LinkedIn Future of Work Fund 2026
By LinkedIn
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Closed: LinkedIn's 2026 fund gave unrestricted grants, mostly US$200,000–300,000 (about ₹1.9–2.85 crore), to non-profits using AI to help young adults into work. India was a focus country.
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 16 March 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by LinkedIn. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 round of the LinkedIn Future of Work Fund is closed. Applications shut at 12 pm Pacific Time on 15 March 2026 (12:30 am IST on 16 March), and the official page does not describe any later round, so no next cycle is announced.
The fund is run by LinkedIn's Social Impact team. LinkedIn launched it in 2025 to help people across the workforce benefit from AI, and the 2026 edition expanded its focus on career starters who face barriers. This guide explains what the fund looked for, so an Indian non-profit can prepare if LinkedIn runs it again.
What the fund offers
Selected organisations receive a one-time, unrestricted grant, paid through LinkedIn's Donor Advised Fund with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Grant size depends on how strongly and relevantly an application fits the fund's goals. Most grants were expected to be between US$200,000 and US$300,000 (about ₹1.9 crore to ₹2.85 crore). The page also mentions in-kind support alongside the cash, but does not say what it includes. "Unrestricted" means the money is not tied to a single project budget line, so a non-profit can use it where it is needed most.
Who can apply
The fund is for non-profits, not startups or companies. To qualify, an organisation must be a legally registered non-profit, charity or equivalent in its country of operation, and it must be able to receive philanthropic grant money directly. Groups that depend on a fiscal sponsor and have no non-profit status of their own are not eligible, and organisations with an active grant from LinkedIn Social Impact cannot apply. Each organisation may submit one application; a separate coalition led by a different organisation may submit its own.
The work must have a workforce-development focus, with programmes or efforts that help people access, prepare for and succeed in an AI-powered workforce. Applicants had to show clear use of AI innovation to widen economic opportunity, or a commitment to preparing young adults for an AI-powered workforce. The people served should be young adults and career starters, typically aged 18 to 24 (this varies by country), especially those at risk of unemployment or underemployment, such as people from low-income backgrounds or those who built skills through alternative routes.
For applicants in India: India is one of five countries the fund was especially focused on, with France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. An Indian non-profit trust, society or Section 8 company serving young adults could apply, provided it could receive the grant directly. LinkedIn favours programmes that combine AI-fluency training with human skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, communication and problem-solving.
How to apply
The application was an online form linked from the Future of Work Fund page. Before the next round, read the eligibility list on the page, confirm your registration documents show non-profit status, and write a short description of who you serve and how AI features in your work. A practical tip: have your outcomes data for young adults ready, as reviewers look for alignment with the fund's goals.
How applications are judged
The LinkedIn Social Impact team reviews applications holistically, supported by a cross-sector panel of workforce-development leaders and AI experts. Reviewers assess how well each application fits the fund's goals and the eligibility criteria. The page does not give a decision date.
About LinkedIn Social Impact
LinkedIn Social Impact is the company's social impact arm. Its programmes include pro bono resources, LinkedIn for Nonprofits, and free resource hubs for non-profits and jobseekers. The Future of Work Fund began in 2025 with a first year that supported non-profit innovators using AI for economic inclusion.
Things to check before you apply
- Closed now: nothing can be submitted for 2026; watch the official page for any future call.
- Non-profit only: companies, startups and fiscally sponsored groups are not eligible.
- Foreign funds: Indian organisations receiving money from abroad should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
- Payout currency: the grant is in US dollars, so the rupee value will vary with the exchange rate.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Each selected non-profit receives a one-time unrestricted grant through LinkedIn's Donor Advised Fund with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Grant size varies with the strength and relevance of the application, with most grants expected to fall in the US$200,000–300,000 range (about ₹1.9–2.85 crore). LinkedIn also describes in-kind support for grantees.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The LinkedIn Social Impact team reviews applications holistically, supported by a cross-sector panel of workforce-development leaders and AI experts, who assess fit with the fund's goals and the eligibility criteria. Selected organisations receive a one-time unrestricted grant through a Donor Advised Fund.
Application Process
- 1
Apply online
Submit one application for your organisation before the deadline.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LinkedIn Future of Work Fund open now?
No. The 2026 round closed at 12 pm PT on 15 March 2026, which was 12:30 am IST on 16 March. The official page does not announce a later round, so check it for news.
Can an Indian non-profit apply to the Future of Work Fund?
Yes. India is one of the five countries the fund focuses on. The organisation must be a legally registered non-profit or charity in India and able to receive grant money directly.
Can startups or companies apply?
No. Funding is limited to non-profits and qualifying educational institutions with charitable status. Fiscally sponsored groups without independent non-profit status are not accepted.
How much is the grant?
Grant size depends on how well an application fits the fund's goals. Most grants were expected to be US$200,000–300,000 (about ₹1.9 crore to ₹2.85 crore).
How is the money paid and can it be used freely?
It is a one-time, unrestricted grant paid through LinkedIn's Donor Advised Fund with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The page also mentions in-kind support but does not describe it.
Who should the programme serve?
Young adults and career starters, typically aged 18 to 24, who face barriers to economic opportunity. Priority goes to those at risk of unemployment or underemployment, such as people from low-income backgrounds.
Does the project have to use AI?
Applicants had to show clear use of AI innovation to expand economic opportunity, or a commitment to preparing young adults for an AI-powered workforce. LinkedIn favours programmes that pair AI-fluency training with skills like critical thinking and communication.
How do I apply when the fund reopens?
The 2026 application was an online form linked from the Future of Work Fund page. Each organisation may submit one application.
Can we apply if we already have a LinkedIn grant?
No. Organisations with active grants from the LinkedIn Social Impact team are not eligible. No prior relationship with LinkedIn is needed to apply.
Is there a fee to apply, and when are results announced?
The page does not mention any application fee, and it does not state a decision date. Follow the LinkedIn Social Impact page for updates.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
