EA - The EAIF is discontinuing most university group funding by Max Daniel

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: The EAIF is discontinuing most university group funding, published by Max Daniel on August 19, 2022 on The Effective Altruism Forum. tl;dr: The EAIF is no longer accepting applications for EA university group funding, effective immediately. University group organizers can instead apply to Open Phil’s new University Organizer Fellowship (for paying for organizer time and/or group expenses), CEA’s Group Support Funding (for group expenses), and UGAP (for financial support and guidance for early stage groups). If we receive applications from uni groups who are no longer eligible for EAIF funding, we will let you know and direct you to a more appropriate funding source. Applicants therefore do not need to worry that an application will, without their knowledge, remain unprocessed for eligibility reasons. You can find all the funding sources that currently provide funding to EA groups and group organizers in this page on the EA Groups Resource Centre. We expect the Open Phil’s University Organizer Fellowship to have a similar evaluation process and turnaround time as the EAIF. We expect it will be different in that Open Phil’s bar for funding may be somewhat higher (currently ~68% acceptance rate at Open Phil, versus just under 85% acceptance rate for EAIF university groups). If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please let us know in the comments or email [email protected]. Outline: Application the EAIF is no longer accepting Applications the EAIF is still accepting Why we are making this change Information for current grantees For helpful comments we thank Catherine Low, Brian Tan, Asya Bergal, Eli Rose, Caleb Parikh, and Joan Gass. Applications the EAIF is no longer accepting We will stop accepting applications from university groups, as well as other, non-EA branded university groups, if they are eligible for Open Phil’s University Organizer Fellowship. For context, with their University Organizer Fellowship, Open Phil is interested in funding a wide range of university student groups – not just EA-branded groups. They are interested in funding groups focused on longtermism, existential risks, rationality, Slate Star Codex / Astral Codex Ten, forecasting, specific cause areas or career paths (including biosecurity, potential risks from advanced artificial intelligence, and transformative technology policy), or “others similar or related to the above.” Open Phil also continues to be interested in funding groups focused on effective altruism — including those with a neartermist focus. See more detail about this in their EA Forum post & AMA. For groups focused on animal welfare, we plan to refer their applications to the Animal Welfare Fund going forward. If you are still uncertain about where you should apply for funding, contact [email protected] and they can advise you about your funding options. Applications the EAIF is still accepting City and national groups are still welcome to apply to the EAIF. However, we recommend that those locations who are eligible for CEA’s Community Building Grants apply there first. The following types of university group-related projects will remain eligible for EAIF funding: Personal development grants For example, if someone wants to skill up in a certain cause area while studying at university, they are welcome to apply to the EAIF. Infrastructure support If someone needs funding for a laptop, certain software, or something else relating to infrastructure, they are welcome to apply to the EAIF. Intergroup projects Projects that span multiple university groups, e.g. retreats, programs, or residencies can still apply to the EAIF. The EAIF remains open for university groups that are not eligible for Open Phil’s University Organizer Fellowship. While we have not received any such applic...