Project summary

The Good Ancestors Project (GAP) is an influential Australian charity dedicated to crafting and implementing evidence-based policy proposals to shape a brighter, sustainable future. Over its inaugural year, GAP has achieved noteworthy successes, including the expansion of a $5 billion disaster readiness fund, pivotal reforms in charity law, and vigorous advocacy for stringent AI risk assessments within government circles.

Here is GAP’s website, which documents most of the work made public to date.

What are this project's goals and how can they be achieved?

GAP's mission revolves around:

1. Develop and promote clear, actionable policy proposals founded on empirical evidence.

2. Cultivate and leverage relationships with politicians and public servants for effective policy implementation.

3. Drive public support for these initiatives through media engagement and community activation.

How will this funding be used?

The requested funding will serve to:

1. Retain key talent, notably GAP's CEO Greg Sadler, whose expertise and relationships are instrumental to the charity's success.

2. Finance ongoing and upcoming campaigns, including the pivotal biosecurity campaign targeting a Royal Commission.

3. Facilitate essential operational activities like travel for campaigns.

4. Potentially hire researchers to craft further policy proposals.

Who is on the team and what's their track record on similar projects?

Leading the team is GAP’s CEO, Greg Sadler, a seasoned professional with 15 years in the Australian public service. He has notably served as the senior national security adviser to the Home Affairs Minister. Beyond his public service accolades, Greg is the Secretary of Effective Altruism Australia and holds board positions on several impact-focused charities.

Under his leadership, GAP has spearheaded three major campaigns in its inaugural year:

1. Successfully persuading government to expand a $5 billion disaster readiness fund to include catastrophic disasters.

2. Leveraging a relationship with the Charity Minister, Andrew Leigh MP, to drive reforms to charity law to allow charities to better work on X-risk and animal welfare.

3. Pressing government to take the risks of AI seriously, including in international forums and standards development bodies.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails? (premortem)

Inadequate resources hindering ongoing and future campaigns, and/or forcing Greg Sadler’s return to public service.

What other funding is this person or project getting?

GAP operates with an existing runway of approximately $400k AUD but requires additional funding of $80k USD. This amount is pivotal to sustain the project. Should GAP cease operations before June 30, 2024, the granted funds will be returned.