To share another perspective: As an independent alignment researcher, I also feel really conflicted. I could be making several multiples of my salary if my focus was to get a role on an alignment team at an AGI lab. My other option would be building startups trying to hit it big and providing more funding to what I think is needed.
Like, I could say, “well, I’m already working directly on something and taking a big pay-cut so I shouldn’t need to donate close to 10%”, but something about that doesn’t feel right… But then to counter-balance that, I’m constantly worried that I just won’t get funding anymore at some point and would be in need of money to pay for expenses during a transition.
Fwiw my personal take (and this is not in my capacity as a grantmaker) is that building up your runway seems really important, and I personally think that it should be a higher priority than donating 10%. My guess is that GWWC would suggest dropping your commitment to say 2% as a temporary measure while you build up your savings.
Many people see the commitment of the pledge to give 10% as one over their lifetime, so if you needed to drop back to build up runway for a while, with the intention of donating more in the following years once your finances were more secure, I personally think that would be an acceptable way to fulfil the pledge!
There’s no strict requirement that donations need to be made each year, but GWWC does encourage regular giving where possible.
To share another perspective: As an independent alignment researcher, I also feel really conflicted. I could be making several multiples of my salary if my focus was to get a role on an alignment team at an AGI lab. My other option would be building startups trying to hit it big and providing more funding to what I think is needed.
Like, I could say, “well, I’m already working directly on something and taking a big pay-cut so I shouldn’t need to donate close to 10%”, but something about that doesn’t feel right… But then to counter-balance that, I’m constantly worried that I just won’t get funding anymore at some point and would be in need of money to pay for expenses during a transition.
Fwiw my personal take (and this is not in my capacity as a grantmaker) is that building up your runway seems really important, and I personally think that it should be a higher priority than donating 10%. My guess is that GWWC would suggest dropping your commitment to say 2% as a temporary measure while you build up your savings.
Many people see the commitment of the pledge to give 10% as one over their lifetime, so if you needed to drop back to build up runway for a while, with the intention of donating more in the following years once your finances were more secure, I personally think that would be an acceptable way to fulfil the pledge!
There’s no strict requirement that donations need to be made each year, but GWWC does encourage regular giving where possible.
(FYI I work at GWWC)