Rockefeller and OpenAI Offer Up to $2M for AI City Service Grants

The Rockefeller Foundation and the OpenAI Foundation have launched a targeted funding initiative aimed at deploying advanced artificial intelligence to revitalize city public services in underserved communities. The program requires a formal collaboration between applicants and a city government partner to ensure that proposed AI solutions are integrated directly into the municipal infrastructure.

This initiative is not merely about technological experimentation; it focuses on four specific pillars: public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience, and civic engagement. To qualify, projects must demonstrate how AI serves as a functional component of the service delivery model rather than a peripheral addition.

Grant Tracks and Financial Parameters

The funding structure is divided into two distinct tracks, designed to support projects at different stages of maturity. The Seed track provides between $500,000 and $1 million for early-stage concepts that are prepared for an initial city pilot. For solutions that have already completed a pilot and show early, documented results, the Scale track offers between $1 million and $2 million.

All grants span a 24-month period. The disbursement schedule is split equally, with 50% of the funds provided at the start of the project and the remaining 50% contingent upon a documented mid-term milestone. Applicants should note that the funder’s indirect cost policy caps support at 15%. These grants do not include provisions for follow-on funding, meaning projects must be sustainable within the provided budget over the two-year window.

Submit Application Documents by November 23

The application process is strictly managed and occurs in two stages. The first round is managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Prospective applicants must contact the office at [email protected] to obtain the necessary Letter of Intent (LOI) worksheet and specific details regarding the submission requirements.

The timeline for the initial phase is compressed. All LOI documents, including the funder’s required short video, must be submitted to the office no later than November 23, 2026. If a proposal is selected to move forward, the subsequent Round 2 process will be managed by the Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA).

Instagram

Meet Standard Eligibility Criteria as Principal Investigator

For those considering a role as a Principal Investigator (PI), the university requires that all standard eligibility criteria are met before an application is initiated. The focus remains on tangible outcomes for underserved populations, moving away from theoretical research and toward practical applications that city governments can maintain.

Frequently Asked Questions

The current grant structure is strictly limited to a 24-month duration. Applicants are expected to design their project goals so that they can be fully achieved within this timeframe using the allotted funding.

The funder’s policy on indirect costs is fixed at a maximum of 15%. This limit applies to all proposals regardless of the track chosen.

The video is a mandatory component of the LOI submission. It is designed to provide the funders with a concise overview of the proposed solution and its intended impact on the target community before they decide which applicants to invite for a subsequent proposal.