Artificial intelligence is changing the global health sector, from medical research and clinical trials to healthcare delivery and public policy. At the same time, funders are beginning to look more closely at how the rapid development of AI could affect health and wellbeing around the world.
One recent example is a new funding opportunity from Coefficient Giving focused on global health and wellbeing in an era of transformative AI. The funder expects to allocate $10 million to $30 million through the request for proposals, with applications open globally until August 21, 2026.
For NGOs working in global health, policy, research, and development, the opportunity is a sign of a wider shift: AI is becoming part of the global health funding conversation.
A New Funding Focus on AI and Global Health
Coefficient Giving’s Global Health and Wellbeing Opportunities Fund is seeking projects that can help ensure AI improves health and wellbeing, particularly for people living in poorer countries.
The current call supports work in areas including:
- Global health research
- Policy development
- AI-related implementation
- Field-building
- Health systems and infrastructure
- Economic impacts of transformative AI
The fund is particularly interested in projects that can create measurable improvements and help societies prepare for the changes that advanced AI may bring.
What Makes This Funding Opportunity Different?
One important detail is that this is not simply a grant for NGOs that want to use AI in their existing programs.
Coefficient Giving specifically explains that the call is focused on the larger effects of transformative AI on global health and wellbeing.
For example, potential projects could examine how global health systems should respond to advances in AI, help emerging economies prepare for AI-related changes in employment, or strengthen clinical trial and regulatory infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries.
That makes the opportunity particularly relevant to organizations working at the intersection of health, policy, technology, research, and development.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The funding is divided into different levels depending on the size and nature of the project.
Exploratory Grants
Projects requesting less than $100,000 can include research, scoping studies, prototypes, and short policy projects.
Standard Grants
Funding between $100,000 and $1 million can support larger research programs, new hires, or the launch of small organizations.
Major Grants
Projects seeking more than $1 million can include larger organizations, institutional capacity-building, substantial policy work, or important preparatory infrastructure.
By default, grants can last for up to two years, although renewability depends on the nature of the project.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is open globally to a broad range of applicants, including:
- Nonprofits
Individuals
Academic institutions
Think tanks
Organizations working in policy
Appropriately structured for-profit organizations
The funder particularly welcomes applicants with experience or strong working knowledge of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). New organizations can also be proposed through the funding call.
This makes the opportunity potentially relevant to NGOs outside traditional AI and technology hubs.
What NGOs Should Take From This
Even if an NGO does not apply for this particular opportunity, the funding call highlights an important trend.
AI is increasingly being considered alongside traditional global development priorities.
Organizations working in healthcare, poverty reduction, economic development, research, and policy may need to think about how AI could affect their communities and programs.
For NGOs, this could mean developing expertise in areas such as:
- AI policy
- Digital health
- Health data systems
- AI workforce impacts
- Technology governance
- Healthcare infrastructure
- Responsible AI
The organizations that begin building this knowledge now may be better prepared for future funding opportunities.
A Growing Connection Between AI and Philanthropy
This funding opportunity also comes at a time when AI and philanthropy are becoming increasingly connected.
Major technology wealth creation is expected to generate new philanthropic capital, while funders are exploring how that money can support global health and other high-impact areas. Recent reporting has highlighted preparations across the nonprofit sector for a possible increase in giving associated with the AI industry.
For NGOs, this does not mean that funding will automatically become easier to access.
Instead, organizations will need strong projects, clear evidence of impact, realistic budgets, and a clear understanding of how their work fits donor priorities.
How NGOs Can Prepare for AI-Related Funding
NGOs interested in this emerging funding area can start by looking at their existing programs and asking:
Where does AI create an opportunity or a risk for the communities we serve?
From there, organizations can:
- Identify AI-related challenges within their sector.
- Build partnerships with researchers, universities, or technology organizations.
- Develop measurable project objectives.
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Research funders supporting AI and social impact.
- Build internal knowledge about responsible AI.
The goal is not to add AI to a proposal simply because it is currently popular. A strong project should show why AI matters to the problem being addressed and what measurable difference the proposed work can make.
The Bigger Opportunity for NGOs
The growth of AI is creating new challenges for global health, but it may also create new opportunities.
NGOs can play an important role because they often understand the communities and local systems that technology developers and policymakers may not fully understand.
Organizations working directly with communities can help ensure that AI-related policies and solutions are practical, inclusive, and responsive to real needs.
As more funders begin exploring this intersection, NGOs with strong technical knowledge, local experience, and measurable impact could become important partners in shaping the future of AI and global health.
Final Thoughts
The new Coefficient Giving funding opportunity is a useful example of how quickly the relationship between AI, global health, and philanthropy is developing.
With $10 million to $30 million expected to be allocated, and eligibility extending globally, the opportunity is worth watching for NGOs working in health, policy, research, and development.
But the larger lesson goes beyond one funding call.
AI is becoming a factor that NGOs will increasingly need to understand—not only as a technology, but as something that can influence healthcare, employment, policy, research, and inequality.
Organizations that start preparing now can put themselves in a stronger position to respond to both the challenges and funding opportunities created by this rapidly changing landscape.
