To inspire those with the means to support effective charities, driving meaningful change and fostering a more equitable world.
We envision a world where chance no longer determines one's access to opportunity, dignity, or well-being. By inspiring those with the means to support effective charities, we aim to reduce inequalities rooted in the randomness of birth. Our vision is a society built on empathy and fairness, where individuals recognize their shared responsibility in fostering a more just and equitable world. Through collective action, informed giving, and impactful advocacy, we strive to create lasting change—ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they start in life, has a fair chance to thrive.
Original Position is inspired by the ideas of philosopher John Rawls. Rawls' thought experiment invites us to imagine ourselves behind a "veil of ignorance," where we do not know our future position in society—whether we will be wealthy or in need, privileged or marginalized. In this hypothetical "Original Position," the principles we would choose for society would inherently be fair, because none of us would risk disadvantaging ourselves if we did not know our own eventual circumstances.
This powerful idea underpins our mission. We use the concept of the "lottery of birth" to remind ourselves and others that our circumstances are largely shaped by luck. We did not choose where or how we were born, nor the opportunities afforded to us. Recognizing this truth inspires a greater sense of empathy and shared responsibility to help those less fortunate.
At Original Position, we encourage those with the means to contribute to effective charities—not just as an act of generosity, but as a commitment to fairness. Together, we work towards a world where the randomness of birth doesn’t dictate one’s access to opportunity and well-being, and where we all contribute to a more equitable society.
Original Position launched on Giving Tuesday, December 3rd 2024
Original Position currently achieves its mission through two arms, the Experience and the Fund.
The Original Position Experience is an immersive digital journey inspired by John Rawls' 'lottery of birth' thought experiment. It encourages participants to imagine themselves behind a 'veil of ignorance,' unaware of their own circumstances of birth, such as wealth, social status, or abilities. This powerful perspective generates empathy by helping people understand that their position in life is largely a matter of chance. The experience aims to inspire those with the means to pledge a portion of their income to effective charities, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and fairness.
By making the concept of effective giving personal and relatable, the Original Position Experience directly contributes to our overall mission of reducing inequality and promoting impactful philanthropy. It drives greater awareness, empathy, and action, helping build a world where opportunity and well-being are not determined by the randomness of birth, but by a commitment to fairness and collective support.
The Original Position Fund simplifies the "effective" part of your giving portfolio. With a single donation, you can support the most effective charities and maximize impact, much like an index fund for philanthropy.
When you donate to the OP Fund:
75% goes to the most effective charities, guided by leading charity evaluator Givewell. Your donation will support the charities that save or improve the most lives per dollar. Learn more about the top charities we support.
25% is allocated to growing and developing the Original Position Experience. Currently, we estimate that every $1 spent on the OP Experience generates over $35 in donations to effective charities. Original Position is a registered, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit, and by staying tech-first and low-overhead, we maximize the giving multiplier.
David Corfield is a serial social entrepreneur driven by a mission to create an equitable, fulfilled future for all. He previously co-founded LifeWork, a payment platform designed to counter wage theft from independent contractors, and The Small Business School Challenge, a hackathon series that helped small businesses adapt during the COVID pandemic while providing business students with meaningful remote learning opportunities. Most recently, David served as Executive Director of a platform focused on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of AI governance research.
David remains at the forefront of technological innovation, having delivered two TEDx talks and authored a book on the impact of technology on society. His superpower lies in applying technology to historically low-tech sectors to address some of society's most pressing challenges. Original Position is David's latest endeavor—an effort to tackle arguably the greatest global issue of all: inequality.
We are looking for inspired and inspiring people to join me on this project. We are particularly looking for those who have deep experience in storytelling, immersive experience design, marketing, data analytics, or nonprofit governance, but there are opportunities to contribute to the mission regardless of your experience or expertise.
If you want to join our community in fostering a more equitable world, you can:
Thank you for your support!