People-First AI Fund Grantees - OpenAI Blog

Switch to

- [ChatGPT(opens in a new window)](https://chatgpt.com/)
- [Sora(opens in a new window)](https://sora.com/)
- [API Platform(opens in a new window)](https://platform.openai.com/)

OpenAI

December 3, 2025

[Company](https://openai.com/news/company-announcements/) [Global Affairs](https://openai.com/news/global-affairs/)

# Announcing the initial People-First AI Fund grantees

Unrestricted funding for 208 nonprofits advancing people-first work nationwide.

Loading…

Share

The OpenAI Foundation is announcing the first recipients from the [People-First AI Fund](https://openai.com/index/people-first-ai-fund/), a multi-million dollar investment in community-based nonprofits working to strengthen local communities and expand the opportunity of AI.

Through an open call, the Foundation will provide $40.5 million in unrestricted grants to 208 nonprofits across the United States. Funds will be disbursed by the end of the year. A second wave of $9.5 million in Board-directed grants will be announced in the coming months, supporting organizations already advancing transformative AI work in areas like health that reflect the Fund’s people-first values and potential for broad public benefit.

_“The People-First AI Fund reflects our commitment to supporting a wide range of organizations advancing work that strengthens communities and expands opportunity. We’re proud to support this first group of grantees and to continue work that is mission-driven and responsive to the people it exists to serve.” —_ **_Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI Foundation Board_**

The OpenAI Foundation looks forward to learning alongside these organizations and local leaders, sharing insights, and expanding our grantmaking work.

[See below for full list.⁠](https://openai.com/index/people-first-ai-fund-grantees/#people-first-ai-fund-award-list)

## The open call selection process

Over the past year, a series of steps laid the groundwork for these grants: the work of our independent [Nonprofit Commission](https://openai.com/index/nonprofit-commission-advisors/), nationwide community listening, [the Commission’s public report](https://openai.com/index/nonprofit-commission-report/), and the launch of the [People-First AI Fund](https://openai.com/index/people-first-ai-fund/).

The application window for the first wave of grants—all unrestricted—was open from September 8 through October 8 and featured a short, four-question application. Nearly 3,000 organizations applied from across the country—an indication of both the demand for support and desire among community-based organizations to help shape how AI can be applied to their work and the people they serve.

Daniel Zingale, who had served as convener of the [Nonprofit Commission](https://openai.com/index/nonprofit-commission-advisors/), supported the Foundation in translating the Commission’s recommendations into the Fund’s implementation. Together with external grantmaking experts, advisors, and members of the Nonprofit Com

... (truncated, 21 KB total)