Speculation Grants (Survival and Flourishing Fund)

Sections:

[Expedited grants outside of S-Process](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#expedited_grants_outside_of_sprocess) [How to request a Speculation Grant (application instructions)](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#how-to-request-a-speculation-grant-application-instructions) [How quickly are Speculation Grant requests evaluated?](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#how_quickly_are_speculation_grant_requests_evaluated) [But what is a Speculation Grant?](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#but_what_is_a_speculation_grant) [Who’s involved?](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#whos_involved) [How do SFF’s impact futures work, logistically?](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/speculation-grants#how-do-sffs-impact-futures-work-logistically)

_Last updated: February 28th, 2025_

## Expedited grants outside of S-Process

SFF Speculation Grants are expedited grants organized by SFF outside of our grant-recommendation process (the [S-Process](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/s-process)). "Speculators" are individuals with budgets to make these grants. Each Speculator's budget grows or increases with the settlement of budget adjustments that we call "impact futures" (explained further below). Currently, we have a total of ~40 Speculators, with a combined budget of approximately $20MM (up from $4MM initially). Our process and software infrastructure for funding these grants were co-designed by Andrew Critch and Oliver Habryka.

In order for an applicant to be guaranteed eligibility for consideration in an S-Process Grant Round, they must be awarded a Speculation Grant.

Here’s how it all works, in more detail:

### How to request a Speculation Grant (application instructions)

To request a Speculation Grant, complete and submit the [SFF Funding Rolling Application](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd447GiP5BkyvHAKrybC-4jRcmIH2kHH2n86o4ruJb1TSfmKQ/viewform?usp=dialog). Filling out this application submits a Speculation Grant Request for expedited funding as well as a request for consideration in the next S-Process Grant Round.

Submitting by the S-Process Grant Round deadline is required for Speculators to settle a Speculation Grant to you in the upcoming round, so your chances of receiving a Speculation Grant are improved by submitting early. See the [SFF announcements page](https://survivalandflourishing.fund/announcements) for grant round announcements and application information, including the deadline. You can still apply even if there is no currently open grant round.

### How quickly are Speculation Grant requests evaluated?

Each Speculator is individually free to reach out to you and make a Speculation Grant (though they are expected to notify the other Speculators of their decisions), and in principle such a grant could be made as quickly as one week after the grant request. However, there is no fixed timeframe within which a decision

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