OpenAI announced a grants program to fund independent research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health. The fund will offer up to $2 million for projects that produce data, evaluations, or actionable ideas to help make AI systems safer and more useful in sensitive conversations.
What is OpenAI announcing?
The program, run by OpenAI’s Safety team and funded by OpenAI Group PBC, is looking for independent proposals that explore risks and benefits of using AI in mental health contexts. Applications are open starting today through December 19, 2025, and selections will be notified no later than January 15, 2026.
Up to $2 million in grants to encourage interdisciplinary work between technical researchers, mental health professionals, and people with lived experience.
What kinds of projects are they looking for?
They value proposals that deliver clear outputs: datasets, evaluations, rubrics, or syntheses of experiences that can inform safety practices. Sound useful? Here are example areas of interest:
