I agree with the general desire for retrospective analysis, and don’t have any particular defense of this grant (save that it seems a bit cherry-picked). But I think this is mistaken:
Giving money to malaria would have been out of mandate for the LTFF. Their website is clear that if you want to fund global health and development you should give elsewhere. Whether or not this particular grant was justified depends on the comparison with other in-mandate grants and potential grants. The only justification LTFF requires to not fund cataract surgery is that this would be in violation of their commitments to donors (unless for some reason they thought cataract surgery was the best way to improve the long term future).
I think this is a good point when considering the decisions of LTFF.
However, you can make a similar question about funders who decide whether some money goes to LTFF or to some global health charity. And such funders exist (e.g. OpenPhil).
An these funders have to make the uncomfortable decision whether to save children’s lives or indirectly support some research, video games, and other things via LTFF.
I agree with the general desire for retrospective analysis, and don’t have any particular defense of this grant (save that it seems a bit cherry-picked). But I think this is mistaken:
Giving money to malaria would have been out of mandate for the LTFF. Their website is clear that if you want to fund global health and development you should give elsewhere. Whether or not this particular grant was justified depends on the comparison with other in-mandate grants and potential grants. The only justification LTFF requires to not fund cataract surgery is that this would be in violation of their commitments to donors (unless for some reason they thought cataract surgery was the best way to improve the long term future).
I think this is a good point when considering the decisions of LTFF.
However, you can make a similar question about funders who decide whether some money goes to LTFF or to some global health charity. And such funders exist (e.g. OpenPhil).
An these funders have to make the uncomfortable decision whether to save children’s lives or indirectly support some research, video games, and other things via LTFF.
Comment reposted elsewhere
I think you are replying to the wrong comment here.
sorry you’re right!