On Sunday @JamesBaker and I will be introducing the GiveWiser initiative with an open session at Limicon. Come along and find out more.
Register here (free) for zoom link: GiveWiser - a first introduction ¡ Zoom ¡ Luma 
Update 2025-03-31: we have a website at https://givewiser.org/
GiveWiser: An Experiment in Wise Giving
Before âeffective altruismâ had a name, a small group at Bridgewaterâinvestors by trainingâbegan asking: how do we give well? Their question catalyzed the development of GiveWell and, ultimately, contributed to effective altruism as a movement.
GiveWiser begins with a similar inquiryâbut oriented not toward giving well, but giving wisely. What does it mean to give in service of foundational, paradigmatic change? What principles might guide âwise givingâ in the face of complexity, uncertainty, and deep systemic entanglement?
We are launching a small-scale, exploratory experiment: a group of people giving money together in ways aligned with values such as inner growth, the cultivation of wisdom, interbeing, a reintegration of spirituality, and the emergence of economic forms beyond capitalism. The purpose is twofold:
- To contribute concretely to paradigm-shifting work, however modestly.
- To evolve our understanding of what wise giving isâthrough doing it.
We anticipate that principles of wise giving will diverge from the logic of metrics-driven, ROI-style philanthropy as well from pure empathetic giving. Instead, they may include:
- Giving in service of ontological, cultural, and civilizational transformation.
- Emphasizing relationality, process, and sense-making over quantifiable outcomes.
- Integrating reason, intuition, and discernment in how we choose where and how to give.
This is not about creating a new fund or institutionâat least not yet. Itâs about experimenting, reflecting, and learning together. Giving, here, becomes not only a means but a method of inquiry.