OpenAI — EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant
OpenAI — EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant (€500,000) — Professional Summary
OpenAI has launched the EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant, a €500,000 funding programme to support organisations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa that are working to ensure young people benefit safely and positively from AI. The initiative funds practical programmes and independent research that improve understanding of how AI affects children, young people, families and educators, and that demonstrate safe, responsible approaches in real‑world settings.
Key details
– Funding pool: €500,000 (total).
– Eligible applicants: NGOs, research organisations and similar entities registered in Europe, the Middle East or Africa.
– Eligible activities: Direct programmes supporting children, young people, families or educators; and independent research into AI impacts on youth safety, wellbeing and development.
– Objective: Support practical interventions and rigorous independent research that inform what safe and responsible AI looks like in context.
Application deadline
– 27 February 2026, 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) — equivalent to 27 February 2026, 20:00 UTC.
– Applicants are encouraged to submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.
How to apply
– Apply online: https://openai.smapply.org/prog/emea_youth_wellbeing_grant/
– Follow the portal instructions carefully and upload all requested materials.
Suggested application materials and preparation tips
– Clear project summary: objectives, target population (age ranges, locations), activities, expected outcomes and timeline.
– Theory of change / logic model showing how activities lead to measurable impact.
– Detailed budget and justification that aligns with proposed activities.
– Description of organisational capacity: governance, safeguarding policies (especially for work with children), data protection measures, and relevant experience.
– If applying for research funding: methodological approach, ethical safeguards, dissemination plan and anticipated contributions to policy/practice.
– Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan with indicators and data collection methods.
– Letters of support or partner agreements, where relevant.
– CVs or brief bios of project leads and principal investigators.
Selection considerations (what reviewers typically look for)
– Clear and realistic objectives with measurable outcomes.
– Demonstrated organisational capacity and appropriate safeguarding/ethical safeguards for youth work.
– Feasibility and cost‑effectiveness of the proposed budget and timeline.
– Potential for meaningful, scalable or transferable impact across the EMEA region.
– Strong research rigour for studies and a practical plan to translate findings into policy or practice.
Practical notes
– OpenAI does not charge applicants for funding consideration. Beware of any requests for payment.
– Confirm that your organisation is eligible and registered in an eligible jurisdiction before applying.
– Prepare supporting documents early (safeguarding policies, audited financials, partner MOUs), as these are commonly requested.
For more information and to submit your application, visit:
