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Cause IQ - Center for Applied Rationality

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This Cause IQ page provides organizational and financial data on CFAR, a key institution in the rationalist and AI safety communities, useful for understanding the ecosystem supporting AI safety research and community-building efforts.

Metadata

Importance: 35/100homepagereference

Summary

Cause IQ profile of the Center for Applied Rationality (CFAR), a Berkeley-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that develops rationality training workshops and hosts AI safety-adjacent research infrastructure including LessWrong and the Alignment Forum. CFAR conducts literature reviews in psychology and cognitive science to develop practical decision-making tools, and has expanded into research facilities and retreats for AI safety researchers.

Key Points

  • CFAR is a Berkeley-based nonprofit (EIN 45-3100226) founded in 2011 with ~24 employees, running 4-day immersive rationality workshops and research programs.
  • The 'Lightcone Project' hosts LessWrong and the Alignment Forum, key platforms for sharing AI safety and rationality research.
  • Financial data shows $6.3M in revenues and $10.2M in expenses in 2024, with $23M in assets, partly from acquiring the Rose Garden Inn as a research center.
  • CFAR bridges rationality training and AI safety by training researchers in clearer thinking and hosting retreats focused on intelligence and alignment questions.
  • Grants made include support for Effective Ventures Foundation USA, connecting CFAR to the broader effective altruism ecosystem.

Cited by 1 page

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Center for Applied RationalityOrganization62.0

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1. [Directory](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/)
2. [California](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/california-state/)
3. [Berkeley](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/san-francisco-oakland-berkeley-ca-metro/)
4. Center for Applied Rationality (CFAR)

EIN 45-3100226

# Center for Applied Rationality (CFAR)

[Programs](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#programs)\|[Grantmaking](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#grantmaking)\|[Funding](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#funding)\|[Personnel](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#personnel)\|[Financials](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#financials)\|[Form 990s](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#form990s)\|[Peers](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-applied-rationality,453100226/#similar)

IRS 501(c) type

501(c)(3)

Num. employees

24

City

[Berkeley](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/san-francisco-oakland-berkeley-ca-metro/)

State

[California](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/california-state/)

Year formed

2011

Most recent tax filings

2024-12-01

NTEE code, primary

[H00: Medical Research: General](https://www.causeiq.com/directory/medical-research-organizations-list/)

Description

Perform literature reviews in psychology, cognitive science, and related fields, develop tools based on these reviews that help individuals and groups in a practical way with clear thinking and decision-making.

Total revenues

$6,329,582

2024

20202021202220232024$2m$6m$10m

Total expenses

$10,154,994

2024

20202021202220232024$1m$5m$9m

Total assets

$23,039,646

2024

20202021202220232024$0$20m

Num. employees

24

2024

20202021202220232024020

## Program areas at CFAR

Research activities (lightcone project): our research activities consist of theoretical and empirical investigations by staff, presented in internal colloquia, longitudinal studies, research reports, and more. Most of these occur under the "lightcone" project brand. We also host the online research forums, lesswrong and the alignment forum, where staff from cfar and other academic and research organisations share and discuss research progress via: technical reports, blog posts, and draft papers, in the fields of: psychology, computer science, economics, Rationality, and ai. Cfar operates a research Center and office which runs seminars and visitor programs for researchers from both the organisation and other groups, universities and institutes based in the area. In 2022 cfar acquired the rose garden inn property to expand its research Center operations. Cfar also runs research retreats for staff and invited guests, who spend sustained effort in this location over 1-2 weeks answering questions about e.g. The nature of intelligence.

Main workshops & research - c

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