Faunalytics is seeking a contractor to help us estimate how much time and money our work saves the animal protection movement—and what would happen in our absence.

As a capacity-building research organization, much of Faunalytics’ impact is indirect. This project will develop a rigorous, transparent approach to quantifying that impact, including resource savings, counterfactual outcomes, and cost-effectiveness framing for Effective Altruism–aligned audiences. We are looking for a contractor with strong quantitative and evaluation expertise who is comfortable working with uncertainty and translating complex impact into clear, credible estimates.

Organization Overview

Faunalytics is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower animal advocates with research, insights, and strategies that maximize their effectiveness to end animal suffering. Our work includes conducting original research, maintaining an extensive research library, and directly supporting advocates and organizations through data-driven guidance. While our programs support all areas of animal advocacy, our original research is primarily focused on farmed animal protection.

Because we are a capacity-building organization whose work is indirect, evaluating our impact presents unique challenges. We conduct a Community Survey, program/project specific surveys, and case studies to understand how advocates use our work, but we are now expanding our impact measurement efforts.

We are seeking an external expert to help us develop a framework for estimating the extent to which Faunalytics saves resources (e.g., time, money) for the animal protection movement and to rigorously model the counterfactual impact of our work.

Project Overview

The selected contractor will design and implement a methodology to estimate:

1. Resource Savings
   • Time saved by advocates and organizations using Faunalytics resources
   • Financial savings (e.g., avoided research costs, improved allocation of funds)
   • Efficiency gains in advocacy strategies
2. Counterfactual Impact
   • What would likely happen in the absence of Faunalytics
   • Where funding directed to Faunalytics would otherwise go
   • How advocates would make decisions without access to our research
3. Cost-Effectiveness Framing
   • Translate findings into cost-effectiveness estimates where possible
   • Provide outputs that are legible and credible to donors and Effective Altruism–aligned audiences
   • Clearly acknowledge and communicate uncertainty and limitations (we recognize that this type of analysis involves uncertainty and judgment – we are not seeking false precision, but rather a thoughtful, transparent, and decision-useful estimate that helps us and our stakeholders better understand our impact)

Scope of Work

The contractor will:

• Review existing Faunalytics impact measurement data
• Develop a methodological framework for estimating resource savings and counterfactual impact
• Identify and apply appropriate methods (e.g., modeling, assumptions, benchmarking, or quasi-experimental approaches)
• Conduct additional data collection if needed (e.g., targeted surveys, expert elicitation)
• Produce quantitative estimates with uncertainty ranges
• Clearly document assumptions, limitations, and ethical considerations
• Deliver a final report for Faunalytics’ leadership that can be shared with stakeholders

Desired Qualifications

We are looking for candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Cost-effectiveness analysis or economic evaluation (e.g., cost-benefit analysis)
• Impact evaluation, especially for nonprofits or research organizations
• Counterfactual modeling or causal inference
• Program evaluation or social science research methods
• Experience working with incomplete or indirect impact data

Strong candidates may have backgrounds in:

• Economics (especially applied economics)
• Data science or quantitative social science
• Public policy evaluation
• Nonprofit impact measurement

Key Skills

• Ability to translate complex, indirect impact into credible quantitative estimates
• Comfort working with uncertainty and making transparent assumptions
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Clear, accessible communication for non-technical audiences
• Thoughtfulness about ethical considerations in impact estimation

Deliverables

• Methodology document (including justification of approach)
• Quantitative estimates of:
  • Resource savings (time and/or money)
  • Counterfactual impact
• Clear explanation of assumptions and uncertainty
• Final report suitable for donor and public communication

Timeline

Proposals will be reviewed as they are submitted. Preferred start date is June 1st, but no later than July 15, with completion no later than November 2026.

Budget

While we do not have a firmly predetermined budget for this project, we are a small nonprofit with limited resources. Cost effectiveness and alignment with project scope will be key considerations. Proposals should provide a transparent, itemized budget and clearly outline the level of effort and deliverables associated with the proposed cost.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A brief proposal outlining your approach, estimated timeline, and budget
• Relevant past work or examples
• Your resume or CV
• Two professional references

Submit your proposal here.