ACE does not have immediate plans of running more original studies; while more research of that type is definitely needed, we’re currently focusing our efforts in that direction on encouraging other people to do it. Academic researchers and animal advocacy groups which perform the intervention under consideration as part of their usual activities seem to be better placed do do this type of study than ACE is, especially if both groups can work together. With more research staff, there’s a possibility that we would again take on this kind of work, but it’s not our first priority for what a new researcher would do.
We would expect a new researcher at least initially to do most of their work on the kinds of things I’ve been spending most of my time on, which are more reading/interviewing/writing based. There are more details available from the links above, and the specifics would depend on the candidate and their skills and interests, but working on our charity and intervention evaluations would probably be a major part of the job.
I am not a member of GWWC, and the primary reason for this is that humans are not the only “others” I care about, so the restriction to considering only what will do the most good for humans in the developing world is not one I am willing to make. I would consider joining GWWC if the pledge were changed. This might or might not have an effect on the amount I donated or where I donated it. If GWWC requires members to disclose where and how much they donate, sharing that information would be a difference in my donation behavior.
I personally think first of GiveWell when I think of “global poverty EA org” and of GWWC when I think of “pledge to donate money EA org”. I don’t know how representative of others that view is, particularly given that it’s not especially reflective of reality. (GiveWell spends a lot of time on their Open Philanthropy Project, which is certainly not fully focused on global poverty.) So while a change in the pledge wouldn’t change GWWC’s brand much in my eyes, it seems like a valid concern, though one I’d expect GWWC staff and current members to have a better handle on than I do.