The Rockefeller Foundation and the OpenAI Foundation
Applications are open for the Rockefeller Foundation Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services initiative, a global funding opportunity supporting organizations that work with city governments to improve essential public services through artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative is a partnership between The Rockefeller Foundation and the OpenAI Foundation, with a combined commitment of $50 million to help cities develop and expand practical AI solutions that respond to residents’ needs.
The programme aims to support projects that improve the quality and accessibility of public services, particularly for underserved and vulnerable communities. It seeks to help local governments address challenges such as access to healthcare, employment opportunities, environmental emergencies and communication between residents and public authorities.
Selected organizations can receive grants ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, depending on the maturity and scale of their proposed projects. The funding supports projects over a 24 month period, giving recipients time to develop solutions, test them with communities, measure results and work towards long term sustainability.
Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services was established to help organizations and city governments use advanced AI capabilities to make public services more responsive, accessible and effective. The initiative is managed by RF Catalytic Capital, an affiliate of The Rockefeller Foundation.
The programme recognizes that city governments face increasing demands while often operating with limited resources. AI can help public agencies identify emerging problems, improve access to information, support decision making and deliver services more efficiently. However, successful implementation requires appropriate technology, local expertise, responsible management and close cooperation between organizations and public authorities.
Cities Deliver therefore seeks projects that begin with a clearly identified community need rather than technology alone. Applicants must explain the problem they intend to address, why it matters to residents, how AI will contribute to the proposed solution and how progress will be assessed.
The initiative accepts applications through two funding tracks. The Seed track supports early concepts that are ready for an initial city pilot, while the Scale track supports solutions that have already been tested and demonstrated promising results. Both tracks require a credible plan for implementation, evaluation and sustainability.
Projects are expected to use recent advanced AI models as a meaningful part of the solution. Applicants are not required or expected to use OpenAI products exclusively. They may select the models and tools best suited to their projects.
Successful applicants can receive the following support:
• Grant funding: Between $500,000 and less than $1 million for Seed projects, or between $1 million and $2 million for Scale projects.
• Project implementation support: Funding to develop, test, pilot or expand AI solutions in collaboration with city governments.
• Peer learning: Participation in a facilitated group of grantees, with opportunities to exchange experiences and practical lessons.
• Mentorship and webinars: Learning opportunities and evaluation support based on project needs and availability.
• Technical assistance: Occasional AI product and engineering support, subject to available capacity.
• Professional networks: Opportunities to connect with city leaders, funders and technical partners through the Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation networks.
• Convening opportunities: Invitations for grantees and relevant stakeholders to participate in global or regional gatherings to share findings and demonstrate their work.
• Potential for broader impact: An opportunity to develop solutions that can be sustained, adapted or expanded to reach more residents.
All grants cover a 24 month project period. Funding is disbursed in two stages, with 50 percent provided at the beginning and the remaining 50 percent released after a documented midterm milestone is achieved.
Applications must address at least one of the following focus areas.
• Public Health: Projects that strengthen healthcare access, frontline care, disease surveillance, disability services, food access, nutrition and public health prevention.
• Economic Mobility: AI solutions that help unemployed and underemployed residents access employment, income support, skills development and public benefits. Examples include career navigation, benefits enrolment and skills based hiring.
• Environmental Resilience: Projects that help cities prepare for, withstand and recover from environmental emergencies. Areas may include disaster response, public safety, energy infrastructure, early warning systems and land management in vulnerable communities.
• Civic Engagement: Solutions that help local governments communicate with residents, respond to service requests and encourage participation in public decision making. Examples include digital access, court services, permitting and regulatory processes. Projects focused on voting or elections are excluded.
Applicants must meet the programme’s organizational and project requirements.
• The lead applicant must be an eligible organization, such as a nonprofit organization, university laboratory, fiscally sponsored organization or public benefit corporation.
• For profit organizations may qualify in limited circumstances where the project serves a charitable purpose and benefits the company’s commercial activities only incidentally.
• Government entities cannot apply directly as the lead applicant.
• Every proposal must include a city government partner that is committed to collaborating on the project.
• The project must serve a charitable purpose, benefit underserved, poor or distressed communities, or contribute to broader social welfare.
• The proposed solution must address a significant public service problem identified by the city government and the communities it serves.
• Advanced AI capabilities must play a meaningful role in the proposed solution rather than being included as an incidental feature.
• Applicants must demonstrate that their team and city partner are prepared to integrate the technology into public sector settings.
• Proposals must explain how the solution can be operated responsibly, evaluated effectively and sustained beyond the initial grant period.
• Applicants must provide a clear plan for measuring progress, gathering user feedback and assessing social impact.
• Existing grantees of The Rockefeller Foundation and RF Catalytic Capital may also apply.
Applicants should choose the track that best reflects their project’s development stage.
Seed track
• Grant amount: $500,000 to less than $1 million.
• Intended for early concepts ready for an initial city pilot.
• Funding may support refining the idea with city partners, developing a prototype and testing the solution in a real public service setting.
• Expected results include evidence of usability, early effectiveness and a realistic plan for sustainability and expansion.
Scale track
• Grant amount: $1 million to $2 million.
• Intended for solutions already piloted in a city with early results.
• Funding may support expansion within the existing city or adaptation for use in another city.
• Expected results include reaching more residents and demonstrating a credible path to long term funding, including potential support through government budgets.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities and objectives can be completed within the 24 month grant period. Receiving a grant does not guarantee additional funding after the programme ends.
Applicants should prepare the following materials for the initial application stage:
• Completed online eligibility screening.
• Round 1 proposal explaining the public service challenge, proposed intervention, use of AI and anticipated benefits.
• Information demonstrating the involvement and commitment of the city government partner.
• A short application video presenting the project and its proposed impact.
• A clear explanation of how the project will be implemented, evaluated and sustained.
Applicants should consult the official application resources for the precise questions, submission requirements and supporting information requested in the online portal.
Proposals will be assessed on the strength of their public service objectives, technical approach and potential for measurable community impact.
The programme is particularly interested in projects that respond to genuine demand from city governments and residents, address important local problems and use advanced AI capabilities in a practical way.
Applicants should demonstrate readiness to work in public sector environments, an ability to manage AI responsibly and a realistic plan for integrating the solution into existing government systems. The evaluation approach should explain how the team will measure outcomes, learn from implementation and use feedback to improve the project.
The long term viability of the proposal is also important. Strong applications should explain how the city and project partners could maintain or expand the solution after the initial grant period.
Interested organizations should follow these steps:
The Rockefeller Foundation and the OpenAI Foundation
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