Google Accepting Applications for Generative AI Accelerator Program

Google announced a global open call for its Generative AI Accelerator program. Now in its second year, the program aims to support organizations in realizing generative AI-powered social impact solutions.
The accelerator program launched in 2024, with 21 organizations participating in the first cohort. One of these participating organizations was Beyond 12, a tech-enabled nonprofit helping students from under-resourced communities succeed in higher education.
“Our main goal when we joined the Google.org Gen AI Accelerator was to create a gen AI college coach,” Alexandra Bernadotte, founder and CEO of Beyond 12, said in a video. “Thanks to Google Cloud, we can now serve millions of first-generation college students from under-resourced communities.”
This year, the program will once again provide eligible nonprofits, civic entities, academic institutions and social enterprises with funding and technical support to effectively leverage generative AI for greater social impact. Specifically, the program is focused on supporting these types of initiatives:
- Knowledge, skills and learning. Initiatives that fall into this category aim to leverage generative AI to provide people with the skills and knowledge they need to lead successful lives. This extends to AI literacy and fluency; career and workforce readiness; and technology-enabled teaching and learning.
- Scientific advancement. Initiatives focused on scientific advancement plan to use AI to accelerate breakthroughs and foster innovation that drives impact for prominent social and environmental issues.
- Resilient communities. Initiatives in this category focus on AI’s role in building stronger societies, making the internet a safer place for people and organizations and enabling rapid responses in crisis situations, such as natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
Your nonprofit may have more than one idea for a generative AI-based solution that falls into these categories. While Google is encouraging nonprofits to submit the idea that fits the program criteria — and your organization’s strengths — best, most nonprofits are eligible to submit up to two unrelated projects in separate applications. Each project will be reviewed independently.
What’s Included in the Program
In total, $30 million in funds are available. Each accepted organization will receive no less than $500,000 to support investment in generative AI, and could exceed $2 million per organization. The funding can be used over the course of 30 months to support prototype development during the accelerator, and for subsequently launching and scaling the product after the accelerator ends.
As part of their acceptance into the program, all organizations will participate in the six-month accelerator, slated to begin in mid-2025. The program offers pro bono support from Google, with access to the following resources included:
- Staff. Google will assign its employees part-time to each of the accelerator organizations. Each organization will work with its own pro bono AI coach and project success manager, who will be the primary support system for the organization throughout the program.
- Training. Google will provide technical training on the generative AI product lifecycle virtually, with the goal of providing tailored content to advance organizations’ projects.
- Mentorship. One-to-one mentorship sessions will connect organizations with Google developer experts and Google developer groups around the world to get hands-on guidance.
- Cloud credits. Google Cloud credits will be available to organizations meeting specific eligibility criteria. This optional resource will enable nonprofits to use Google’s AI and machine learning tools (i.e., Vertex AI and Gemini).
- Nonprofit community. Participating organizations will have space to build community with fellow accelerator organizations, enabling them to learn from and build meaningful relationships with each other.
Google also expects organizations to have at least one executive director (or other decision-maker) and one technical project lead to commit about four hours per week to the accelerator for the full six months, though the time commitment each week will vary. While some parts of the program will be available virtually, others will be held in person, with at least two in-person gatherings.
At the end of six months, organizations will take part in a demo day, during which they will present their prototypes.
Generative AI Accelerator Criteria
Google advises that, before applying, interested organizations confirm that their projects meet the criteria.
Feasibility
To determine whether your project is feasible, Google provides these guiding questions:
- Is the generative AI solution grounded in research, data and/or a proven track record?
- Does the project proposal outline a realistic plan for execution with access to the data, models and technical or domain expertise needed to responsibly apply generative AI to the problem?
- Does the proposal leverage necessary resources including budget or partners to implement the project?
Impactful Use of Generative AI
Of course, social impact must be at the heart of your proposed generative AI solution. Google provides these questions to help you determine how impactful your generative AI will be:
- Is the application of generative AI integral to the project?
- Does the proposal apply new or existing generative AI technology to address a critical problem within one of the three focus areas (knowledge, skills and learning; scientific advancement; and resilient communities) in an innovative and appropriate way?
- Does the proposal explain the expected results of the solution, i.e., the significant and measurable positive outcomes for end beneficiaries?
Scalability
Because the accelerator program is specifically designed to help develop generative AI-powered social impact projects, it is key that organizations are able to scale up the solution they develop once the program concludes. Here are some questions to help determine whether your project is scalable:
- If successful, can the project scale to benefit the broader sector by extending its impact across use cases and borders?
- Can the solution be open sourced?
- Does the proposed solution have existing demand from potential users and buy-in from the sector?
- Will the project continue and grow beyond support from Google.org?
Commitment to Participating in the Accelerator
Not only does this opportunity come with funding, but it also comes with pro bono support from the Google team. To ensure the team’s efforts are doing the most good, participating organizations must fully dedicate themselves to the program. Here are some questions from Google to evaluate whether your nonprofit is up to the task:
- Is there a desire and commitment to fully participate in the six-month Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI?
- Does the proposal address how Google.org Accelerator offerings will advance the project to develop a technical prototype over the course of the program?
If your organization has a generative AI-powered social impact solution that meets these criteria, submit your application for the Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI here.
Related story: Tips for the Practical Use of AI in Fundraising for Nonprofits

Kalie VanDewater is associate content and online editor at NAPCO Media.