Rockefeller Foundation Names 2026 Big Bets Fellows Focused on Economic Opportunity and AI

The Rockefeller Foundation announced in a press release its second class of U.S. Big Bets Fellows during the Big Bets for America convening in Baltimore. The 2026 fellowship includes ten innovators from across the country working on projects that foster economic opportunity and community resilience.

The fellows' initiatives include the use of artificial intelligence to connect job seekers with employers, expand training access, and streamline community development processes. Projects range from building AI tools to assist under-resourced communities in California with infrastructure planning to creating AI based job matching platforms in Ohio. Other efforts include scaling apprenticeships in New Jersey and supporting workforce coordination in Tennessee.

Over the five-month program, the fellows will receive tailored training, networking, and professional development to refine their strategies and expand their impact. The fellowship continues the Foundation's focus on advancing locally driven solutions, following the first U.S. cohort launched in 2025.

The Big Bets Fellowship is part of the Foundation’s broader effort to support community leaders addressing economic and technological challenges across the United States.