Stefan’s framework (which I largely agree with) would argue that the potential funding base for multiplier organizations is quite small due to their complexity, and is probably limited to the EA community (or a subset thereof). So I’m trying to do a little market research to learn more about what that audience thinks about multiplier organizations.
The talk also argues for focusing on the largest donors, which in EA usually means Open Phil. But that’s less of an option for multiplier organizations as Open Phil’s EA “program does not fund organizations focused primarily on raising money for effective charities or organizations primarily focused on animal welfare or global poverty (though organizations in these categories might qualify for support under another focus area, e.g. farm animal welfare).”
The talk also argues for focusing on the largest donors, which in EA usually means Open Phil. But that’s less of an option for multiplier organizations as Open Phil’s EA “program does not fund organizations focused primarily on raising money for effective charities or organizations primarily focused on animal welfare or global poverty (though organizations in these categories might qualify for support under another focus area, e.g. farm animal welfare).”
You wouldn’t necessarily approach large donors to fund TLYCS itself (although you could), you could approach them to directly fund the charities TLYCS supports. I think that’s what Stefan had in mind.
Also, they could fund TLYCS through their global health and poverty program instead. They’ve funded One for the World. The EA Infrastructure Fund has also funded TYLCS among many other multiplier orgs.
Also, they [Open Phil] could fund TLYCS through their global health and poverty program instead. They’ve funded One for the World. The EA Infrastructure Fund has also funded TYLCS among many other multiplier orgs.
To get funded, One for the World had to change the recommendations to use only GiveWell’s research. That was also a precondition of any discussion with GiveWell about funding for TLYCS, which was not a strategic compromise we were willing to make.
As you say, the EA Infrastructure Fund has funded a lot of multiplier orgs. But aside from Founders Pledge, the grants have been pretty small- at the organizational level, I think they’re all under $30k in almost 4 years the fund has been operating. That’s definitely helpful, but not really a sustainable funding source for an organization.
There’s a good talk on this—Considerations for fundraising in Effective Altruism.
Interesting talk- thanks for sharing!
Stefan’s framework (which I largely agree with) would argue that the potential funding base for multiplier organizations is quite small due to their complexity, and is probably limited to the EA community (or a subset thereof). So I’m trying to do a little market research to learn more about what that audience thinks about multiplier organizations.
The talk also argues for focusing on the largest donors, which in EA usually means Open Phil. But that’s less of an option for multiplier organizations as Open Phil’s EA “program does not fund organizations focused primarily on raising money for effective charities or organizations primarily focused on animal welfare or global poverty (though organizations in these categories might qualify for support under another focus area, e.g. farm animal welfare).”
You wouldn’t necessarily approach large donors to fund TLYCS itself (although you could), you could approach them to directly fund the charities TLYCS supports. I think that’s what Stefan had in mind.
Also, they could fund TLYCS through their global health and poverty program instead. They’ve funded One for the World. The EA Infrastructure Fund has also funded TYLCS among many other multiplier orgs.
To get funded, One for the World had to change the recommendations to use only GiveWell’s research. That was also a precondition of any discussion with GiveWell about funding for TLYCS, which was not a strategic compromise we were willing to make.
As you say, the EA Infrastructure Fund has funded a lot of multiplier orgs. But aside from Founders Pledge, the grants have been pretty small- at the organizational level, I think they’re all under $30k in almost 4 years the fund has been operating. That’s definitely helpful, but not really a sustainable funding source for an organization.