Atlassian Foundation Open Call 2026 for Education in the AI Era

The Atlassian Foundation Open Call 2026 will support collective action initiatives that help disadvantaged learners thrive as education adapts to the AI era. The Foundation is deploying US$8 million over two years and is looking for coordinated partnerships that can ensure emerging technology closes educational gaps instead of widening them. Selected partnerships may receive up to US$1 million over two years. The award is capped at 25% of the lead organisation's operating budget for the same two-year period. Partners will also join a peer-learning cohort and may receive optional access to Atlassian teamwork tools, resources and tailored non-financial support. Eligible initiatives must combine three elements: direct relief of poverty or disadvantage for a clearly identified group of learners; genuine collective action by multiple organisations with shared goals, governance, delivery and measurement; and an equity-focused response to how education should evolve in the AI era. The response may be technical, human or systemic and does not need to deploy AI. Applications are submitted through the Goodstack Causes Portal. The lead organisation first completes the eligibility questions. Eligible applicants then receive an email invitation to start the full application. Atlassian recommends preparing the published application questions and budget template with all partners before one nominated person enters the final responses on a single device. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to virtual discussions between December 2026 and January 2027. Decisions are expected by 31 March 2027, and funded work begins in May or June 2027. Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 23:59 AEDT. The partnership budget should include travel for at least one person to attend cohort activities in the United States or Australia during 2027 or 2028.

The lead applicant must be a registered nonprofit, charity or equivalent legal entity in the country where it operates. The initiative must be delivered for charitable purposes rather than private or commercial benefit and must directly relieve poverty or disadvantage for a specific group. The proposal must be a genuine collective action initiative involving at least two actors. Partners need shared goals and metrics, joint delivery, shared governance and readiness to deliver a developing shared solution. A single organisation scaling its own programme through distributors, coordination without shared governance, or work whose outputs remain proprietary does not meet the Foundation's definition. The lead applicant must be willing to complete legal, financial, safeguarding and other due-diligence checks. Direct beneficiaries may not be based in a country subject to international sanctions. Applicants should also be able to present a credible implementation plan, monitoring and learning approach, risk management process and proportionate budget.