People-First AI Fund
- Organization: OpenAI Foundation
- Type: Grant
- Location: Global
- Deadline: July 15, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The OpenAI Foundation is putting $50 million into its 2026 People-First AI Fund to support nonprofits that are figuring out how to use AI in ways that actually serve their communities. Applications are open through July 15, 2026. The fund focuses on three areas: community support services (like legal aid, public benefits navigation, and disability services), community arts and cultural organizations (museums, libraries, local arts groups), and community journalism and media. The idea is to back trusted, local nonprofits that are working directly with the people they serve, not just experimenting with AI from the top down. Priority goes to organizations co-building with youth, rural populations, and underserved communities, and to groups that help people understand and make informed choices about AI tools. Eligibility has been expanded from the 2025 version to include certain community foundations and regranting organizations. If your nonprofit is trying to reduce barriers to services, cut down on administrative burden for frontline staff, or help communities have a real say in how AI gets used in their neighborhoods, this fund is worth looking into.
