About the opportunity
Cities Deliver is a $50 million collaborative initiative launched by The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation, managed by RF Catalytic Capital. The initiative funds organizations partnering with local city governments to harness frontier artificial intelligence models for improving public services, particularly in underserved and vulnerable urban communities. Grants support two distinct tracks over a 24-month duration: Seed funding ($500,000 to less than $1 million) to refine and pilot early-stage concepts with city partners, and Scale funding ($1 million to $2 million) to expand proven city pilots within the current municipality or into new cities. Projects must focus on four critical domains: public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience, or civic engagement, with the collective goal of reaching up to 100 million urban residents globally.
Funding and benefits
- Seed Track grant funding ranging from $500,000 to under $1 million over 24 months
- Scale Track grant funding ranging from $1 million to $2 million over 24 months
- 50% initial disbursement at project launch and 50% upon reaching a documented mid-term milestone
- Participation in a facilitated peer-learning cohort featuring webinars, mentorship, and evaluation support
- Occasional AI product and engineering advisory support based on technical capacity
- Access to The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation global networks of funders, technical partners, and municipal leaders
- Invitation to participate in a regional or global convening to showcase project outcomes and share insights
Who can apply?
- Lead applicant must be an eligible organization, including nonprofits, university research labs, fiscally sponsored organizations, or public benefit corporations
- For-profit organizations qualify only in limited cases with a charitable project that delivers no more than incidental private benefit
- Direct applications from municipal or national governments are not accepted
- Every applicant must have an established city government partner committed to project collaboration
- Projects must serve a charitable purpose addressing poor, underserved, or distressed communities, or broader social welfare
- Proposals must target one of four focus areas: Public Health, Economic Mobility, Environmental Resilience, or Civic Engagement (projects focused on voting or elections are excluded)
- Existing grantees of The Rockefeller Foundation and RF Catalytic Capital are eligible to apply
Required documents
- Round 1 proposal submitted via the online application portal
- Eligibility screening submission
- Short application video
- Documentation of commitment and collaboration from the municipal government partner
- Round 2 detailed proposal (for invited applicants advancing past the interview stage)
When to apply
- Call for proposals opened: October 14, 2026
- Deadline to submit applicant questions (citiesdeliver@rockfound.org): October 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time
- Updated FAQs published: November 4, 2026
- Round 1 proposals, eligibility screening, and video deadline: November 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time
- Notification of advancement to interview stage: December 2026
- Interviews conducted: January 2027
- Round 2 proposal invitations issued: February 2027
- Round 2 proposal submission deadline: March 1, 2027, at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time
- Final grant selection notifications: April 2027
How to apply
- Access the official Cities Deliver application portal hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation
- Verify organizational eligibility and confirm that an authorized representative is submitting on behalf of the lead entity
- Complete the online eligibility questionnaire and prepare proposal responses addressing local city priorities and frontier AI integration
- Record and upload the required short pitch video
- Submit the completed Round 1 application by November 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time
- If shortlisted in December 2026, complete the virtual interview process in January 2027
- If invited in February 2027, submit a full Round 2 proposal by March 1, 2027, ahead of final selection in April 2027
Additional information
- This grant is an organizational award, not an individual fellowship or personal grant
- Cities Deliver is managed by RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC), an affiliate of The Rockefeller Foundation
- All projects run for a fixed 24-month term; grants do not guarantee follow-on funding, so initiatives must be designed to achieve their stated objectives within this budget and timeframe
- AI capabilities from frontier models must be core to the proposed intervention rather than incidental add-ons
- In the event of discrepancies between program documents, the Terms and Conditions govern over the FAQs
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Nonprofit tech teams, civic innovation labs, or university research groups that possess working technical fluency with frontier AI models alongside deep experience navigating public sector workflows
- Entities with an already active, trusting relationship with a municipal agency that has clearly articulated a high-priority public service gap in public health, economic opportunity, resilience, or resident engagement
- Teams capable of executing a rigorous 24-month pilot with measurable milestones, ethical AI safeguards, and an intentional strategy for municipal adoption and financial self-sufficiency
What should you think carefully about?
- Government bodies cannot apply directly; the formal applicant must be a nonprofit or eligible entity that brings a city agency as an official partner
- The 24-month timeline includes a strict mid-term milestone requirement before the second 50% funding tranche is released, with no guaranteed follow-on support
- Frontier AI models must play a central, demonstrable role in the solution rather than serving as a minor feature in a standard software tool
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This initiative represents a major institutional funding opportunity for civic technology organizations and research groups aiming to deploy artificial intelligence directly into municipal service delivery. It offers substantial non-dilutive capital alongside technical and network backing from both The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation. Depending on organizational maturity, teams can use the Seed track to transition an early AI proof-of-concept into a live municipal pilot or leverage the Scale track to expand a validated city tool across wider populations or neighboring jurisdictions.
Our take
Organizations with demonstrated AI capabilities and an established, collaborative relationship with a city partner should make this grant a top priority. Conversely, solo founders, government agencies seeking to apply directly without a partner organization, or teams proposing speculative AI tools without genuine municipal buy-in will find this program unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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