Pathfinder Fellowship Fall 2026 Applications Open for Student Leaders Advancing AI Safety and AI Policy

Pathfinder is a selective fellowship for students leading or founding university AI safety and policy groups worldwide. It provides mentorship, funding, and resources to help fellows build campus initiatives focused on large-scale risks from transformative AI.⁠​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌⁠

What it offers

• Mentorship: Pairing with experienced organizers for weekly support starting August 8.
• Community: Workshops, Slack community, and weekly virtual coffee chats starting August 10.
• Funding:
  • Starter funding of $500 on August 6.
  • Budget requests due August 21; decisions by September 2 (expedited requests possible).
  • Graduate students may receive a stipend; undergraduates are not eligible.
  • Fiscal sponsorship arranged for most groups (credit card provided); groups with existing legal entities receive grants instead.

Who can apply

• Current or aspiring leaders of university AI safety groups (technical safety, governance, policy, security, welfare, etc.).
• Open to undergraduate and graduate students worldwide.
• Groups may be new or established; multiple organizers per group can apply (typically no more than two fellows per group).

What you'll do

• Lead or plan to found a university AI safety group.
• Participate in weekly mentor meetings, coffee chats, and workshops starting in August.
• Use provided funding for group activities (e.g., events, compute, materials).

How to apply

• Applications open July 6, close July 28 (11:59 PM, Anywhere on Earth).
• Decisions announced August 3.
• Submit individual applications even if applying with others from the same group.

Good to know

• Previous participants in Pathfinder or its precursor (FSP) are welcome to reapply.
• Mentors are matched based on group needs; mentor changes possible after three calls.
• Pathfinder is funded by Coefficient Giving and run by Kairos.