I broadly agree with Carl’s comment, though I have less of
an opinion about the specifics of how you have done your learning grants. Part
of your question may be, “Why would you do this if we’re already doing it?” I
believe that strategic cause selection is an enormous issue and we have something to contribute. In this scenario, we certainly would want to work
with you and like-minded organizations.
Hi Nick — I did not at all mean to imply, “Why would you do this if we’re already doing it?” I see enormous value in other people experimenting with strategic cause selection and was gratified to read this post. I simply was surprised that you didn’t mention that GiveWell Labs, by and large, is taking the approach you outlined, including investigating four of the five issue areas you mentioned. That made me think either we’re not communicating well enough about what we’re doing, which seems likely, or that you see the two approaches as more different than I do.
I broadly agree with Carl’s comment, though I have less of an opinion about the specifics of how you have done your learning grants. Part of your question may be, “Why would you do this if we’re already doing it?” I believe that strategic cause selection is an enormous issue and we have something to contribute. In this scenario, we certainly would want to work with you and like-minded organizations.
Hi Nick — I did not at all mean to imply, “Why would you do this if we’re already doing it?” I see enormous value in other people experimenting with strategic cause selection and was gratified to read this post. I simply was surprised that you didn’t mention that GiveWell Labs, by and large, is taking the approach you outlined, including investigating four of the five issue areas you mentioned. That made me think either we’re not communicating well enough about what we’re doing, which seems likely, or that you see the two approaches as more different than I do.