AWS Imagine Grant (US)

AWS Imagine Grant (US) — One

Funds United States nonprofits using cloud and AI for social-good projects.

The AWS Imagine Grant (US) 2026 Round One is an unrestricted cash grant program from Amazon Web Services that funds registered 501(c) nonprofits in the United States deploying cloud and AI technologies for social good. Since its launch in 2018, AWS has distributed more than $21 million in unrestricted funding and cloud credits to over 180 nonprofits globally. The 2026 US cycle offers three award tiers: the Pathfinder Award (up to $200,000 cash plus up to $100,000 in AWS Promotional Credits) targets nonprofits deploying frontier AI including generative AI, agentic AI, and autonomous systems; the Go Further, Faster Award (up to $150,000 cash plus $100,000 in credits) supports innovative cloud projects using AI, ML, high-performance computing, or IoT; and the Momentum to Modernize Award (up to $50,000 cash plus $20,000 in credits) funds foundational infrastructure work such as cloud migration, modernization, or database centralization. All awards include AWS technical specialist support and training.

Eligibility is limited to 501(c) organizations registered in the United States. Educational institutions are excluded. All annual budget sizes are welcome — there is no revenue floor or ceiling. Organizations that serve beneficiaries outside the US are explicitly eligible. Only one application per organization per cycle is permitted regardless of interest across tiers. Round One accepts applications from March 19 through June 5, 2026. Round Two (invitation only) runs August 10 – September 14, 2026, for shortlisted applicants. Final winners are announced in mid-November 2026 and publicly published December 1, 2026.

For US nonprofits, the Imagine Grant is one of the few major corporate grant programs providing genuine unrestricted cash alongside technology resources — the distinction from credit-only programs is explicit in AWS's own program materials. Pathfinder is the most competitive and highest-value tier, oriented toward organizations already using or building with generative AI rather than planning future adoption. Applicants should align their narrative to a specific award tier, demonstrate concrete technology deployment (not aspiration), and account for the two-round timeline when planning internal resources for the application cycle.