Open Philanthropy

At Open Philanthropy, we are pioneering a new frontier in philanthropic investment, driven by a commitment to maximizing positive impact through rigorous, data-driven analysis and a willingness to fund groundbreaking, and often unconventional, solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. Our innovative approach begins with a meticulous process of 'strategic cause selection', identifying areas where our resources can be most catalytic. We focus on problems that are large in scale, tragically neglected, and, most importantly, tractable, meaning we see a clear path to making significant progress. This has led us to concentrate our efforts in two principal domains: Global Health and Wellbeing, and Global Catastrophic Risks. Through this lens, we are not just donating, but strategically investing in a better future for all of humanity.

Our dedication to innovation extends to our grantmaking philosophy, which we term 'hits-based giving'. This strategy embraces calculated risks on ambitious projects with the potential for extraordinary, transformative outcomes. We actively seek out and support early-stage scientific research and high-risk, high-reward ventures that traditional funders might overlook. This has resulted in our early support for research that contributed to a Nobel Prize-winning breakthrough in computational protein design and significant investments in pandemic preparedness, the potential risks from advanced artificial intelligence, and the development of novel vaccines and therapies. By championing scientific advancement and technological breakthroughs, from funding the development of open-access vaccine adjuvants to supporting nucleic acid observatories for early pandemic detection, Open Philanthropy is actively shaping a more resilient and prosperous future. We are constantly exploring new frontiers, such as our Abundance and Growth Fund, to accelerate economic progress and technological innovation, ensuring that our impact is not only deep but also broad and enduring.