Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving

The Gates Foundation's Philanthropic Partnerships Team has launched the "Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving" challenge, a Grand Challenges Request for Proposals. This initiative seeks to leverage artificial intelligence to improve philanthropic practices, helping donors give more effectively and sooner. The focus is on mobilizing resources for global health and development (GH&D), targeting better health, economic opportunity, and well-being in low- and middle-income countries.

The program is fully grant-based. Selected projects can receive grants of up to ₹1.4 Crore for a period of up to one year. Proposals must clearly address how AI can encourage donors to give more and give sooner, tackle at least one defined challenge area (e.g., connecting donors to causes, converting interest into donations, or building AI-driven giving infrastructure), and include a practical plan to test and measure impact. AI must be central to the solution.

All grantees will have the opportunity to participate in up to three virtual or in-person learning sessions where they can share insights and build a community of practice. Travel costs for in-person meetings are covered separately by the Foundation. For-profit applicants must use funding exclusively for societal benefit, not commercial product development. Grantees must also implement rigorous ethical safeguards around fairness, transparency, privacy, and data responsibility.

• Open to both nonprofits and mission-driven for-profit organizations.
• Provides a grant of up to ₹1.4 Crore, with indirect costs covered.
• AI must be the core of the solution and directly aid philanthropic giving.
• Peer-learning convenings and networking events included at no cost to participants.
• Equity-free, fully grant-based, with no dilution for founders.
• Covers global health and development sectors, targeting low- and middle-income countries.

Organizations must submit proposals in English and commit to attending up to three virtual or in-person gatherings with fellow grantees over the one-year grant period. Eligible entities include:

• Nonprofit and civil society organizations (registered charities, NGOs, community-based groups).
• Mission-driven for-profit organizations whose proposed work promotes equitable, responsible, or safe AI for social benefit (funds cannot be used for core commercial development or routine business operations).
• Consortia, partnerships, or any collaborative group, as long as a single lead organization files as the primary applicant.

Allowed legal entity types are: private limited, LLP, partnership, section 8 company, trust, and society. This program accepts applications at the idea stage and product stage. There is no requirement for DPIIT or MSME registration. Founders themselves are not subject to specific designation requirements.

Proposals must directly answer the core question about AI enabling donors to give more and sooner, feature AI as the central element with clear linkage to charitable giving and global health/development, and integrate a concrete process to test, measure, and produce actionable insights for wider use in philanthropy. Responsible AI mechanisms addressing fairness, transparency, privacy, and data governance must be part of the proposal.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving is open to startups at the idea and product stage working in ai saas enterprise and edtech social impact. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India. Applicants should be registered as private limited, llp and partnership.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Accepted projects receive up to ₹1.4 Crore as a grant that can include indirect costs. The Foundation will separately pay for all travel expenses to attend in-person learnings, so the full grant can be reserved for project activities. Grantees also gain entry to unique virtual and in-person learning gatherings that connect all awardees. These sessions support cooperation, knowledge sharing, and nurturing shared skills across projects engaged in AI-giving. Additional benefits include sponsorship and presence at Foundation-hosted gatherings that enable worthwhile interaction with fellow professionals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving is offered by Gates Foundation, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by Gates Foundation as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection team reviews every application on several levels. First, each project must show strong alignment with the defined challenge areas and with the Gates Foundation's own AI Principles. Second, reviewers judge the plan's likely overall effect, the believability of methods, and whether the AI could actually be tested under real conditions. They also evaluate how the applicant intends to monitor and measure progress during the official funding period. The Foundation puts extra weight on the chance a project may last longer, reach further, or be shared extensively even after one year. The Committee may contact applicants to get more explanation missing from a submitted part before a final decision is made.

Before you apply to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving, keep these documents ready — note the program-specific requirements at the top:

• Certificate of incorporation showing your startup is registered as private limited and llp
• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving is best suited for idea and product-stage ai saas enterprise and edtech social impact startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1.4Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.