Link Menu Expand (external link) (LinkedIn) Copy Copied
When
Wed 07 Oct 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Facilitated By
  • Isaac Dugdale Collaborator
  • Greg Sadler Collaborator
RSVP
Let us know you're coming
Add to Calendar
Google Outlook iCal
Skills Developed
Evidence EvaluationProposal WritingProblem Framing
ModeWorkshop ThreadShared Prosperity

About this KNoT

Many worthwhile projects compete for limited funding. How do funders decide what to support, and how can you make a stronger case for your own initiative? Experts working in global poverty estimate that the most effective charities do around 100 times as much good per dollar as an average one. So how can you demonstrate the value of your social cause? In this interactive KNoT, you'll explore how evidence-first donors and grant makers compare projects and assess opportunities drawing on “effective altruism” frameworks. Through hands-on activities you'll apply these ideas to your own project, explore how it could grow at different funding levels, and practise pitching a compelling funding case. Whether you're working on a community initiative, social enterprise, research project, advocacy campaign, not-for-profit venture, or creating a business/product for social good, if your project needs donors or grants, you'll leave with practical tools to strengthen your project's impact and funding potential.

Preparation

Prepare for this KNoT by:

  1. Completing the following reading with a view to discuss, test the claims and raise your objections

    Reading 1, about 25 minutes. Toby Ord, "The Moral Imperative toward Cost-Effectiveness in Global Health", Center for Global Development, 2013.

    https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/research/the-moral-imperative-towards-cost-effectiveness

    Reading 2, about 5 minutes. Probably Good, "The ITN Framework: A Tool for Prioritising Global Problems".

    https://probablygood.org/core-concepts/itn-framework/

    Reading 3 (optional, about 1 minute) Probably Good, “Marginal Impact”

    https://probablygood.org/core-concepts/marginal-impact/



  2. Following the readings, consider: does this project need money that doesn't expect a return?

  3. Come with a project in mind to workshop during the KNoT - this can be the project you've been working on during the AATD SoCIETIE Initiative, a project you're involved / interested in, a project that is relevant to an organisation/initiative that you are working with.

  4. Develop and bring a first draft of the completion activity written exercise - this will help you get more out of the discussions and to have opportunity to get feedback to strengthen your submission.

What You’ll Learn

Learning outcomes:
  • Analyse the importance, feasibility, tractability and neglectedness of different approaches and options to addressing social challenges
  • Strengthen your ability to reason and communicate impact with consideration of evidence, outcomes and funder perspectives
  • Develop a scalable version of your project across different funding levels and identify what it would actually take to make a start
  • Create and practice a persuasive pitch for funding

Tips & Advice

We are pleased to be collaborating with Effective Altruism Australia and Good Ancestors to deliver this KNoT.

Effective Altruism Australia helps Australians find the most effective ways to use their money and time, through independent charity recommendations, community programs, one-to-one advisory calls, and an annual conference. Since 2016 Australians have given more than $30 million through EAA to charities with strong evidence behind them. It is an ACNC-registered charity with deductible gift recipient status.

Isaac Dugdale is the Community Programs Manager at Effective Altruism Australia. Isaac runs EAA's community programs: the six-week introductory course, one-to-one advisory calls, and support for local groups. He is also an ANU Alumni.

Good Ancestors is an Australian charity that supports Australia's leaders to be good ancestors to future generations of Australians. They do this by conducting policy and technical research and communicating key facts and evidence to policymakers and the public. They work to improve the long-term future of humanity by researching and advocating for policies and other actions that minimise catastrophic and existential risks, so we leave a positive future for others. Greg Sadler, CEO, Good Ancestors. He leads Good Ancestors' research agenda and is a spokesperson for Australians for AI Safety. Greg regularly briefs parliamentarians, ministerial advisers, and senior public servants on AI and other risks, and his research includes the Australia AI Policy White Paper 2025-2028 and AI Legislation Stress Test. Greg’s career in the public service includes in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Attorney-General's Department, Department of Home Affairs and Emergency Management Australia. Greg holds a BA/LLB(Hons) from ANU and majored in philosophy.

How to Complete This KNoT

Make a case for your project to receive $50,000.

Written exercise (~25min, 1page) considering:
  1. Who benefits from this project, and roughly how many of them are there?
  2. Who else is already working on this, and what happens if the project doesn't go ahead?
  3. What would $50,000 let this project do that it can't do now?
  4. What evidence would show whether it's working?

You reflection can also share:
    1. One thing from the readings you disagreed with, and why.
    2. How the reading and KNoT discussions have affected your thinking about / approach to giving and funding for social change.
    3. What your project would look like at the three funding levels.
    4. A question about your project that you couldn't answer on the day.
    5. What you'd change about the funding ask / your pitch before sending it.

    Submit your Completion Task here:

    Submit your completion task for this KNoT via the Qualtrics survey (ANU Login required). You have 10 calendar days after the KNoT to submit it.

    Writing your reflection

    Most completion tasks ask you to reflect on what you did. For prompts, sentence starters, and the five areas a strong reflection covers, see Writing Your Reflection. Your completed tasks come together at the end of the semester in the Completion Evidence.

    bars times search arrow-up