Applications are open for EA Funds grants, which provide funding ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 for people, projects, non-profit organisations and institutions working on high-impact projects.
The funding programme is open to applications throughout the year, with no single application deadline.
EA Funds focuses its grantmaking on areas where it identifies large problems, opportunities to make progress and relatively limited existing investment.
About EA Funds
Effective Altruism Funds (EA Funds) is a funding platform operated by Effective Ventures. It provides grants to projects that aim to produce substantial positive impact, particularly in areas that the organisation considers important, solvable and relatively neglected.
The current funding areas include:
- Global health and development
- Animal welfare
- Transformative artificial intelligence
- Effective Altruism infrastructure
Funding can support individuals, projects, non-profits and institutions.
How Much Funding Is Available?
EA Funds states that its grants generally range from:
$1,000 to $500,000
The amount requested should correspond to the scale and needs of the proposed project.
Applicants should provide a clear explanation of what they want to accomplish, why the project is valuable and how the requested funding will be used.
The availability of funding does not mean every applicant will receive the maximum amount. Grants are assessed individually based on the fund and project involved.
What Types of Projects Does EA Funds Support?
Global Health and Development
This area focuses on improving the lives of people living in extreme poverty and supporting interventions that can produce significant benefits.
However, the current EA Funds page states that the Global Health and Development Fund is not currently accepting applications. Applicants interested in this area are directed toward GiveWell instead.
Animal Welfare
The Animal Welfare Fund supports work aimed at improving animal wellbeing.
The fund particularly considers opportunities involving relatively neglected geographic regions or animal groups, promising research into animal advocacy or animal welfare, and work that could make future efforts more effective.
EA Infrastructure
The EA Infrastructure Fund supports projects that improve the ability of people and organisations using effective altruism principles to access talent, capital and knowledge.
This can include infrastructure and community-building work that strengthens the wider field.
Transformative AI
The Transformative AI Fund supports work related to potential risks from advanced artificial intelligence and other global catastrophic risks.
It also supports work related to long-term societal outcomes and the long-term future.
Who Can Apply?
EA Funds states that it funds a broad range of applicants, including:
- Individuals
- Non-profit organisations
- Research institutions
- Academic projects
- Community-building projects
- Other organisations and projects working in relevant funding areas
You do not necessarily need to be a registered charity to receive funding. Eligibility and suitability depend on the particular fund and the proposed work.
What Makes a Project Suitable?
EA Funds looks for projects that can plausibly produce a substantial amount of positive impact.
The organisation says it focuses on areas where:
- There is a large problem to solve
- There is a reasonable understanding of how progress can be made
- The area is relatively under-invested
Applicants should therefore demonstrate more than a general desire to create social impact. A strong application should explain the specific problem being addressed, the proposed intervention, expected outcomes and why the project is a good use of additional funding.
What Can Funding Support?
The appropriate use of funds depends on the particular project and fund.
EA Funds has supported a range of work, including research, advocacy, community-building and other projects intended to address significant problems.
Applicants should explain their proposed budget and how the requested money will contribute to the project’s objectives.
The organisation also maintains a public grants database showing examples of projects it has previously funded.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through the EA Funds online application system.
Application form: Apply for EA Funds Funding
Applicants should provide information about their project, funding request, expected impact and relevant background.
EA Funds says the application can take less than one hour to complete, although applicants may need additional time to prepare supporting information for their proposal.
Is There an Application Deadline?
There is no fixed deadline.
EA Funds describes the programme as always open to applications, so applicants can submit funding requests throughout the year.
Key Details
Programme: EA Funds Grants
Funding: $1,000–$500,000
Eligible applicants: Individuals, projects, non-profits and institutions
Geographic scope: Global
Main areas: Animal welfare, EA infrastructure and transformative AI; global health and development funding is currently not accepting applications
Application fee: None stated
Deadline: Rolling / applications open year-round