$50 Million fund for nonprofits to adopt AI?

Are nonprofits getting $50,000,000 for AI adoption from OpenAI?

That’s what they said...and here's my personal take on it.

Last month, OpenAI announced a $50M commitment to support nonprofits and community organizations working at the intersection of AI and public good. (something I'm all about)

But behind the single-page press release is something more interesting. OpenAI created a public report that included the voices of over 500+ people making an impact. Teachers, organizers, faith leaders, healthcare workers, youth advocates, people who live the impact of broken systems every day.

So what came out of it?

A 38-page public report with one clear message:

𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

Here’s what they’re actually calling for in the report:

𝟭. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.

The money’s not just for “AI adoption.” It’s for retraining workers. Building civic infrastructure. Keeping health systems afloat. Funding local organizing. The things that keep people safe when systems shift.

𝟮. 𝗔𝗜 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

The Commission called for AI to be made understandable, through translation, storytelling, and trusted local leaders. Because if people can’t understand AI, they can’t shape it. And if they can’t shape it, it doesn’t serve them.

𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

Less top-down charity. More power-sharing. More experimentation. More public reporting. And more decisions being made 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 the communities funding is supposed to support, not just 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 them.

🤔 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲:

History is full of examples of how new technologies consolidate wealth and power into fewer hands. I worry AI will do the same, unless we fight like hell to prevent it. That’s going to take real intention and real investment, not just PR.

I have to admit that I'm skeptical. Is this going to be a real shift in structure and access, or just a shift in language?

We don’t know yet. The details are still vague. $50 million is a lot of money, but we don’t know exactly who will get it, what they can use it for, or how decisions will be made.

And all of this is happening at a time when nonprofits are being asked to do more than ever, with fewer resources than ever.

Yes, I believe AI can be used for good. It can help nonprofits serve their people more effectively, increase funding, and amplify impact. But only if we stay rooted in integrity and committed to the communities you're serving.

So I’m hopeful, and it's certainly better than nothing.

But I'm watching closely.

Want to read (or skim the full report). Check it out here

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