OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has launched the next phase of its ‘AI for Impact Accelerator Programme’ in India, reinforcing its commitment to supporting mission-driven organisations that are leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle some of the country’s most pressing social challenges.
As part of the expanded initiative, 11 Indian nonprofit organisations have been awarded technical grants in the form of OpenAI API credits, bringing the total value of these credits to $150,000. These API credits allow recipients to access OpenAI’s powerful language models without the burden of recurring monthly costs, enabling them to build and scale impactful AI solutions.
This programme now operates under the umbrella of the OpenAI Academy, a global initiative focused on democratizing AI access and fostering the development of solutions that are practical, inclusive, and human-centered.
Over the past year, the accelerator has supported Indian nonprofits developing tools across critical sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, disability inclusion, and gender equity. These efforts are already creating tangible improvements in underserved and resource-constrained communities. The initiative is run in collaboration with The Agency Fund, Tech4Dev, and Turn.io, and includes hands-on technical mentorship, cohort-based learning, and early access to cutting-edge OpenAI tools. “AI should benefit everyone — not just those in tech hubs or wealthy nations,” OpenAI said in a statement, emphasizing its intent to foster innovation where it’s needed most.
As part of its ongoing support, OpenAI recently hosted a technical workshop in India to demonstrate the capabilities of its latest models, helping grantee organisations design large-scale, sustainable solutions.
The programme also aligns with the goals of the India AI Mission, a government-backed initiative to foster inclusive AI adoption and develop technology tailored to the country’s diverse social and economic landscape. Pragya Misra, OpenAI’s Policy and Partnerships Lead for India, praised the nonprofit cohort, saying,
“These organisations embody the spirit of the India AI Mission. They show how cutting-edge technology, when applied with empathy and purpose, can drive real and lasting change.”
OpenAI plans to onboard additional organisations in India later this year, marking a shift from providing just technical tools to driving on-the-ground impact through practical, scalable, and socially conscious AI deployment.
