Summary of Key Points
Two major AI giants, OpenAI and Anthropic, are about to go public, which will create a new wave of wealthy individuals holding substantial equity shares and release potential charitable assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Charitable organizations have already begun their “battle for funds” by sending out massive amounts of emails, mixing in with tech communities, and including requirements in job postings to build relationships with AI employees. Due to the prevalence of “effective altruism” within the AI community—which focuses on issues that are large-scale, actionable, and often overlooked—niche charitable projects, such as reducing the painless death of shrimp during farming, may become targets for funding. However, there are many uncertainties surrounding this influx of money: whether the companies will go public on time, whether their valuations will remain stable, and whether the promised donations will be fulfilled.
1. Charitable Organizations Preparing to Target New AI Riches: Using Multiple Strategies
Even before the AI companies go public, charitable organizations have already identified potential donors:
- Massive Email Campaigns: Employees of OpenAI and Anthropic receive up to 20 fundraising emails per week, leaving headhunters in the shadows.
- Physical Presence in Tech Events: Charitable activists attend tech parties and dinners in San Francisco; for example, Ryan Carrier, founder of ForHumanity, aims to get familiar with future wealthy individuals by mingling at these events.
- Job Postings with Specific Requirements: Some educational non-profit organizations explicitly state in their job descriptions the need to establish connections with Anthropic employees to secure donations.
- Preparatory Expansion: Many organizations are hiring more fundraising and outreach staff, even training them in advance, in case the money arrives and they don’t have enough people to handle it.
In short, charitable organizations want to establish relationships with AI employees before they become wealthy, because when you’re rich and considering donating, the first person you think of might be someone who gave you a business card.
2. Hundreds of Billions of Dollars on the Way: The Potential for Huge Charitable Contributions
Why are charitable organizations so eager? The amount of money involved is simply staggering:
- Impressive Valuations: Both OpenAI and Anthropic have valuations in the tens of billions of dollars; their employees could become wealthy after the companies go public.
- Scale of Charitable Assets: According to Stripe’s head of philanthropy, the two companies could generate approximately $370 billion in charitable assets, which is 60% of the total U.S. annual charitable donations (in 2025, this amount was $617.2 billion).
- Special Mechanisms Encouraging Donations: OpenAI has a non-profit foundation that holds 26% of the company’s shares, and its assets increase as the company grows. Anthropic’s founder has pledged to donate 80% of his personal wealth, with employee contributions to equity matching at a ratio of 1:1 (up to 25%), effectively directing funds towards philanthropy.
If these donations materialize, it would be equivalent to adding four more Bill Gates to the charitable world (with Anthropic potentially generating an additional $15 billion in annual donations).
3. Niche Projects Gain Attention Due to Effective Altruism
The concept of “effective altruism” within the AI community has made niche charitable projects more appealing. These projects focus on issues that meet three criteria: being large-scale, having a positive impact, and being overlooked:
- Reducing Painful Death of Shrimp: Globally, 440 billion shrimp are killed by suffocation each year; the Shrimp Welfare Project uses electric shocks to render them unconscious before slaughter. With current annual funding of $3 million, they aim to raise $5-10 million to help 10 billion shrimp.
- Wildlife Conservation: The Wild Animal Initiative studies rodent behavior and frog health and aims to control island rodents to prevent bird extinction; they have already received five-figure donations from Anthropic employees.
- Predicted Growth in the Field: The annual funding for animal welfare in this area is currently only $300 million, but industry experts predict it could double or triple after the companies go public.
These projects were previously neglected, but AI-rich individuals see the potential to make a greater impact with each dollar donated.
4. Despite the Large Amount, There Are Many Uncertainties
Despite the potential for significant donations, there are many uncertainties:
- Uncertainty Around Public Offerings: Will the companies go public on time? Will their valuations drop? When will employees be able to cash in their shares?
- Low Donation Fulfillment Rates: Research by Bridgespan Group shows that American families with assets over $500 million donate only 1.2% annually; despite pledges, actual donations are much lower.
- Public Doubts: Many on social media believe AI-rich individuals will not be different, and the fulfillment rate of promised donations may be low.
However, charitable organizations are preparing for the influx of money: Coefficient Giving has suddenly doubled its annual donations this year (to $1 billion), anticipating an increase in future donations. Some organizations have even upgraded their financial systems and launched new projects to ensure they can handle the funds when they arrive.
Conclusion
The “money rain” from AI company public offerings is still pending, but the charitable community is already in combat readiness. Niche projects may see a surge in funding, but whether they actually receive it will depend on the outcome of the public offerings and the sincerity of donors. Just like those shrimp in the pond, their painless death might finally happen on the day the AI companies go public.