Mac comments on Open Thread, Apr. 27 - May 3, 2015 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Gondolinian 27 April 2015 12:18AM

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Comment author: Mac 27 April 2015 09:52:11PM *  1 point [-]

GiveWell partners with co-founder of Instagram and his fiancée.

http://blog.givewell.org/2015/04/23/co-funding-partnership-with-kaitlyn-trigger-and-mike-krieger/

We are excited to announce a new co-funding partnership with Kaitlyn Trigger and her fiancé Mike Krieger (co-founder of Instagram)...supporting the Open Philanthropy Project’s work...

...Kaitlyn and Mike have made a financial commitment of $750,000 over the next two years...

...We have reserved a desk in the office for Kaitlyn, and she expects to spend around two days a week there. While she also will work on her own projects, she will join team meetings…be included in internal correspondence around our process, and do some work…Our goal is to give her an inside look at the Open Philanthropy Project process and generally be a resource to her in learning about how to give as effectively as possible...

...To date, we haven’t actively sought partnerships along these lines. Kaitlyn and Mike suggested it…

My scorecard:

GiveWell Loses

  • Small amount of productivity (Teaching Kaitlyn)

  • Large amount of credibility (Donors influenced priorities)

GiveWell Gains

  • $750,000

  • Higher expected donations from Krieger and his network of wealthy friends

What do you think of the partnership? I am disappointed, but open to changing my mind.

Comment author: ChristianKl 27 April 2015 10:37:30PM 3 points [-]

GiveWell already has donors that might influence priorities. I don't think having donors means losing credibility.

Comment author: Mac 27 April 2015 11:36:16PM *  0 points [-]

GiveWell already has donors that might influence priorities.

Do you have evidence that donors, other than the starting core, have influenced priorities? If so, I would be interested.

I don't think having donors means losing credibility.

I meant to say "Donors influenced priorities". I'll edit to clear up the confusion. It's important, to me at least, that GiveWell's research is as unbiased as possible.

Comment author: ChristianKl 27 April 2015 11:56:58PM 0 points [-]

No, but why do you think that those donors is more likely to influence priorities?

It's important, to me at least, that GiveWell's research is as unbiased as possible.

"Unbiased" is a quite complicated word what do you mean with it? I don't see conflicts of interests in this case.

Comment author: Mac 28 April 2015 02:38:12AM 0 points [-]

No, but why do you think that those donors is more likely to influence priorities?

This looks like influence to me...

To date, we haven’t actively sought partnerships along these lines. Kaitlyn and Mike suggested it...

Next,

I don't see conflicts of interests in this case.

Really? For example, if GiveWell determined that the Open Philanthropy Project were a waste of resources, do you think they would simply say, "Well Mr. Krieger, you shouldn't give us that money after all."

Comment author: ChristianKl 28 April 2015 09:55:37AM 0 points [-]

This looks like influence to me... To date, we haven’t actively sought partnerships along these lines. Kaitlyn and Mike suggested it...

I would think that GiveWell talks with his donors and takes idea that it considers good on board. I don't see a problem with doing things that other people suggest.

For example, if GiveWell determined that the Open Philanthropy Project were a waste of resources, do you think they would simply say, "Well Mr. Krieger, you shouldn't give us that money after all."

Do you object in principle to the idea of taking project specific outside funding?

That like saying a researcher who applies to some grant is biased because he has to please the person who give out the grant.

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