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by Alexander Deliyanni
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Hi everyone! I'm new to the EA Forum and the broader Effective Altruism community. I’ve been reading about different cause areas—like global health, AI safety, animal welfare, and longtermism—and I'm really inspired by the idea of doing the most good using evidence and reason.

As someone just starting out, I’m eager to contribute meaningfully but unsure where to focus my time and energy. So I’d love to hear:

What are some of the most impactful (and perhaps underrated) ways that newcomers can get involved in EA—either professionally, locally, or online?

I'm especially curious about:

  • Entry points for people still exploring their fit or cause prioritization
  • Lesser-known but important projects or organizations
  • Ways to build relevant skills or connections early on

I’d also appreciate any suggestions for resources, fellowships, or events (virtual or local) that helped you feel more engaged when you were starting out.

Thanks so much in advance—and looking forward to learning from all of you!

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Kestrel🔸

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Things to do:

If you're a research person, volunteer with ALLFED! https://allfed.info/join-us/join-allfeds-volunteer-team

Do a fundraising event for an effective charity. Bonus connections points if you get other EAs to join in!

Cross post EA-relevant things you find online to the EA Forum.

Take a trial GWWC pledge.

Ways to meet people:

In or near the UK? go to CEEALAR on holiday as a Patron!

Look up the EA Forum events section: there's loads of cool talks etc. on.

MichaelRipa

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If your circumstances allow, I think community building can be a really valuable (though sometimes intense )way to deepen your engagement and potentially have a high impact. I started co-running my university’s EA group about 8-9 months after first learning about the movement, and it led to a lot of positive downstream effects for my own growth (though it’s harder to assess the direct impact more broadly).

That said, I don’t think you need to take on a full organizing role to see the benefits. Even helping out with a one-off event or social can make a difference.

Rowan Clements 🔸

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Some suggestions off the top of my head:

  • Join a local group if there's one near you— or check out EA Anywhere if there isn't. Getting to know others in the community is a great way of encountering ideas/opportunities you wouldn't necessarily come across on your own.
  • Take a 🔹Trial Pledge or 🔸10% Pledge. Donating effectively is one of the most impactful things you can do at any stage of your EA journey!
  • Volunteer to help out with a high-impact project. The EA Opportunities Board lists a bunch of options (you can filter for volunteer roles). Volunteering does some good directly, and can be a great way to test your fit for different roles/cause areas. And it might lead to paid work in future
  • If it's feasible for you, attend an EAG/EAGx conference. I'm not sure how valuable repeat attendance is, but someone's first conference often supercharges their network of interests/opportunities/connections. (That was definitely the case for me!)
  • Find an EA friend/mentor you can chat to about the things you're learning and what to explore next. They don't necessarily have to be more experienced than you— just having someone to bounce ideas off helps
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