A research-focused think-and-do tank that conducts empirical research across animal welfare, global health and development, AI, and other cause areas to uncover high-impact, neglected opportunities for improving the lives of humans and animals.
A research-focused think-and-do tank that conducts empirical research across animal welfare, global health and development, AI, and other cause areas to uncover high-impact, neglected opportunities for improving the lives of humans and animals.
People– no linked people
Updated 04/02/26Funding Details
Updated 04/02/26- Annual Budget
- $7,500,000
- Current Runway
- -
- Funding Goal
- $9,300,000
- Funding Raised to Date
- -
Org Details
Updated 04/02/26Rethink Priorities (RP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think-and-do tank co-founded in 2018 by Marcus A. Davis and Peter Wildeford. Originally launched as a project of Rethink Charity, RP spun out as an independent organization in 2020 and has since grown from a two-person team into an international research organization with approximately 60 staff working remotely across 15 countries. RP conducts empirical research across four core departments. The Animal Welfare team investigates interventions affecting farmed and wild animals, including aquaculture, insects, and invertebrate sentience. The Global Health and Development team identifies neglected health problems and viable solutions, covering infectious diseases, maternal health, and climate-health intersections. The Worldview Investigations team addresses complex philosophical and empirical challenges to improve philanthropic decision-making, developing frameworks for cross-cause resource allocation and exploring questions around digital minds and moral patienthood. The Surveys and Data Analysis team conducts polls, experiments, and focus groups to inform policy decisions on topics ranging from AI regulation to effective altruism movement building. RP also runs a Special Projects program launched in 2022 that provides fiscal sponsorship and operational support to early-stage high-impact organizations. Notable sponsees have included Apollo Research, the Quantified Uncertainty Research Institute, and the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS). IAPS, which evolved from RP's AI Governance and Strategy team, is a nonpartisan think tank focused on AI policy research and is set to spin off as a fully independent entity in 2026. Peter Wildeford transitioned from Co-CEO of RP to focus on AI projects and serves as Chief Advisory Executive at IAPS. RP's leadership includes CEO Marcus A. Davis, President Kieran Greig, and COO Carolyn Footitt. The organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Major funders include Open Philanthropy, the Survival and Flourishing Fund, and individual donors. RP has received multiple grants from Open Philanthropy totaling millions of dollars across its research programs. The organization has produced hundreds of research outputs since its founding and serves a wide range of stakeholders including philanthropists, policymakers, researchers, journalists, and nonprofits. RP has been rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator with an overall score of 90%. In 2026, RP is expanding into AI strategy research, launching an AI Cognition Initiative, and establishing an Interdisciplinary Research Hub.
Theory of Change
Updated 04/02/26Rethink Priorities believes that rigorous, empirical research is essential for directing resources toward the most impactful interventions. Their theory of change operates through several pathways: by conducting independent and commissioned research across cause areas, they identify neglected, tractable opportunities for impact that would otherwise be overlooked. Their cross-cause prioritization work helps philanthropists and policymakers allocate resources more effectively by comparing interventions across different domains. Through their Special Projects program, they accelerate the launch and growth of new organizations working on high-impact problems. Their surveys and public opinion research informs AI governance and policy discussions by providing evidence about public attitudes. Across all these pathways, RP aims to improve decision-making in the effective altruism ecosystem and beyond, ultimately reducing suffering for humans and animals in the present while safeguarding the long-term future.
Grants Received
Updated 04/02/26Projects
Updated 04/02/26Discussion
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