Even though I have supported many EA organisations over the years (both meta, ex-risks and global poverty and some at quite early stages) and devote a great deal of time to try to do it well, I feel the EA funds could still be really useful.
There is a limit to how much high quality due diligence one could do. It takes time to build relationships, analyse opportunities and monitor them. This is also the reason I have not supported some of the EA Venture projects not necessarily because of the projects but because I did not have the bandwidth.
I am really impressed with some of the really high leverage, high impact work that Nick Beckstead supported through his donor group, I remember his catalysing the formation of CSER and early support to Founders Pledge. The possibility to participate in Elie’s work not limited to top charities also sounds exciting. I have not had the time to analyse animal charities and and this will help too.
I think donating to EA funds alongside my existing donations will provide diversification and allow me to support projects that I do not have direct access to or I do not have time and/or resources to support on a standalone basis.
The EA funds could also have benchmarking and signalling values (especially on less well known projects) if they publish their donation decisions.
Thanks so much for this, Luke! If someone who spends half their working time dedicating to philanthropy, as you do, says “There is a limit to how much high quality due diligence one could do. It takes time to build relationships, analyse opportunities and monitor them”—that’s pretty useful information!
Even though I have supported many EA organisations over the years (both meta, ex-risks and global poverty and some at quite early stages) and devote a great deal of time to try to do it well, I feel the EA funds could still be really useful.
There is a limit to how much high quality due diligence one could do. It takes time to build relationships, analyse opportunities and monitor them. This is also the reason I have not supported some of the EA Venture projects not necessarily because of the projects but because I did not have the bandwidth.
I am really impressed with some of the really high leverage, high impact work that Nick Beckstead supported through his donor group, I remember his catalysing the formation of CSER and early support to Founders Pledge. The possibility to participate in Elie’s work not limited to top charities also sounds exciting. I have not had the time to analyse animal charities and and this will help too.
I think donating to EA funds alongside my existing donations will provide diversification and allow me to support projects that I do not have direct access to or I do not have time and/or resources to support on a standalone basis.
The EA funds could also have benchmarking and signalling values (especially on less well known projects) if they publish their donation decisions.
Thanks so much for this, Luke! If someone who spends half their working time dedicating to philanthropy, as you do, says “There is a limit to how much high quality due diligence one could do. It takes time to build relationships, analyse opportunities and monitor them”—that’s pretty useful information!