ABOUT THE INCUBATION PROGRAM

Our two-month, cost-covered online course will take you from a basic familiarity with starting charities to being fully prepared to create and operate an effective organization. Management, fundraising, impact analysis: everything you need to know, taught by mentors with experience establishing multiple EA charities – including a GiveWell top charity.

STARTING EFFECTIVE CHARITIES IN 2021

In 2021 we plan to found new charities based on our 2020 Top Recommended Ideas and our ongoing research:​

WHY YOU SHOULD START A NEW CHARITY

~$200,000 to charities

Achieve an impact equivalent to about $200K/year in donations to effective charities

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Pursue a career that is highly encouraged by GiveWell and supported by the Open Philanthropy Project

BETTER INTERVENTIONS

Move resources toward more cost-effective, evidence-based interventions

Capacity building

Increase your future impact by gaining entrepreneurial experience directly from CE's mentors 
 Read more on why founding charities is high impact>>

HOW OUR INCUBATION PROGRAM WORKS

1. THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED IDEAS
Each year our research team spends thousands of hours researching potential charity ideas, building on large bodies of research by external organizations. Only the best interventions make it onto our list of top charity ideas.
2. INCUBATION PROGRAM
We choose participants with the greatest potential to start new, effective charities from our list. We provide them with two months of intensive training (including partner projects, evaluations, creating a funding proposal). The Incubation Program requires a full-time commitment; stipends will be provided to those in need.
3. LAUNCH!
Co-founders create funding proposals that are evaluated by CE’s board of directors and a network of funders. Successful teams are awarded seed funding, with grants ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. (In 2020, half of participants received seed funding from CE. The remaining half raised funds outside CE, received job offers within the CE network, or pursued other high-impact careers.) CE also provides the teams with operational support in handling legal hurdles during the first year. 

4. POST-LAUNCH MENTORSHIP

Taking part in the Incubation Program means tapping into a powerful worldwide network of mentors, funders, and skilled workers. CE also provides you with weekly one-on-one mentorship calls (up to 12 months after founding) and co-working space (if pandemic restrictions allow). ​

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

Master the fundamental principles of managing high-impact organizations, including: ​

COST-EFFECTIVENESS
ANALYSIS

MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION

FUNDRAISING

Strategic
​decision-making
Learn more relevant skills such as: 
  1. Financial planning, charity registration, forming a board
  2. Hiring, firing, how to deal with conflict, basics of self-care
  3. Communications: giving feedback, pitching ideas, public speaking, and more.
You’ll practice these skills in real-world partner projects. All information will also be presented in a handbook with ready-made templates.

FINISH THE PROGRAM WITH

CO-FOUNDER

Find your co-founder match through partner projects and multiple evaluations.​
​

PLAN & BUDGET

Prepare a budget and a strategic plan to kickstart your charity right after the program.

BRANDING

Create a website and funding proposal – all you need to promote your organization.
​
​All participants will be provided with a certificate of Incubation Program completion, as well as continued mentoring and career advice support.

OVERVIEW OF THE 2021 INCUBATION PROGRAM

First application round
15 December 2020 - 15 January 2021
Second application round
​March 2021
Deadline: April 22!
Pre-program
May 2021
Self-study of the Charity Entrepreneurship Handbook
Weekly 1-hour virtual meetup  – discuss the content, ask questions, and get to know potential co-founders
Test on pre-program content in early June
Program
28 June to 27 August 2021 
(virtual participation, offline meetups if the situation allows)

First six weeks

What you’ll do: Work with other participants on partner projects that will be evaluated and scored by CE team members.
Goal: Choosing a co-founder, building the basic blocks of a charity (e.g. cost-effectiveness analyses, geographic assessment, theory of change, budget, fundraising plan, …).
Benefit: Build cross-applicable skills for a range of high-impact careers.

LAST three weeks

​What you’ll do: Work with your co-founder on a funding project proposal and visual identification for your charity.
Goal: Creating a project proposal to compete for Charity Entrepreneurship seed funding of $25,000-$100,000
Post-program
Weekly mentorship calls
Access to the CE network
Office space in London at discount rates
Social events

Application Process

If you are dedicated to doing good, willing to follow the data, and have a strong interest in having a significant impact on the world – apply to the program. The base traits that make a good charity entrepreneur include grit, intelligence, resourcefulness, the ability to self-motivate, and risk tolerance. We accept candidates of all ages, from a wide range of backgrounds.
​
The application process comprises five stages:
WRITTEN
​APPLICATION
(~30 minutes)
TEST TASK 1​
(~2-3 hours)
RECORDED
INTERVIEW 
(~30 minutes)
​TEST TASK 2​
(~3-5 hours)
LIVE
​​INTERVIEW
(~1 hour)
You will fill out an application form and submit a resume.
​We will only be able to contact you if you qualify for the second round - Test Task 1.
You will be given two short test projects to be done in ~ two to three hours and delivered in five days.
In the interview, you will be asked general and situational questions relevant for founding charities. ​
You will submit a test project within five days, as well as references who can speak to your work ability. ​
This is a longer and deeper interview. Questions focus on dealing with evidence, cause selection, and EA background.
Our entire process typically takes less than 10 hours and ~1 month to complete. We actively try to make the questions asked helpful not only for assessing someone’s fit for CE, but also for the applicant to get a sense of their other options and pathways to impact.

Successful applicants will be informed whether they have been selected in February 2021 (first application round) or April 2021 (second application round). We expect to accept between ten and twenty attendees in 2021. We are only able to contact applicants who are moving forward to the second stage of the recruitment process. If we have not contacted you within two to four weeks of the application deadline, unfortunately you have not been accepted to the program (but you are free to apply to the next round).
Applications to the 2021 Incubation Program are now closed!
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Commitment to diversity and equal opportunities
​We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We especially encourage applications from self-identified women and people of color who are excited about contributing to our mission. Charity Entrepreneurship is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, or have any other related questions about applying, please contact us at [email protected]

FAQ

If you have any unanswered questions about the Incubation Program, check out our extensive Frequently Asked Questions section.
If you cannot find the answers to your questions on our website, you can contact us ->

 ce Guest Speakers have Included

Peter Singer
The Life You Can Save
​
Hannah-Polly Williams
International Rescue Committee
Nikita Patel
Fortify Health

​
Roy Head
Development Media International
Rob Mather
Against Malaria Foundation
​
Peter Hurford
Rethink Priorities
Bruce Friedrich
Good Food Institute
Hannah Wheatly
Acumen
Adina Rom
​Policy Analytics

​
Daniel Kestenholz
Centre on Long-Term Risk
David Coman-Hidy
​The Humane League
Aaron Hamlin
The Center for Election Science

HOW TO PREPARE

We encourage you to apply even if you are unsure whether you are a good fit. Since we only accept applicants who have a strong chance, with training, to start a high-impact charity, going through the application process will be the best indicator of possible fit.  If you have any doubts, we will be happy to answer your questions during the first interview round.
​
For most people, the highest impact time to start a charity is right now. By starting a charity earlier, you help more people more quickly. The effective altruism community has funding available, our incubation program is currently running strong, and there’s a network of skilled alumni and mentors who are eager to help. Experience is helpful but not necessary. We train people with doctorates and people with over a decade of experience alongside those with little to no work experience or formal education.
We also recommend checking out resources like our past blog content, videos, and reading list.

MEET THe PARTICIPANTS