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OpenAI Foundation Awards $40.5 Million to 208 U.S. Nonprofits in First Grant Round

A separate $25 billion commitment remains without a disbursement timetable.

Overview

  • The awards provide unrestricted funding to community organizations largely outside the tech sector, supporting AI literacy, civic life and economic opportunity.
  • More than 3,000 groups applied, outside advisers reviewed proposals, and the nonprofit board approved the final list of 208 grantees.
  • OpenAI says it will announce another $9.5 million in grants in the coming months from its People‑First AI Fund.
  • The rollout follows an October restructuring that left the nonprofit board as OpenAI’s highest authority and converted the for‑profit arm into a public benefit corporation.
  • The foundation holds a 26% stake in the for‑profit entity, making these grants a small portion of its implied equity value, and separate reporting notes ongoing lawsuits alleging harms linked to ChatGPT.