Groundwork: $15M for Kids Growing Up With AI

Young Futures has launched Groundwork, a $15 million, three-year commitment to helping young people thrive alongside AI across the United States and the United Kingdom. Its premise is that AI moves fast while human development still happens at human speed, so the work reaches past safety and compliance toward protecting young people’s ability to think for themselves, feel fully, and relate to each other.

The Unwritten Challenge

The first round funds US nonprofits that strengthen young people’s critical thinking and judgment, equip the trusted adults who guide them, and advance more constructive stories about young people and AI. Awards range from $50,000 to $100,000, and selected organizations join the five-month Young Futures Academy. The inquiry window runs September 23 to October 16, 2026.

Who should hear about this

Organizations working on media and AI literacy, youth mentorship, civic reasoning, and support for parents and educators are the clearest fit. If you know one, the most useful thing you can do is put this in front of them before the window opens.

Help spread it

• Groundwork media kit
• Sign up to be notified when applications open

Shared by Neal Vazquez.