Pro-tip: You can split your donation across any combination of programs – in one transaction! Don't let the choice of where to donate stop you from taking the first step!
Making it easy
If you tried out high-impact giving above: how did it feel?
Think about what your donation will accomplish. Depending on where you donated, perhaps you will be protecting a child from a debilitating disease, or maybe you’ll be freeing chickens from the worst forms of suffering on factory farms. Possibly, you’ve chosen to fund crucial research into AI safety or pandemic prevention.
Whatever you’ve accomplished, ask yourself: is this something you care about? Is it something you’d like to do more regularly? If so, I recommend:
Set it and forget it: We lead busy lives – where we don’t often pause to think about our values, or the power we have to make a difference. Setting a recurring donation to a program (or programs) you care about is a great way to make sure you’re living your values, no matter how busy things get. Set it up.
Consider a giving pledge: How much do you donate regularly? If it’s 1% or more of your income, you’re already giving at the level of a Trial Pledge – so why not make it official? Explore pledges.
Even among people who care deeply about effectiveness, many want to keep supporting causes that have personal significance. Here’s one way to navigate this tension:
The 3-bucket approach
Think of your spending in three buckets: one for yourself and loved ones, one for causes you care about even if impact is uncertain, and one for the most effective charities you know. Many people find that this approach makes it easier for them to give with more impact because it still leaves room for other priorities – like supporting a friend’s GoFundMe or donating to an organisation you’ve personally benefited from.
Pro-tip: If you want to make 3-bucket style giving more impactful, try the Giving Multiplier tool. It lets you split a donation between a personal favorite charity and a highly effective one — then Giving Multiplier adds matching funds on top of your donation!
Taking the first step
However you choose to give, you’re part of something powerful — a growing movement of people who believe we can and should do more to help others.
If you haven’t already, take this moment to turn your good intentions into concrete, tangible action for a better world.
P.S. I hope you've enjoyed this intro series on the principles of effective giving. I'd love to know what you think. Reply to this email to let me know!
Stay tuned for our bonus round-up of awesome articles & videos you might enjoy, coming at you next week!
Where can I find a list of the best charities?
Our research team recommends the best opportunities for donors looking to maximise the impact of their next dollar.
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