Policy

Humanity AI Announces Over $18 Million in Inaugural Grants to Advance People-Centered AI

On May 12, 2026, Humanity AI, a collaborative philanthropic initiative backed by ten major foundations, announced more than $18 million in new pooled grants, including $8 million awarded to 12 inaugural grantees and a $10 million open call, to support organizations advancing AI transparency, accountability, governance, and public benefit.

Tech Insights Reporter May 12, 2026 6 min read New York, NY

TLDR

Humanity AI announced its first round of grants totaling more than $18 million on May 12, 2026. The initiative, a five-year $500 million pooled fund from ten leading philanthropic organizations, awarded $8 million across 12 organizations in its inaugural cohort and committed an additional $10 million to an open call. Grantees include Partnership on AI (receiving $500,000), AI Now Institute, Center for Democracy & Technology, Council on Foreign Relations (LEAD AI), Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), TechEquity, Kinfolk Tech, and others focused on research, policy, civil society engagement, and ensuring AI serves the public good.

Background on Humanity AI

Launched in late 2025 as a coalition involving funders such as the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Omidyar Network, Packard Foundation, Mozilla, Doris Duke Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Kapor Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment, Humanity AI aims to ensure artificial intelligence is shaped by and for people beyond Silicon Valley. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors manages the pooled fund.

Grant Details

Total announced: More than $18 million.
Inaugural awards: $8 million to 12 organizations ($500,000 each).
Open call: $10 million committed for broader applications.
Key grantee example: Partnership on AI (PAI) received $500,000 to provide a multi-sector forum for civil society, academia, industry, and philanthropy to undertake collaborative research and co-create solutions for positive AI outcomes.
Other focus areas: Accountability for AI’s impacts on labor, climate, and government; leadership development; equitable access; governance; and community-centered approaches.

The grants represent the start of aligned grantmaking across the coalition.

Why this story matters

This marks one of the largest coordinated philanthropic efforts to shape the direction of AI development toward public benefit, transparency, and accountability. By pooling resources and supporting civil society voices alongside research and policy organizations, Humanity AI seeks to counterbalance industry-driven narratives and ensure diverse stakeholders influence AI governance and deployment at a critical inflection point.

Sources

Humanity AI official announcement (humanityai.ai/humanity-ai-announces-more-than-18-million-in-new-grants-to-shape-ai-for-the-public-good, May 12, 2026): primary details on total funding, structure, and goals.
Partnership on AI grant page (partnershiponai.org, May 12, 2026): $500k award specifics.
Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Mellon Foundation announcements (May 12, 2026): grantee lists and context.
Additional coverage confirming the 12 organizations and $500M overall commitment.

Featured Image Alt Text

Humanity AI branding with icons representing diverse stakeholders (civil society, academia, communities) collaborating around AI ethics and governance symbols, alongside grant amounts.