The Opposite of Loneliness Fellowship: $5000 to "make a difference"

By Aaron Gertler 🔸 @ 2025-06-15T21:02 (+45)

Hi Forum,

If you're ages 15-25, you may want to apply for the Opposite of Loneliness Fellowship.

Quick notes:

The fellowship honors Marina Keegan, a writer who died at age 22 in 2012.
I'm not sure whether Marina was aware of EA by that name, but she wrote a play called "Utility Monster" with the following plot (which reads like a good-natured parody of EA):
- "The play tells the story of a group of teenagers who, upon learning that a mere five dollars can save an African child’s life, formulate a plan to steal artwork and donate the proceeds to Oxfam International."
Since global health was an issue Marina found compelling, it seems like applicants trying to do GHW-inspired work might be good candidates for the funding.
The preliminary application is 500 words and a two-minute video.
The deadline to apply was recently extended to July 25, which makes me think they may not be getting a ton of applicants (though I can't be sure how competitive it is).

Best of luck to anyone who applies!

Jeff Kaufman 🔸 @ 2025-06-16T12:29 (+16)

Thanks for sharing!

The play tells the story of a group of teenagers who, upon learning that a mere five dollars can save an African child’s life, formulate a plan to steal artwork and donate the proceeds to Oxfam International.

While I'm sure almost everyone here doesn't need to hear this, better to be explicit:

$5 is only about 0.1% of the cost to save a life via the best known global health and development charities
If you're looking to donate in this area GiveWell's recommendations are very likely better than Oxfam
Don't steal to donate proceeds to charity

Aaron Gertler 🔸 @ 2025-06-17T07:30 (+4)

All true! I'll add a note to the post.

Vasco Grilo🔸 @ 2025-06-18T12:09 (+2)

Thanks, Jeff.

If you're looking to donate in this area GiveWell's recommendations are very likely better than Oxfam

Giving What We Can (GWWC) may also be better than GiveWell's recommendations, and so may the Centre for Exploratory Altruism Research (CEARCH).

barkbellowroar @ 2025-06-18T15:16 (+1)

Love to see this! I read Marina's book senior year of high school and it was hauntingly beautiful. (Her essays were collected posthumous by family). Worth checking out!