund application portal, provide organizational information validated against IRS GuideStar records, and complete the grant application in full. The application window opened on September 8, 2025, and will close at 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 8, 2025. Grant awards are expected to be announced and distributed by the end of 2025. Applications will be reviewed by internal and external experts, and selected organizations will be required to sign a grant agreement with OpenAI prior to receiving funds. For inquiries about the application process, applicants may contact the fund administrators at peoplefirstfund@openai.com. No individual discussions about proposals will be accommodated, and applicants are asked not to submit confidential or proprietary information as part of their application. The Fund represents a significant early step in OpenAI’s broader vision of ensuring the benefits of AI are shaped by inclusive engagement with communities and deployed in service of public good.

Applicants should ensure their submission is complete and entered through the official portal, as incomplete or emailed submissions will not be considered. Confidential or proprietary information should not be included.