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Rethink 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…

Rethink 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.