Thanks to all of you for your work in this space, and for doing this AMA.
Question for anyone. In the spirit of Effective Altruism — where are donations best placed in this space? Is it simply about giving to MAPS, USONA, JHU, Berkeley, Neuroscape, etc. and letting them use as they see fit?
Or is there a taxonomy or framework of giving opportunities potential donors should consider such as monitoring and litigating potential abuse in the patent landscape; scaling training for facilitators; harm reduction; public education campaigns; funding specific research studies ? Does it depend on how big the donation is?
Great questions. There are two ways to think about this. If you have a specific concern or focus, you can find an institution that shares it. Carey Turnbull has formed an inititive to deal with the patent issues, for instance (I don’t recall the name of it). If you’re interest in delivering and scaling MDMA therapy for trauma, MAPS is the place to donate. If interested in the treatment of other indications check out Hopkins, NYU, Yale or Mass General—they’re all working on different ones and they al do great work. If basic neuroscience or public education around psychedelics is important to you, consider the Berkeley Center (with which I’m affiliated).
The second approach to find an institution whose values accord with your own and make an unrestricted gift, allowing the institution to allocate funds as they see fit. This is incredibly valuable to an institution, as it allows them to cover vital but unglamorous things like overhead.
Thanks to all of you for your work in this space, and for doing this AMA.
Question for anyone. In the spirit of Effective Altruism — where are donations best placed in this space? Is it simply about giving to MAPS, USONA, JHU, Berkeley, Neuroscape, etc. and letting them use as they see fit?
Or is there a taxonomy or framework of giving opportunities potential donors should consider such as monitoring and litigating potential abuse in the patent landscape; scaling training for facilitators; harm reduction; public education campaigns; funding specific research studies ? Does it depend on how big the donation is?
Great questions. There are two ways to think about this. If you have a specific concern or focus, you can find an institution that shares it. Carey Turnbull has formed an inititive to deal with the patent issues, for instance (I don’t recall the name of it). If you’re interest in delivering and scaling MDMA therapy for trauma, MAPS is the place to donate. If interested in the treatment of other indications check out Hopkins, NYU, Yale or Mass General—they’re all working on different ones and they al do great work. If basic neuroscience or public education around psychedelics is important to you, consider the Berkeley Center (with which I’m affiliated).
The second approach to find an institution whose values accord with your own and make an unrestricted gift, allowing the institution to allocate funds as they see fit. This is incredibly valuable to an institution, as it allows them to cover vital but unglamorous things like overhead.