AnnaSalamon comments on Is GiveWell.org the best charity (excluding SIAI)? - Less Wrong

37 Post author: syllogism 26 February 2011 01:37PM

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Comment author: JGWeissman 26 February 2011 05:53:45PM 2 points [-]

Regarding efficiency of SENS, it has a huge potential payoff (indefinite lifespan, barring accidents, with good health) with reasonable probability of success, and large payoffs (extended lifespan and good health) for partial/in progress success. Aubrey de Grey impresses me as a goal-driven rationalist who could pull this off, with his ability to break the problem into pieces, find actionable approaches, and engage the wider scientific community to make progress.

Regarding global common goods versus helping individuals, I would be underestimating the benefit of common goods by multiplying the benefit to an individual by 7 billion, since that doesn't account for humans born in the future.

I would view helping individuals more favorably if we could reliably help them sufficiently that they be able to pay it forward, and actually do so, at a super critical rate.

Comment author: AnnaSalamon 26 February 2011 06:25:54PM 1 point [-]

As the poster notes, Givewell is an attempt to change global institutions around philanthropy, not just to improve life for individuals:

Instead of donating directly to VillageReach, I'm going to just donate to GiveWell.... I think the work they're doing gathering and distributing information about charities is critically important. If more charities actually competed on evidence of efficacy, the whole endeavour might be a lot different.

Comment author: JGWeissman 26 February 2011 06:47:03PM 7 points [-]

If GiveWell really does influence a substantial amount of philanthropy, then I would consider it as a public good charity with the multiplier that implies. Is there data on its influence and projected influence?

I recall a while back that Vasser was talking with GiveWell about rating SIAI. Has anything come of that?

Comment author: utilitymonster 27 February 2011 08:17:50PM *  1 point [-]

Is there data on its influence and projected influence?

Yes. They posted a bunch of self-evaluation stats. It is a start toward the information you seek.