Funding AI for Good: A Call for Meaningful Engagement
Hongjin Lin, Anna Kawakami, Catherine D'Ignazio, Kenneth Holstein, Krzysztof Gajos
Published: 2025/9/15
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence for Social Good (AI4SG) is a growing area exploring AI's potential to address social issues like public health. Yet prior work has shown limited evidence of its tangible benefits for intended communities, and projects frequently face inadequate community engagement and sustainability challenges. Funding agendas play a crucial role in framing AI4SG initiatives and shaping their approaches. Through a qualitative analysis of 35 funding documents -- representing about $410 million USD in total investments, we reveal dissonances between AI4SG's stated intentions for positive social impact and the techno-centric approaches that some funding agendas promoted. Drawing on our findings, we offer recommendations for funders to scaffold approaches that balance both contextual understanding and technical capacities in future funding call designs. We call for greater engagement between AI4SG funders and the HCI community to support community engagement work in the funding program design process.