Michael Belinsky joins OpenAI Foundation to build civil society and philanthropy work

The former Schmidt Sciences AI Institute director will focus on helping nonprofits and social sector organizations use AI across education, health care and employment.

Michael Belinsky has joined the OpenAI Foundation after serving as Director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences

Michael Belinsky has joined the OpenAI Foundation to help build its civil society and philanthropy work, with a focus on supporting social sector organizations as they adopt artificial intelligence.

Belinsky began the full-time role in July 2026 after serving as Director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences for almost two years. His new remit covers areas including education, health care and employment.

Announcing the appointment on LinkedIn, Belinsky said access to AI tools alone would not be enough: “Second, because we will need resourcing, guidance, and co-creation for AI to become an effective partner for social sector organizations – the kind of investment the Foundation can provide.”

Belinsky will work with OpenAI leaders including Anna Makanju, Jacob Trefethen and Wojciech Zaremba. OpenAI has not provided further details about the structure of the civil society and philanthropy function or named specific programs that Belinsky will oversee.

His departure also creates a leadership opening at Schmidt Sciences, which Belinsky said would begin searching for its next AI group leader.

Role targets AI adoption in the social sector

Belinsky linked his move to the growing use of AI across organizations working on public and social challenges. “I am joining the Foundation primarily for two reasons,” he wrote. “First, because I believe AI is ready to be included in the toolkit for social sector organizations working in healthcare, education, employment, and more.”

He added: “Second, because we will need resourcing, guidance, and co-creation for AI to become an effective partner for social sector organizations – the kind of investment the Foundation can provide.”

The OpenAI Foundation has made an initial $25 billion commitment across two areas: Life Sciences and Curing Diseases, which focuses on using AI in diagnostics, treatments and cures, and AI Resilience, which supports technical approaches intended to increase AI’s benefits and reduce its risks.

Its People-First AI Fund also supports local nonprofits and communities seeking to shape how AI is used in their work.

Belinsky moves from Schmidt Sciences

At Schmidt Sciences, Belinsky led an AI institute that develops philanthropic programs intended to improve AI, study its effects and apply the technology to scientific and humanities research.

He said the organization’s AI work would continue under Mark Greaves and named colleagues including Hale Sirin, Suhas Mahesh, James Fox, Annie S., Ryan Gajarawala, Peter Hase, Maya Moretta and Dimitri Zharzhitsky.

“The Schmidt Sciences AI Center remains strong under the steady guidance of Mark Greaves,” Belinsky wrote, adding that Schmidt would be “looking for its next leader of the AI group.”

Before joining Schmidt Sciences, Belinsky spent almost three years as a Director at Schmidt Futures. His work there included AI2050, Benefits Access, Opportunity Engines and the organization’s Talent Ventures portfolio.

He previously spent more than six years at The Bridgespan Group, where he became a Principal and worked on initiatives including Co-Impact, the Audacious Project, TPG Rise Fund and Apollo’s impact platform.

Belinsky also co-founded Instiglio, a social enterprise developing impact bonds and results-based financing programs in low- and middle-income countries. He currently serves as a board member at Ameelio and Board Chair of the African Tech Futures Lab.

The appointment places Belinsky inside the nonprofit organization responsible for advancing OpenAI’s stated mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits humanity.

Belinsky framed his role around working with civil society organizations rather than developing AI products for them without their involvement.