Cities Deliver 2026: AI Solutions for Public Services grants
Cities Deliver gives grants of $500,000 to $2 million to groups building AI tools for city public services with a city partner. Round 1 is due 29 November 2026.
Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services is a $50 million grant call from The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation. It funds organizations that work with city governments to improve public services through AI, especially for underserved communities. Grants range from $500,000 to $2 million and run for 24 months.
There are two tracks. The Seed track gives $500,000 to under $1 million for early concepts that are ready for a first city pilot. The Scale track gives $1 million to $2 million for solutions already piloted in a city with early results. The call covers public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience and civic engagement. Projects related to voting or elections are excluded.
The lead organization must be a nonprofit, such as a university lab or a fiscally sponsored group, or a public benefit corporation. Every project needs a city partner that commits to collaborate. Governments cannot apply directly. Grantees also get peer learning in a cohort, occasional AI product and engineering support, and access to the networks of both foundations.
Round 1 is an eligibility screen with a short video, due 29 November 2026 at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time. Applicants hear in December 2026, and interviews follow in January 2027. Invited teams submit a Round 2 proposal by 1 March 2027, and final decisions come in April 2027.
The funders want projects that answer real demand from a city partner and start from a problem the city has prioritized. Frontier AI capabilities should be core to the solution. They also look for teams that can work inside public sector settings, a plan to sustain the work, responsible AI practice and a clear plan for evaluation.
Quick answers
Can I send questions about the call?
Yes. Questions go by email to citiesdeliver@rockfound.org until 31 October 2026 at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time. Revised FAQs are planned for 4 November 2026.
How is the grant paid?
Half is paid at the start and half after a documented mid term milestone. Grants do not guarantee follow on funding.
Can an individual apply?
No. It is an organizational award, not an individual fellowship. The person filling in the forms must be authorized to submit for the organization.