About GiveWiser

Before “effective altruism” had a name, a small group at Bridgewater—investors by training—began asking: how do we give well? Their question catalyzed the development of GiveWell and, ultimately, effective altruism as a movement.

GiveWiser begins with a similar inquiry— oriented not toward giving well, but giving wisely. What does it mean to give in service of foundational, paradigmatic change? What principles might guide “wise giving” 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:

1. To contribute concretely to paradigm-shifting work, however modestly.

2. To evolve our understanding of what wise giving is—through 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 institution—at least not yet. It's about experimenting, reflecting, and learning together. Giving, here, becomes not only a means but a method of inquiry.

GiveWiser is part of the Second Renaissance "Oasis" 🌴.

Initiators

GiveWiser initiative and the prototype GiveWiser circle was seeded by James Baker, Rufus Pollock, and Kevin Triplett.