Rockefeller Fndn. & Open AI Foundation

Award: Two tracks: $500,000 and up or $1-2M , depending on whether "seed" or "scale" track. 
Deadline: November 29, 2026
Interested? Notify [email protected]​​​ for more information. All LOI documents will be due to our office no later than November 23.

Full Request for Proposal (RFP)

Overview

The Rockefeller Foundation and Open AI Foundation seek to support proposals that use advanced AI to improve city public services for underserved communities. Applicant must have a city government partner in collaboration. Proposals must have AI as part of the solution and must address one or more of these focus areas:

  • Public health
  • Economic mobility
  • Environmental resilience
  • Civic engagement

Funder's Overview and FAQs are HERE.

Important Information

Two tracks of funding: 

Seed: $500,000 up to $1M for early concepts ready for a first city pilot

Scale: $1 - 2M, for solutions piloted in a city with early results

All grants run 24 months, with 50% disbursed at the start and 50% upon a documented mid-term milestone. Grants don’t guarantee follow-on funding. Applicants should be able to achieve intended project goals with funding available in this grant within 24 months.

Funder's indirect cost policy is that they may not exceed 15%.

If you are considering an application in which you are the Principal Investigator, please ensure you meet PI eligibility requirements.

Process

This is a two-step application process.

  • The Round 1 Proposal is managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
  • If you would like to apply, email [email protected]​​​ for more details and an LOI worksheet.
  • Submit the completed LOI worksheet and funder's required short video by November 23.

If invited to submit a Round 2 proposal (step 2), it will be managed by the Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA).