The effective altruism (EA) community is expanding, but coordination gaps persist due to unclear ownership of projects. A centralized, up-to-date resource identifying directly responsible individuals (DRIs) for key initiatives could reduce duplicated efforts, streamline collaboration, and help newcomers navigate the ecosystem.

How It Could Work

One approach would involve creating a lightweight, publicly accessible spreadsheet (later evolving into a wiki) with:

• Project names, descriptions, and relevant links
• Clear DRIs and their contact details
• Timestamps to track freshness

The tool could start small—compiled manually from public EA sources—then integrate with platforms like the EA Opportunities Board. Over time, features like automated update reminders or project management tool syncs could be added.

Why It Adds Value

Unlike existing resources, this would focus specifically on accountability by answering the question: "Who do I talk to about this?" For example:

• An EA researcher could quickly find the lead for a replication study
• A volunteer might identify the right contact for a local chapter initiative

By reducing coordination overhead, it could benefit DRIs (fewer repetitive inquiries), organizations (less duplicated work), and newcomers (clearer entry points).

Pathways to Implementation

A phased rollout could test key assumptions:

1. Pilot with a spreadsheet: Populate with 20-30 high-profile projects, share in EA forums, and monitor update frequency
2. Address privacy concerns: Offer alternatives like contact forms if DRIs hesitate to share emails
3. Scale sustainably: Partner with existing platforms to avoid fragmentation, potentially using volunteer maintainers

Funding might come from EA grants, as the tool’s value lies in community-wide efficiency gains rather than direct revenue.