Welcome to your Onboarding!

EA ≠ EACH ≠ EACH Local Groups (EA Bern, EA Zurich, EA Geneva, EA Lausanne, ZAIA, APP)

EA (Effective Altruism): Effective Altruism is both a research field and a practical community that aims to identify the most effective ways to help others and put them into practice. Globally, it involves tens of thousands of individuals and hundreds of organizations working towards this mission. In addition to in-person conferences, there are countless online spaces like the EA Forum, Messenger groups and the Blogger and Podcast ecosystem. Many people dedicate their careers to these ideas, holding various roles across numerous organizations.

EACH (Effective Altruism Switzerland): EACH represents the Swiss branch of the global Effective Altruism movement. Its mission is to grow and strengthen the number and the network of people working to solve the world’s most pressing problems. EACH is a Swiss-registered NGO with two full-time employees (Marcel & Erik) and approximately 200 members who are interested in using their careers and financial resources to increase their positive impact.

EA Local Groups and Projects: These are city- or cause-specific volunteer-led groups that organize regular events to discuss EA ideas or focus on solving particular problems. In Switzerland there currently are EA Basel, EA Bern, EA Lausanne, EA Geneva, EA Zurich, The Zurich AI Alignment Group (ZAIA), The ETH Zürich Alt Protein Project, The EPFL Alt Protein Project, and Safe AI Lausanne. While these groups coordinate with EACH and interact with us regularly, they operate mostly independently.

Why is this distinction important? This onboarding process is specifically designed for individuals joining the Effective Altruism Switzerland (EACH) community, led by Marcel and Erik. The following rules and guidelines apply to this community and may differ from those of local EA groups or other EA communities worldwide. While we collaborate closely with these groups, this onboarding focuses on the unique aspects of EACH.

Venn diagram showing Global EA Movement, Local Groups, and EA Switzerland

Section 1:
Understanding the Distinction Between EA, EACH, and EA Local Groups

Section 2:
Our Community Guidelines

Taking Action on Reasoned Conclusions: The core unifying element of this movement is acting on sincere, well-reasoned conclusions about how to improve the world. It is perfectly acceptable to spend years within the EACH community learning, discussing ideas, exploring cause areas, and engaging with philosophical concepts. However, the ultimate goal is for you to act on your best reasoned conclusions. As Co-Directors, we (Marcel and Erik) prioritize our time on supporting those who are ready to take action, rather than those who primarily want to just discuss ideas.

Doing Good Is Not a Competition: Different people have varying capacities and willingness to dedicate their time, energy, and money to doing good, and that’s okay. We do good together. It’s wonderful if you work on solving Problem A while someone else focuses on Problem B. Collaboration and mutual support are key.

Doing Good in an "EA" Way Is Not a Moral Obligation: While we encourage and invite people to do good, we frame it as an opportunity, not a moral obligation. Our focus is on supporting those who want to make a positive impact, rather than convincing uninterested individuals to engage.

Not Aiming for Perfection – Striving for Balance: "Doing the most good" is a catchy slogan, but it’s not how we operate at EACH. We recognize that striving for perfection can be overly demanding and lead to burnout. Instead, we focus on "doing most of the good we can," aiming for high impact while acknowledging the importance of maintaining a healthy balance.

Intellectual Modesty: At EACH, we embrace intellectual modesty by acknowledging that there are countless aspects of the world we may not fully understand. We cultivate curiosity, express our beliefs with humility, and remain open to revising them as we encounter new information.

Fostering Healthy Discussions
At EACH, we value open, constructive, and respectful dialogue. To build a strong and collaborative community, we embrace the following principles for healthy discussions:

  • Focus on Ideas, Not Individuals: Critique ideas and actions constructively, avoiding personal attacks or assumptions about character.

  • Seek to Understand Before Responding: Approach disagreements with curiosity. Ask clarifying questions and aim to understand the other person’s perspective fully.

  • Keep Feedback Specific and Actionable: Provide clear, focused input on what can be improved or reconsidered, avoiding vague or generalized critiques.

  • Address Concerns Directly and Proactively: If conflicts arise, discuss them openly with the involved parties. When necessary, seek support from Marcel or Erik for resolution.

  • Collaborate Toward Shared Understanding
    Treat differing opinions as opportunities to learn and improve, working together toward the best possible conclusions.

Section 3:
What EACH Offers and What It Does Not

What EACH Offers
At EACH, we aim to create a supportive and inspiring community of people who sincerely want to make a difference in the world. In a world full of distractions, we provide the space, motivation, and resources to reflect on what “doing most of the good you can” looks like for you — and help you take meaningful steps toward that vision.

Here’s what we offer:

  • Updates and Connection

    • A Newsletter and LinkedIn account to keep you informed.

    • A WhatsApp and Slack community where members can discuss ideas, learn, and stay updated on opportunities and events.

  • Events and Programs

  • Personalized Support

    • 1-on-1 Guidance: Tailored advice for exploring career paths, connecting with relevant people, or identifying impactful opportunities.

What EACH Does Not Offer
While EACH provides tools, inspiration, and opportunities, the responsibility to act ultimately lies with you. We are here to support your journey, but your impact depends on your initiative and commitment.

What EACH does not do:

  • Define your priorities for you — you are responsible for reflecting on your values and deciding which global problems matter most to you.

  • Do the learning for you — engaging with books, podcasts, and key ideas requires your active effort.

  • Handle applications for internships, grants, or programs — you need to take the first steps.

  • Start or lead your personal projects — it’s up to you to turn ambition into action.

Section 4:
What We Measure – Real-World Change

At EACH, we focus on what truly makes a difference: real-world actions that lead to measurable change.

Real Change vs. Quick Gestures
Talking about big problems is easy—writing a social media post or sharing an article requires little effort and makes you look good. But these actions don’t address the root of the issue or create meaningful impact. Real change happens when someone takes committed, concrete action that requires time, energy, and dedication.

What Real Impact Does and Does not Look Like
For example:

  • Sharing an article about the benefits of plant-based diets is quick and costs little, but its effect is limited.

  • Becoming a politician and passing legislation to ban factory farming demands significant resources, courage, and persistence, but it creates substantial, lasting change.

The first offers moral signaling; the second drives tangible results.

What EACH Measures
At EACH, we measure these “hard actions”—real-world outcomes that demonstrate genuine dedication, such as:

  • Changing careers to tackle global challenges.

  • Donating a significant portion of your income to effective causes.

These actions go beyond good intentions; they prove a deep commitment to solving the world’s most pressing problems. That’s the kind of impact we aim to inspire, support, and measure.

Section 5:
Joining the EACH Community

Still interested in being part of our community? 😀 If yes, please fill out our quick survey and join our WhatsApp community! (You will find the link at the end of the survey.)

Why This Survey? We use this survey to:

  • Keep track of who is part of our community.

  • Measure our impact by understanding how your perspective and actions evolve over time.

Most of our community interaction currently happens on WhatsApp, but if you don’t use WhatsApp, no worries! You can also reach out to us via email, Signal, Telegram, or LinkedIn—we’d still love to have you join us.

We look forward to supporting you in doing most of the good you can!

Marcel & Erik