Adam Steinberg
Bio
Participation4
Previous to my 15+ years as an international educator presenting chiefly English Language and Literature in Germany and Wales, I held a range of roles in editing, writing and project management, mostly in line with education and some in the philanthropic realm, in Chicago, Seattle and NYC. Highlights include serving as editor-in-chief an annual magazine for Earth Day Chicago, editing technical articles for Microsoft, and producing (product managing) award-winning children's educational software for Edmark. I also worked as a copywriter at a German high-tech industrial ad agency for some time.
I am now seeking to solidify a career shift into comms and/or development in EA or another impact space. This might include responsibilities in outreach, PR, movement building, education/training or curriculum development. I am interested in exploring ways to apply my strengths in communication and writing, editing, storytelling, planning, creative problem-solving, project coordination, relationship development and other areas, in a role collaborating with others to explain, explore and inspire solutions to today's problems.
I am currently communications lead (PT) for the Charity Elections program, a project supported by Giving What We Can, and (as of summer 2024) Donor Relations Coordinator at ALLFED, responsible also for fundraising systems. I continue to seek an additional part-time role, as both of these are PT. I am likely to return to the EU in 2025.
Current interests related to EA include deepening my understanding of various areas of EA including longtermism and cause prioritization, exploring and developing the stories we use to bring EA to a wider audience, and looking at current thinking around the application of EA approaches and ideas in educational contexts and the working world.
I'm also a sometime volunteer editor for various EA organizations and Kiva.org, served on the Comms Team for High Impact Professionals, have been occasional copyeditor for The Unjournal, and founded and advised several student green clubs. Outside all this, I'm an amateur songwriter (www.lyricist.net) with musical theatre cred in the form of a Tisch MFA and various readings in Chicago and NYC. highlight: An original poem of mine was read on NPR by the poetry editor of the New Yorker magazine. I've got one especially nice blog entry up for Giving What We Can. Meanwhile, writing and editing stuff can be glimpsed at www.adamedit.com. Thanks for reading!
How others can help me
Help me network as I continue to career change into the EA and general philanthropic realm, and advise on the best ways to apply my all-rounder skills to advance EA and other social and environmental causes. Note we are in the Philippines through summer, 2025, then plan to be back in Europe or the US; remote options are the best.
I also seek opportunities to discuss topics like: bringing EA into schools; EA and the arts; how to bring EA into the mainstream; and the stories and allegories that allow EA best to reach non-EA audiences. Finally, I hope you'll impart your insights into effective stewardship and fundraising.
How I can help others
For the moment, I can provide razor-sharp editing skills, similar versatility as a writer, and a drive to take on projects—especially collaboratively—that apply my abilities in an impactful way. I can advise on anything written, including resumes and important correspondence, and I have a decent graphical sense, as well. (Samples at www.adamedit.com.) I have experience with career counseling and writing coach as a secondary educator for 15 years. I also have some insights into major gifts work in nonprofits. And I love good conversations that challenge my priors, so hit me up for a meaningful chat any time about whatever interests you, although especially if you share some interests above. If anyone wants to create something theatrical or musical around EA, I'm your guy.
Posts 5
Comments20
FYI @André Kirschner I have a volunteer looking at translating into German now, though some parts have to wait until next school year's three presented charities are selected, which we hope will be by early June.
Hi, @André Kirschner. We are able to run the program in Germany, though it has not yet been translated into German. If you have thoughts about schools that might be interested, I might be able to dive into my contacts and find localization resources.
Would love to see a similar analysis for LinkedIn, for example. There are a decent list of groups, from 80K to GWWC, Founders Pledge to the project I work with, GWWC Charity Elections, that aim to target people as professionals, or in specific professions or professional contexts. It would be instructive to see what success EA has had engaging audiences through that platform, and how.
Great points! I appreciate your concern about the original ideas being aimed too much at the job title and not enough at the individual, and your thoughts on downside risks are also well taken. I like where you take these ideas from a marketing standpoint, as well.
I have been encouraged by recent developments like the appointment of a head of communications at CEA, and hope ideas like those in my entry above—and improvements upon them, much as you have offered—will be considered increasingly in the coming months.
Stories are powerful things. I know it is just anecdotal, but I would wager The Lorax and possibly other books (The Giving Tree comes to mind in this moment) boosted my interest in environmental protection. Though it may be I was already tending in that direction as a child and they just fit my sensibilities. I mean, I was also reading Konrad Lorenz pretty young...
Heya, Rick. To what extent would you say that the donor landscape of EA-associated individuals requires a different approach, from a fundraising perspective, to those outside EA? What tips might you have for an organization aiming to diversify outside the bubble?
And, frankly, the bullet-pointed questions in the lead-in are all of interest, especially (for me) common mistakes made by EA organizers, working with existing funders to find new ones, and the Beatles, of course. Whatever you have bandwidth for based on other questions. Many thanks!