Sponsor
The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation
Program
Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services
For More Information
Please visit the Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services Program Webpage.
Description
Nearly half of the world’s population lives in cities. Public services shape those residents’ everyday lives. They affect whether they can get health care, find meaningful work, live safely and have a voice in local decisions. City governments and their partners are on the front lines of delivering these public services.
Artificial intelligence now offers new ways to meet these needs. AI can help residents access services, anticipate problems before they become crises, and respond to resident needs more effectively. Putting these capabilities to work requires solutions built around residents’ needs and developed in partnership with city governments.
The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation are committing $50 million to Cities Deliver to support this work. The initiative will provide grants of $500,000 to $2 million to organizations working with city governments to improve public services through AI, especially for underserved communities. Together, these projects will aim to reach up to 100 million city residents worldwide.
Eligibility
Every project needs:
- An eligible lead organization - A nonprofit (including university labs and fiscally sponsored organizations) or a public benefit corporation. For-profits may qualify in limited cases with a charitable project, and no more than an incidental benefit to the for-profit company’s business. Governments may not apply directly.
- A city partner- All applicant organizations must have a city partner with a commitment to collaborate.
- A charitable purpose - A benefit to underserved, poor, or distressed communities, or to social welfare.
Funding Availability
Seed funding of $500,000 to $1,000,000 for early concepts ready for first city pilot. These funds support refining the idea with city partners, building and testing a prototype and piloting it.
Scale funding of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for solutions piloted in a city with early results. These funds support expanding within the city of extending to another city.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs may not exceed 15% of the total grant.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please submit your proposal, along with an OR-5 Form to research.services@uoguelph.ca | |
External Deadline | Proposal due to Rockefellar Foundation. |
How to Apply
The overall process and timeline as follows:
- October 14, 2026 – Call for proposals goes live.
- November 29, 2026 – Eligibility Screening, Round 1 proposals (including eligibility screen and short video) due at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time.
- December 2026 – Applicants are notified if advancing to next step (interviews) or not.
- January 2027 – Interviews for applicants that have advanced to this step.
- February 2027 – Applicants are notified if advancing to next step (Round 2 Proposal) or not.
- March 1, 2027 – Round 2 proposals due March 1, 2027 at 11:59pm U.S. Eastern Time.
- April 2027 – Applicants are notified if selected for support or not.