Public Benefit Innovation Fund Spring 2026 Open Call

Grant amount TBD; prior grantmaking totals $8.5M across the fund's history.

Runs annually; the last cycle closed May 15, 2026. Check publicbenefitinnovationfund.org for the next round.

AMOUNT

Grant amount TBD; prior grantmaking totals $8.5M across the fund's history.

AMOUNT

Grant amount TBD; prior grantmaking totals $8.5M across the fund's history.

DEADLINE

Runs annually; the last cycle closed May 15, 2026. Check publicbenefitinnovationfund.org for the next round.

DEADLINE

Runs annually; the last cycle closed May 15, 2026. Check publicbenefitinnovationfund.org for the next round.

FUNDING TYPE

Grant

CAN YOU GET THIS?

You're eligible if you're a startup, nonprofit, academic lab, or independent technologist using AI to improve social services.

PBIF funds work at the intersection of AI and safety net program delivery — think benefits access, eligibility systems, or service navigation. Early-stage and growth-stage startups are both listed as eligible.

YOUR REAL ODDS

PBIF has awarded $8.5 million across its history, but grant amounts for this cycle are listed as TBD.

The fund is backed by Gates Foundation, Ballmer Group, and others, suggesting meaningful check sizes, but competition is open nationally and the fund attracts researchers and nonprofits alongside startups.

WHAT IT TAKES

Review the open call criteria on the PBIF site — 1–2 hours
Prepare a proposal describing your AI solution and its social service impact — 1–2 weeks
Submit before the deadline — Final check: 1–2 hours

WORTH KNOWING

PBIF is both a philanthropic fund and an R&D lab — they also provide technical support, not just money, which may matter if you're early and need more than capital.

Apply on the funder’s site →

Freed Fellowship

$500 grant monthly; winners also eligible for a $2,500 year-end grant.

Any US small business owner can apply for a $500 monthly grant with no equity or repayment required.

Texas Job Creators Quest Grant

$100,000 total pool distributed across ~30 recipients; individual awards have ranged from $1,500 to $10,000.

Texas-based small businesses led by underrepresented founders with $100K–$3M in annual revenue can apply for this grant.

BELLE Capital USA Grant

Grant amount varies; no specific figures disclosed.

Early-stage startups in tech, health, or cleantech with at least one female founder or female C-suite executive.

This is 1 of 1,600+ open opportunities.

$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.

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