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Most people around the world pay 20–40% of their income in taxes to support government services. This obligatory and often large payment can feel like the end of our civic duties. However, paying taxes is not the same as giving to charity. You can have a much bigger impact by donating to effective charities.

The effects of foreign aid and international donations can feel distant and unknowable. However, a lot has been achieved through international charity, including the eradication of diseases and the lifting of billions out of extreme poverty.

A common criticism of giving aid to low-income countries is that the money gets siphoned off by corrupt local officials before it can do any good. Corruption can interfere with aid. However, by donating through reliable and effective charities, it is possible to make a big difference through charitable giving, even in areas where corruption is widespread.

From journalist to management consultant — that's an unusual path, and many of my friends certainly didn't expect it. Even I would have thought it impossible a few years ago. Now I have my first full calendar year as a consultant behind me and would like to share how I try to improve the world through my work.

Welcome to our March newsletter!

A persistent idea is that, if a problem is very large, one individual donor cannot make much of a difference. However, by using evidence and reason to ensure that their donations are effective, an individual donor absolutely can make a difference, even on large problems.

I give because I have seen enough suffering. I have many things I do not need, and I wish to share my luck with others if possible. I also understand  --- and this is something I learned at a young age through my family --- that much of the good in my life was made possible by others. My parents raised me and so many others worked very hard so that I could have food, medical care, education, clothing, goods, etc. Given this reality, I find it impossible to reconcile the difference between (a) my quality of life and (b) the quality of life of others, whose labor I benefit from. I became a teacher to try to give back, and I give for the same reason.

Income can vary dramatically between and within countries. Measures like GDP per capita, average income, median income, and Gini index are important to understand how best to allocate our resources to solve global poverty.

We all have the potential to do a substantial amount of good in the world. One way to do good is by donating to effective charities. This post covers some of the reasons why donating is so important: (i) charity helps people who need it, (ii) giving to charity promotes donors' wellbeing, and (iii) charity can help make the world a fairer place.

In this edition you can find our latest job opportunities, upcoming events, updates from our community, news about our top priority cause areas, and ways you can help advocate.