Sure thing. I don’t have a fully-fleshed-out plan to offer you, but here is an initial thought.
My main suggestion is to implement a kind of chapter-based network (let’s assume for the sake of argument that we can figure out a way to avoid confusion with the existing EA-based local chapter system). This is similar to your suggestion of sub-groups dedicated to specific causes and geographies. I think the difference between what I’m envisioning and what you’re suggesting, though, is that I am not thinking that the talent and resources for these organizations would primarily come from the existing EA community. For example, in Createquity’s case, we are all people in the arts and I am the only one who even borderline considers myself an effective altruist. Yet, the work we do is very aligned. Similarly, there is a large if somewhat unorganized community of evaluators, scientists, philanthropists, think tanks, and service organizations dedicated to effective practice in various domains. (I use the term “domain” here rather than “cause” since I am considering geography to be a potential domain.) It is possible that some of those folks could be converted to working on more global EA issues, but for those who can’t be, the domain-specific groups would be a way for them to plug in and put to good use the knowledge that the larger network is generating.
So it would not be a huge drain on existing EA resources, but neither am I advocating that EA take a completely hands-off approach. I think there is a ton of value to be realized from coordination and spread of the EA brand to individual domains. As long as it’s always recognized that domain-specific is subordinate to cause neutral, the brand need not be harmed. It’s almost like the domain-specific organizations are the farm team for EA’s major leagues, both in terms of recommended interventions/actions and potentially for talent as well.
Sure thing. I don’t have a fully-fleshed-out plan to offer you, but here is an initial thought.
My main suggestion is to implement a kind of chapter-based network (let’s assume for the sake of argument that we can figure out a way to avoid confusion with the existing EA-based local chapter system). This is similar to your suggestion of sub-groups dedicated to specific causes and geographies. I think the difference between what I’m envisioning and what you’re suggesting, though, is that I am not thinking that the talent and resources for these organizations would primarily come from the existing EA community. For example, in Createquity’s case, we are all people in the arts and I am the only one who even borderline considers myself an effective altruist. Yet, the work we do is very aligned. Similarly, there is a large if somewhat unorganized community of evaluators, scientists, philanthropists, think tanks, and service organizations dedicated to effective practice in various domains. (I use the term “domain” here rather than “cause” since I am considering geography to be a potential domain.) It is possible that some of those folks could be converted to working on more global EA issues, but for those who can’t be, the domain-specific groups would be a way for them to plug in and put to good use the knowledge that the larger network is generating.
So it would not be a huge drain on existing EA resources, but neither am I advocating that EA take a completely hands-off approach. I think there is a ton of value to be realized from coordination and spread of the EA brand to individual domains. As long as it’s always recognized that domain-specific is subordinate to cause neutral, the brand need not be harmed. It’s almost like the domain-specific organizations are the farm team for EA’s major leagues, both in terms of recommended interventions/actions and potentially for talent as well.