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Effective Ventures Foundation USA

EIN 47-1988398 · San Francisco, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EFFECTIVE ALTURISM IS A GROWING SOCIAL MOVEMENT FOUNDED IN THE DESIRE TO MAKE THE WORLD AS GOOD A PLACE AS IT CAN BE, THE USE OF EVIDENCE AND REASON TO FIND OUT HOW TO DO SO, AND THE AUDACITY TO ACTUALLY TRY.

Income
$23.7 million
Spending
$32.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
54
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$383,122, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $13.9 million spent. EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM FUNDS (EA FUNDS) AND GIVING WHAT WE CAN (GWWC) ARE THE MAJOR GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS OF THE ORGANIZATION. EA FUNDS FUNDS SMALL OR EARLY STAGE PROJECTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN EXTREME POVERTY, IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF NON-HUMAN ANIMALS, SUPPORTING THE EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM COMMUNITY AND IMPROVING THE LONG-TERM FUTURE. GWWC INSPIRES DONATIONS TO THE WORLD'S MOST EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR MAKING THOSE DONATIONS. WITH THE DONATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION MAKES GRANTS TO THE CHARITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES RECOMMENDED BY GWWC.
  2. $8.2 million spent. CENTRE FOR EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM SUPPORTS THE EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM COMMUNITY. IT NURTURES SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE HOW TO APPLY THE IDEAS OF EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM TO THEIR FUTURE CAREERS, RESEARCH, OR DONATIONS. THESE SPACES INCLUDE EVENTS SUCH AS THE EA GLOBAL CONFERENCE, LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND ONLINE SPACES SUCH AS THE EA FORUM.
  3. $1.9 million spent. IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN A PROGRAM TO (1) GROW THE EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A FREE SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO GATHER, NETWORK, AND LEARN ABOUT EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM, AND (2) PROVIDE A SPACE FOR UNIVERSITY AND NONPROFIT RESEARCH GROUPS FOCUSED ON LONG TERM RISKS TO HUMANITY (SUCH AS BIOSECURITY RISKS) TO MEET, WORK, AND ADVANCE CRITICAL IDEAS TO ADDRESS THESE RISKS.
  4. $6.0 million spent. 80,000 HOURS PROVIDES RESEARCH AND SUPPORT TO HELP PEOPLE ENTER CAREERS THAT EFFECTIVELY TACKLE THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS BY PROVIDING 1-ON-1 CAREER ADVISING, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING A BLOG, A PODCAST, AND A CURATED JOB BOARD OF HIGH-IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES. THE FORETHOUGHT FOUNDATION AIMS TO PROMOTE AND COMMUNICATE ACADEMIC AND NONACADEMIC WORK THAT ADDRESSES THE QUESTION OF HOW TO USE OUR SCARCE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE WORLD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. FORETHOUGHT SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS WORKING ON GLOBAL PRIORITIES RESEARCH, FURTHERS AND DEVELOPS EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM AND LONGTERMISM IDEAS, AND PROMOTES AND PRESENTS THE IDEAS OF EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM AND LONG-TERMISM IN SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA, IN PERSON, AND WITHIN ACADEMIA. THE CENTRE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF AI ("GOV AI") AIMS TO DEFINE AND MAP THE FIELD OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) GOVERNANCE AND ADDRESS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND NEGLECTED RESEARCH QUESTIONS. GOV AI FELLOWSHIPS AND PRIZES SUPPORT PROMISING EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS WORKING ON AI GOVERNANCE. GOV AI RUNS SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES TO CONNECT THE FIELD OF AI GOVERNANCE BETTER AND BUILD A THRIVING GLOBAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.