The effective altruism (EA) community currently has a knowledge access problem. Members in smaller or newer groups often miss out on mentorship opportunities that their counterparts in established hubs receive simply due to geographic or network disadvantages. This creates uneven learning curves and may stall potential impact. One way to address this could be by creating a structured system that connects less experienced members with willing experts across different EA focus areas.

How It Would Work

A simple directory could bridge this gap by listing vetted EA experts who are open to being contacted. Key features might include:

• Searchable profiles showing each expert's focus areas (global health, AI safety etc.)
• Clear contact preferences and availability windows
• Basic tracking of connection outcomes

For group organizers in smaller communities, this would mean being able to reliably connect their members with relevant expertise they couldn't access otherwise, without creating undue burden on either side.

Making It Sustainable

The system would need careful design to avoid expert burnout while still being useful:

• Experts could set their own limits on time commitments
• Quality could be maintained by starting with personally vetted participants
• Feedback mechanisms would help identify what types of connections provide the most value

An initial version could be as simple as a well-organized spreadsheet, only developing more complex tools if usage justifies it.

Comparison With Existing Options

Current platforms like EA Forum profiles or Slack groups serve different purposes - they're either too broad for targeted mentorship or too unstructured for reliable connections. This solution would fill the specific gap of creating deliberate, veted expert-newcomer matches for groups lacking local resources.

By focusing narrowly on this unmet need rather than trying to replace existing community platforms, such a directory could provide significant value relative to its simplicity.