OpenAI has recently awarded $40.5 million in its first round of grants to more than 200 nonprofits, following the rebranding of its nonprofit arm to the OpenAI Foundation in October. This initiative is part of a broader commitment by the foundation, which has pledged $25 billion to fund critical health research and what it terms 'AI resilience,' focusing on strategies to minimize the inherent risks associated with these advanced technologies. While the timeline for disbursing the full $25 billion remains unspecified, OpenAI had previously committed to granting $50 million in July, based on recommendations from an advisory commission tasked with guiding its mission to build safe artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. An additional $9.5 million in grants is anticipated in the coming months, guided by the recommendations of its board of directors.

The grants awarded are unrestricted, allowing recipient nonprofits the flexibility to utilize the funds as they deem fit. However, OpenAI encouraged applicants to propose projects that specifically support AI literacy, strengthen civic life, or foster economic opportunity. The eligibility criteria for this initial round of awards were limited to nonprofits with an annual budget ranging between $500,000 and $10 million. A rigorous selection process saw over 3,000 nonprofits apply, with a panel of outside advisers reviewing applications before the board made the final grant decisions. Notably, the chosen grantees represent a diverse array of organizations, including journalism groups, dance companies, and community organizations, rather than being exclusively dedicated to technology initiatives.

One notable recipient, the Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestras based in Pittsburgh, received $90,000, which constitutes 10% of its annual budget for the year. Executive director Lindsey Nova expressed surprise at being selected, highlighting her organization's existing use of ChatGPT as an assistant and drafting tool, a fact she included in her application. Nova articulated a pragmatic view on AI technologies, stating, "It’s here to stay. It’s not going anywhere, so we might as well do our best to to make sure that it’s a tool for good." Her organization, which manages various youth orchestras, plans to use the funds to explore the development of two distinct applications. One proposed app would record rehearsals and allow conductors to add bookmarks, with the aim of generating notes about their instructions paired with relevant video clips. Nova emphasized that this tool is not intended to replace human interaction, asserting, “That can’t replace the conductor. It can’t replace the kids learning how to play their instrument. There’s nothing about the children’s experience that will be replaced by a robot, but they’ll have a better sense of what they need to work on between rehearsals.” The organization collaborated with Adam Hertzman, who runs Adartova, a philanthropic consulting practice, to brainstorm ideas and prepare their grant application. Hertzman noted his efforts to inform clients and his network about the OpenAI grant opportunity, expressing surprise that more small and medium-sized nonprofits hadn’t applied, given the potential grant size, the simplicity of the application process, and the unrestricted nature of the funds.

OpenAI's organizational structure has undergone significant evolution since its founding as a nonprofit in 2015. It later incorporated a for-profit subsidiary that has since become one of the world's most valuable startups. In October, the company reached an agreement with regulators to formally reincorporate as a public benefit corporation, though its original nonprofit board of directors retains its position as the highest decision-making body. Demonstrating continued philanthropic engagement, the for-profit division of OpenAI recently issued a new call for applications for research proposals focused on AI and mental health. This initiative, primarily targeting nonprofits, will award $2 million by mid-January. This move comes amidst multiple lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT has contributed to cases of suicide or induced harmful delusions in individuals without prior mental health issues.

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