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Mission
Two visionary organizations were merged into one joint philanthropic effort—the Open Philanthropy Project.
Give Well, a charity evaluator was founded in 2007 by Holden Karnofsky and Elie Hanson. Good Ventures, a foundation was co-founded by Cari Tuna and Dustin Moskovitz in 2011. In both cases, the founders were interested in donating to causes that would help humanity on a global scale. Because of their shared vision, the decision was made to join forces and the Open Philanthropy Project was born in 2014.
In 2017, the Project began to operate independently. The primary funders of the Open Philanthropy Project are Cari Tuna and Dustin Moskovitz.
The mission of the Open Philanthropy Project is to give effectively throughout the world, to create a foundation upon which the work they support can be replicated by others. Their vision is of a day “when every person’s needs are met and each of us is empowered to shape our own life.”
Supported Causes
The Open Philanthropy Project makes long-term investments in causes that are addressing systemic challenges in the world, such the financial, emotional and physical costs of Alzheimer’s disease, pursuing criminal justice reform, preventing pandemics etc.
The Project has set four basic focus areas, that are very broad, allowing for flexibility and freedom when considering grantees. They are:
- Global Health & Development
- U.S. Policy
- Scientific Research
- Global Catastrophic Risks
The New World Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Community-based organizations and social movements that aim to change the paradigm in their state or region receive priority consideration. The Foundation is especially concerned about collaborating with organizations and individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
The Foundation prefers to provide operating support rather than fund specific programs. This aligns with the Foundation’s focus on strengthening leaders and community-based organizations so they can create the initiatives needed in their communities. To this end, the Foundation provides multi-year operating grants that not only allow programmatic activities to flourish but create an environment for new leaders to emerge and succeed.
Projects
Within U.S. Policy, the Project is focused on macroeconomic stabilization, criminal justice reform, immigration policy, land use reform and farm animal welfare.
Within Scientific Research, the Project is focused on the science supporting biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, human health and wellbeing, transformative basic science, science policy and infrastructure, and scientific innovation: tools and techniques.
Within Global Catastrophic Risks, the Project is focused on potential risks from artificial intelligence and biosecurity and pandemic preparedness.
Specific focus areas within Global Health & Development are still being developed.
This is a short list of projects that were funded by the Open Philanthropy Project in 2018.
Alliance for Safety and Justice Action Fund. A general support grant was made to support the Fund’s efforts to pass criminal justice reform legislation and other policy reform initiatives.
University of Bern. A grant was made to support a pilot project at the University to bring the Switzerland cage-free systems to the U.S. The project includes installation of equipment and education for US egg producers and the USDA about management of a cage-free system.
Working Families Party. A special grant was provided to support the Working Families Party’s efforts to bring about criminal justice reform, particularly to recruit and elect representatives who will pursue legislative and regulatory reform.
Nuclear Threat Initiative. A three-year grant was made to support the work of the Initiative to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention and reduce the risks of biological threats across the globe.