GiveWell is a new organization designed to help donors evaluate charities. But one of its founders, Holden Karnofsky, was not transparent himself when promoting GiveWell in online forums.
Karnofsky has admitted to “astroturfing,” which in this case means he posted questions and comments not as himself but in a disguised itentity of an independent observer. He explained on the GiveWell blog that he was trying to add information about the organization without it seeming to be merely a plug for his own company, but he didn’t realize that that is taboo in the online community.
In addition, he is accused of “trashing” other charity evaluation services in order to promote his own. To some observers, that is the more serious offense:
Self-promotion, I don’t care much about that. That’s the way of the web. I am concerned that Holden posted negative comments about other charitable organizations. That’s playing dirty, which is bad in any field, but to be done by someone who is paying himself to review other charitable organizations is highly inappropriate.
- Comment posted on the Chronicle of Philanthropy blog
- Full story from the Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Chronology of events on MetaFilter’s wiki
- GiveWell blog: Statement from the Board of Directors
- 12/20: New York Times feature on Karnofsky and co-founder Elie Hassenfeld
Join the conversation: What do you think? Was the demotion appropriate, given the actions? Or was it just a lapse in judgment by a director who is passionate about his organization?
Posted by Crystal Colby 
St. Paul-based Northwest Area Foundation features some Iowa communities that are part of the foundation’s Horizons community leadership program in advance of tonight’s caucuses. 
