How (not) to fundraise from Anthropic staff

As a longtime EA advisor writes in LessWrong, Anthropic and OpenAI approaching their IPOs could unleash thirty-seven billion dollars in philanthropic capital—but fundraisers pursuing AI lab employees with cold pitches are making a tactical error. Lab staff receive an average of twenty such pitches per week. The better approach: become what the advisor calls 'legibly excellent,' by demonstrating excellence through trusted evaluators like GiveWell and Coefficient Giving, and by developing credible, costed plans for scaling. Since the wealth won't likely materialize until mid-2027, after employees clear lockup periods, there's ample time to build genuine credibility. Donors who matter are far more likely to fund organizations that respect boundaries, show demonstrated excellence, and can thoughtfully absorb significant capital.

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