AI for All: Flagship Programme (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026

The AI for All programme is a flagship initiative supporting UK-based charities working to advance diversity, equality, and inclusion in artificial intelligence. The programme combines grants of up to £2,500 with expert mentorship from experienced AI professionals. It is designed to help eligible charities strengthen their skills, strategy, organisational capacity, and impact in the AI sector.

Overview

The AI for All programme supports UK charities that are working to make artificial intelligence more diverse, equal, inclusive, and accessible.

The programme provides a dual support model that combines financial assistance with expert mentorship.

It is designed to help charities strengthen their organisational capacity, expand their AI-related work, and improve opportunities for underrepresented and diverse communities.

Key Focus Areas

The AI for All programme focuses on inclusive AI development and organisational strengthening.

Key focus areas include:

• Diversity in AI
• Equality in AI
• Inclusion in AI technologies
• Access and opportunity for underrepresented communities
• Support for diverse communities
• AI innovation in the charity sector
• Organisational capacity building
• Financial support for charities
• Expert mentorship
• AI strategy development
• Operational guidance
• Skills development
• Collaboration with AI industry professionals
• Strengthening charitable impact through technology

Purpose of the Programme

The purpose of the AI for All programme is to help UK charities contribute to a more inclusive and equitable AI ecosystem.

The programme supports organisations that are using, developing, or engaging with AI in ways that benefit diverse and underrepresented communities.

By combining grants with mentorship, the programme helps charities access both practical funding and specialist knowledge from experienced professionals in the AI field.

Funding Amount

The programme provides grants of up to £2,500 per application.

This funding can help eligible charities strengthen their AI-related activities, improve organisational capacity, and support work connected to diversity, equality, and inclusion in AI.

Applicants should prepare a clear request that explains how the grant will support their organisation’s AI-related goals and community impact.

Mentorship Support

In addition to funding, selected partners receive access to up to four hours of specialised mentorship.

Mentorship is provided by experienced professionals from the AI sector.

Mentors may support charities with strategic and operational guidance, helping them strengthen planning, implementation, skills, and impact.

Role of Mentors

Mentors are experienced AI professionals who provide expert guidance to participating charities.

Mentors commit at least eight hours per year and may support multiple charities depending on their availability, expertise, and capacity.

Mentorship sessions are arranged flexibly to suit both mentors and charities.

Mentors may accept or decline engagement requests based on relevance, expertise, and availability.

Who is Eligible?

The programme is open to eligible UK-based charities.

To qualify, organisations must meet the following requirements:

• Be a UK charity
• Have an annual turnover between £150,000 and £1.15 million
• Employ between one and ten staff members
• Be working in or seeking to strengthen work related to AI innovation, diversity, equality, and inclusion

Applicants should clearly demonstrate how their work supports inclusive AI or improves access and opportunity for diverse or underrepresented communities.

What the Programme Can Support

The AI for All programme can support charities that need financial and expert guidance to strengthen their AI-related work.

Support may help charities with:

• AI strategy development
• Inclusive AI project planning
• Organisational capacity building
• Skills development
• Operational improvement
• Community-focused AI innovation
• Access and inclusion activities
• Strengthening impact for underrepresented groups
• Understanding AI opportunities and risks
• Building partnerships with AI professionals

Dual Support Model

The programme uses an integrated dual support model.

This means selected charities receive both:

• Financial support through a grant of up to £2,500
• Expert support through up to four hours of AI mentorship

This model helps charities address both resource needs and knowledge gaps.

The grant can support practical activities, while mentorship can help organisations refine strategy, improve planning, and make stronger decisions about AI-related work.

Why It Matters

Artificial intelligence has the potential to shape access, opportunity, services, and decision-making across society.

However, if AI technologies are not inclusive, they may reinforce existing inequalities or exclude underrepresented communities.

The AI for All programme matters because it supports charities working to make AI more fair, accessible, and beneficial for diverse communities.

By supporting smaller UK charities with funding and mentorship, the programme helps build a stronger and more inclusive AI ecosystem.

How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants should prepare a clear application that explains their charity’s mission, eligibility, AI-related goals, and need for financial and mentorship support.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should first confirm that they meet the programme requirements.

Eligible organisations must:

• Be UK-based charities
• Have annual turnover between £150,000 and £1.15 million
• Employ between one and ten staff members

Step 2: Explain the AI Connection

The application should clearly explain how the charity’s work connects to artificial intelligence.

This may include:

• Using AI to improve services
• Exploring AI tools for community benefit
• Promoting inclusive AI development
• Supporting underrepresented groups in AI
• Addressing equality and inclusion challenges linked to AI
• Strengthening AI skills or strategy within the organisation

Step 3: Show Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Impact

Applicants should explain how their work supports diversity, equality, and inclusion.

This may include improving access and opportunity for:

• Underrepresented communities
• Diverse groups
• Marginalised populations
• Smaller charities serving communities affected by digital exclusion
• Groups with limited access to AI tools, skills, or opportunities

Step 4: Explain the Need for Funding

Applicants should clearly describe how the grant of up to £2,500 will be used.

The budget should be realistic and directly linked to the charity’s AI-related goals.

Step 5: Explain the Need for Mentorship

Applicants should also explain how expert mentorship will support their organisation.

Mentorship needs may include:

• AI strategy guidance
• Operational advice
• Project design support
• Skills development
• Ethical AI considerations
• Understanding AI tools
• Improving organisational readiness
• Scaling AI-related impact

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting unclear or weak applications.

Common mistakes include:

• Not proving UK charity status
• Applying with turnover outside the eligible range
• Applying with staff numbers outside the eligible range
• Not explaining the connection to AI
• Providing a vague diversity, equality, and inclusion focus
• Not showing how underrepresented communities will benefit
• Requesting funding without a clear purpose
• Not explaining how mentorship will be used
• Treating the programme only as a grant and ignoring the mentorship component
• Failing to show organisational capacity or readiness

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should clearly connect AI, inclusion, and organisational impact.

Useful tips include:

• Clearly explain your charity’s mission.
• Show how your work relates to AI innovation.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
• Explain how underrepresented communities will benefit.
• Provide a clear use for the £2,500 grant.
• Explain what type of AI mentorship would be most useful.
• Show how mentorship will strengthen strategy or operations.
• Keep the application practical and focused.
• Highlight organisational readiness to use both funding and expert guidance.
• Show how the support will improve long-term impact.

FAQ

1. What is the AI for All programme?

The AI for All programme supports UK charities working to advance diversity, equality, and inclusion in artificial intelligence through grants and expert mentorship.

2. How much funding is available?

Eligible charities may apply for grants of up to £2,500.

3. Who can apply?

UK charities with annual turnover between £150,000 and £1.15 million and between one and ten staff members may apply.

4. What support is provided besides funding?

Selected partners receive up to four hours of specialised mentorship from experienced AI professionals.

5. What is the focus of the mentorship?

Mentorship may support strategy, operations, skills development, AI planning, organisational capacity, and impact improvement.

6. What kind of charities is the programme suitable for?

The programme is suitable for charities working in AI innovation, inclusive technology, digital inclusion, equality, diversity, access, and support for underrepresented communities.

7. How are mentorship sessions arranged?

Mentorship sessions are arranged flexibly to suit both mentors and participating charities.

Conclusion

The AI for All programme provides practical support for UK charities working to make artificial intelligence more inclusive, equitable, and accessible.

With grants of up to £2,500 and up to four hours of expert mentorship, the programme helps charities strengthen their AI strategy, organisational capacity, skills, and community impact. Strong applications should clearly demonstrate eligibility, a meaningful connection to AI, a strong diversity and inclusion focus, and a practical plan for using both funding and mentorship effectively.

For more information, visit The Different Foundation.