You said that the funds currently hold $1.1 million and that US Treasury bonds yield 1.7% a year. That’s $18,700 a year in foregone revenue. In 80,000 Hours’ survey of EA organizations, a new hire was seen as worth something in the neighborhood of a million dollars in forgone donations a year. So it’s not surprising to me that the donations are held in cash—I could easily see the overhead of investing exceeding the potential returns.
In theory, anyone can spend 15 minutes per week moving money in and out of index funds with a 5% expected annual return. Or using Betterment. Presumably there are some tax and administrative issues which would take up more time, but overall it sounds worthwhile.
In theory, anyone can spend 15 minutes per week moving money in and out of index funds with a 5% expected annual return. Or using Betterment. Presumably there are some tax and administrative issues which would take up more time, but overall it sounds worthwhile.