Today is #GivingTuesday, which is a nice timeout from the compulsive consumerism of the holiday season (we spent at least a month’s salary this weekend, and are now devoutly practicing these nine ways of curing anxiety in an attempt at staving off panic attacks). Despite our best intentions today, however, donating money to charity can feel daunting—there are so many people and causes in need, and it’s hard to know where and how our contributions would be best spent. If we’re only able to give a small amount, knowing how a minimal contribution might do the most good is especially important. To help us in this endeavor, non-profit organization GiveWell.Org conducted in-depth research to “determine how much good a given program accomplishes (in terms of lives saved, lives improved, etc.) per dollar spent.” Here are a few of their most highly ranked charities.
Against Malaria Foundation: Malaria is one of the leading killers of children in Africa. Insecticide-treated nets prevent deaths and cost just $5.
Charities supporting deworming programs: Parasitic worm infections in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia impact the development and therefore long-term earning potential of children. These infections are inexpensive to treat. GiveWell has a list of charities that support deworming programs.
GiveDirectly.org: GiveDirectly empowers those living in poverty in Kenya and Uganda to spend the money donated on their behalf in the way they deem most critical.
For more information on these charities and other recommended organizations, visit GiveWell.Org. If you’re looking to support organizations closer to home, particularly in light of the current political climate, we like the NAACP, The Trevor Project, The American Civil Liberties Union, The Native American Rights Fund and The National Organization for Women, among others. If it’s animals/the planet you’re looking to rescue, we like The National Resources Defense Fund, Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society, EarthJustice, NextGen Climate Action and The Sierra Club.
