So of course the community collectively gets credit because OpenPhil identifies as EA, but it’s worth noting that their “hits based giving” approach divers substantially from more conventional EA-style (quantitative QALY/cost-effectiveness) analysis and asking what that should mean for the movement more generally.
My impression is that most major EA funding bodies, bar Givewell, are mostly following a hits based giving approach nowadays. Eg EA Funds are pretty explicit about this. I definitely agree with the underlying point about weaknesses of traditional EA methods, but I’m not sure this implies a deep question for the movement, vs a question that’s already fairly internalised
Sure. But I think the story there was that Open Phil intentionally split off to pursue this much more aggressive approach, and GiveWell is more traditional charity focused/requires high standards of evidence. And I think having prominent orgs doing each strategy is actually pretty great? They just fit into different niches
My impression is that most major EA funding bodies, bar Givewell, are mostly following a hits based giving approach nowadays. Eg EA Funds are pretty explicit about this. I definitely agree with the underlying point about weaknesses of traditional EA methods, but I’m not sure this implies a deep question for the movement, vs a question that’s already fairly internalised
The Global Health and Dev side of Open Phil still gives a lot to less hits-based giving.
Sure, but outside of OpenPhil, GiveWell is the vast majority of EA spending right?
Not a grant-making organization, but as another example, the Rethink Priorities report on Charter Cities seemed fairly “traditional EA” style analysis.
Sure. But I think the story there was that Open Phil intentionally split off to pursue this much more aggressive approach, and GiveWell is more traditional charity focused/requires high standards of evidence. And I think having prominent orgs doing each strategy is actually pretty great? They just fit into different niches