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Lightcone Infrastructure

Lightcone Commons Grant Round

Funds cost-effective projects — nonprofit or for-profit — recommended by evaluators to a pool of major donors.

Between cyclesLightcone InfrastructureGlobal

Evaluation doesn't run off any published rubric — the platform explicitly leaves each evaluator free to build their own workflow, and instead of scoring against fixed criteria, evaluators each produce a personal funding-priority order ranking every project they cover from most to least cost-effective, and funders then choose which evaluators' judgment to defer to. Every application is screened as

Lightcone Commons channels money from a pool of major philanthropists — including Jaan Tallinn and Dustin Moskovitz — toward organizations, individuals and for-profits pursuing highly cost-effective work, with a strong tilt toward AI safety and existential-risk causes. Applicants don't need 501(c)3 status, and both US and international projects are eligible.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.-

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