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Luke Freeman

"I think that people unfamiliar with giving not only miss out on the positive impact that we can have on the lives of others, but also the positive impact on ourselves. There is a strong satisfaction in doing what you think is good!"

Member Profile: Pablo Ollier

Meet Pablo Ollier from Clermont-Ferrand, France. In January, he took 

 and committed to giving 10% of his future income to help improve the lives of others. He's a philosophy teacher and competitive chess player. (He noted that chess goes well with philosophy because "it's helpful to learn how to accept defeat.")

,’ the idea that we ought to give priority to helping those who are not sufficiently well off. This simple idea inspired him to give regularly to 

's universal basic income program in Kenya. The program directly helps those in need, but he is also motivated to donate because it is an 

"evidence-based study of the viability of basic income in general."

"I like the fact that those cash transfers are unconditional. The philosophical idea behind it is to try and break the link between work and property."

When it comes to his motivation for pledging, Ollier points to his utilitarian philosophical reasoning. He believes:

It is good to try to maximize utility (i.e. increase happiness and reduce suffering);

He can give 10% of his income to help those in extreme poverty and increase their happiness without it harming him (he added 

“it can even help me to avoid buying unhelpful things”

Thus, giving 10% of his income is a morally good thing to do.

Pablo found that pledging was helpful for psychological reasons: 

"The pledge helps set a clear standard of giving significantly and regularly."

 He adds that it helps to give at the precise time he receives his income. 

"Thus, I have the impression that it's just one more tax – a morally good one that helps redistribute wealth to those who need it most."

For Pablo, giving didn’t just seem morally right, but also easy. He jests: 

"Each month, I only need two things to fulfil my pledge: enough battery in the mouse of my computer and to accept the horrendous idea that I will never be able to buy a golden watch"

"The Giving What We Can Pledge helps me in giving efficiently and regularly. Together with 

, it is easy to make donations and track the progress of my pledge."

His desire to affect change in the world extends to his work as a philosophy teacher:

"I try to make my students familiar with the basic principles of ethics in general and utilitarianism in particular. With the help of the Ancient Greek philosophers, I try to transmit the 2,500-year-old idea that the pursuit of money may well not be such a brilliant goal in life."

He likes how giving empowers him to act on his ethics in the present. When looking to the future he looks forward to seeing 

"more and more unconditional basic income experiments"

. He anticipates that increasing automation will reduce the need for human labour, and 

"that is a good thing because work is only a means, never a purpose in itself."

Pablo ended with a reflection on how his relationship with money was completely changed when he read the 6th book of "

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

," by Diogenes Laërtius. The book shows how Crates of Thebes gave away all his money and went on to have a far more interesting life than the wealthy Alexander the Great. An inspiring read, and as a plus, 

" series which profiles a selection of the Giving What We Can community. The Giving What We Can is a community of people from all walks of life, with different perspectives and motivations for giving – all united by their desire to make a significant commitment to use their income to effectively helping others. Read more 

 to help inspire others to give more, and more effectively.

For more information about Giving What We Can we recommend you check out our 

To celebrate reaching 5,000 members we are organising a huge global hangout day (in person and online) on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of October, 2020. Here’s how it’s going to work...

5,000 Member Milestone Celebration Events

The Giving What We Can community is fast approaching 5,000 members who have committed to giving at least ten percent of their lifetime income to significantly helping others (plus ~500 members who have made other significant commitments).

To celebrate, our members have organised a series of local and global events (in person and online).

 For any in-person events please be aware of your local recommendations and restrictions for COVID safety. We ask that you only meet in-person if it is safe and reasonable to do so in your local area (and even then please take all available precautions by staying in small separated groups, wearing masks, staying outdoors etc). 

Read more about remaining safe during COVID

Online Meetups: 5th or 6th September, 2020

Join us on the 5th or 6th of September for one of our online meetups. Our special guests are Karolina Sarek and Lewis Bollard from the EA Animal Welfare Fund.

 10:30am BST / 11:30am CEST / 3pm IST / 5:30pm SGT / 7:30pm AEST

 aims to effectively improve the well-being of nonhuman animals, by making grants that focus on one or more of the following:

Relatively neglected geographic regions or groups of animals

Promising research into animal advocacy or animal well-being

Activities that could make it easier to help animals in the future

Lewis Bollard is the Program Officer responsible for Farm Animal Welfare at the Open Philanthropy Project and a Fund Manager at the EA Animal Welfare Fund.

Before joining the Open Philanthropy Project, he worked as Policy Advisor & International Liaison to the CEO at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Prior to that, he was a litigation fellow at HSUS, a law student, and an associate consultant at Bain & Company. He has a B.A. from Harvard University in Social Studies and a JD from Yale Law School.

Karolina is co-founder and Director of Research at Charity Entrepreneurship and a Fund Manager at the EA Animal Welfare Fund. She also serves as a board member and consultant for various EA nonprofits.

Before Charity Entrepreneurship, she co-founded an organization to improve the impact of nonprofits and social enterprises; worked on measurement and evaluation; and was a researcher for IBM and the Jagiellonian University (JU). At the age of 22, she became a university teaching fellow, lecturing at JU’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.

T-30: New members welcome event (30 minutes before event starts)

T+60: Official Close (main room remains open for people who want to chat)

Ozy Brennan

Visualizing Donations

When I donate money to charity, I try to visualize the effects of my donations.

It’s easy for donating money to not make you very happy. You write a check and you don’t get to see the consequences of your actions. It isn’t as viscerally rewarding as, say, talking to a friend who’s been through a bad time or helping someone move or setting up two people on a date– even though donating money can have a positive effect hundreds of times larger than those actions.

Therefore, when I make a donation, I try to make the consequences of my donation very very salient.

I’ve found several advantages to the practice of visualizing my donations. Most obviously, it increases my sense of life satisfaction and pride in my accomplishments and increases my motivation to donate in the future. However, I’ve also found that it aligns my system 1 better with my system 2 when I’m thinking about my values. “I consider saving a child’s life to be about as good as doubling that child’s income” is very abstract, and my intuition doesn’t have a lot to say about it. If I imagine a parent holding their alive child, and a person who can afford an iron roof and enough food, my intuition has very strong opinions about both of these situations. Through this method, I connect my donations with all parts of my brain, instead of just the ‘explicit verbal thinking’ part.

Some charities are easier than others to visualize. GiveDirectly is particularly easy to visualize, because of 

. I can scroll through GDLive and take credit for cash transfers up to 83% of the value of my donation (the rest goes to overhead). The life-saving GiveWell charities are also particularly easy to visualize: you can divide your donation by the cost per life saved and get an estimate of how many children you’ve saved.

Life-improving global poverty charities other than GiveDirectly, animal charities, and existential risk charities are harder to visualize. The GiveWell cost-effectiveness spreadsheet suggests that deworming is about 

, so if you donate to a deworming charity you can do the GiveDirectly Live thing but multiply your donation by ten.

Animal charities and existential risk charities are more difficult to motivate. I suggest studying what the charity you’re donating to does, coming up with some reasonable thing that your donation is buying, and then following the chain of how it winds up improving the world. For example, a ten thousand dollar donation to the Good Food Institute might pay for an eighth of the salary of a person specializing in outreach to startups, and they identify funding opportunities for cultured meat startups, and that makes it more likely that cultured meat is developed.

I think it’s important, when you visualize, to make sure that a larger donation gets you a more rewarding visualization. 

People do not in general do this on their own

. If your donations save five children’s lives, then you should make a particular effort to imagine five separate children that you saved and give yourself credit for each of them.

I haven’t explored this personally, but I’m interested in thinking about ways to bring the effects of my donations to mind more often. For example, I’ve considered making a collage of the benefits that come from my donations: a picture of a child for each child’s life saved, an iron roof for each GiveDirectly-cash-transfer-equivalent increase in consumption, a chicken for each donation equivalent to a year of veganism, a criminal for each person saved from the US justice system, a star for each appropriate unit decrease in the chance of human extinction, etc.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on how to make the effects of one’s donations more ‘real’, or other methods to increase warmfuzzies from donations and align warmfuzzies with effectiveness?

Image Copyright Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation from The Simpsons "And Maggie Makes Three"

"Purely by luck, I have had health, modest wealth, and opportunity, while many others don't."

Member Profile: Heather McLaughlin

This profile is part of the "People of Giving What We Can" series.

Tell us about yourself. What keeps you busy? What makes you tick?

I am a retired teacher. Because I still really enjoy it, I volunteer in several local primary schools, taking music groups (marimbas and percussion, recorders, choirs, ukulele playing). These days I swim for fitness in the sea and enjoy playing the violin and other instruments in various local groups.

I've always felt very fortunate to have been born when and where I was, and into a family that was interested in learning, traveling and meeting people from around the world.

Tell us about your effective giving journey.

When I first began working, I sponsored children through World Vision and PLAN International. I continued to do that for 30 years. In my last years of teaching, I supported Oxfam by firstly participating in and then organising large schools concerts which would raise around $25,000 each year. My personal donations were aimed at reducing poverty and improving health options.

In September 2012, I took the Giving When We Can pledge and have been supporting some of GiveWell’s top recommended charities, such as AMF, Evidence Action, and GiveDirectly.

I'm motivated to give because of the simple fact that purely by luck, I have had health, modest wealth, and opportunity, while many others don't.

Why did you take the Giving What We Can pledge?

Giving What We Can provides a clear way to structure my donations and keep track of what I do. I also really appreciate being part of a large worldwide group of people who share many of my concerns.

What are the issues in the world that you care most deeply about?

Poverty alleviation. Health and hunger amelioration. Contraception availability. I also care about climate change and the environment.

Against Malaria Foundation, Evidence Action, Give Directly, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Living Goods, Fred Hollows, Oxfam, UNICEF, UNHCR.

I noted 'until retirement' in the Pledge, but so far, 5 years after finishing paid work, I find I have been able to keep on giving. Many years I have managed 14% - so no, I guess I don't find it difficult to give.

Do you try to effect change in any other way?

I have run a 'Giving Game' (and hope to do more), given talks on Effective Altruism and microcredit, organised local fundraising concerts, and have been involved with lots of online activity (such as petitions).

Lending and re-lending each month through Kiva.org (microcredit) is another big part of my life, which complements for me actual donations through GWWC. Choosing $25 loans each day and connecting with others around the world through lender teams is a great pleasure: I am co-captain of 'Paying it Forward', and also the 40,000-member Atheist+ team. Stories and updates of borrowers give human faces to my personal 'doing good, better' activity."

It is also important to me to have my financial affairs doing good rather than harm in the world, e.g. superannuation in ethical funds (I'm very happy with 

What effective giving tips would you like to share?

I try to mention 'getting the best bang for your buck' if people start talking about donations. I then encourage anyone at all interested in the concept to consider donating to effective organisations. Sometimes I try to suggest pledging even 1% of income through Try Giving.

What suggestions do you have for other people considering The Pledge?

Just do it! Try whatever seems feasible to get into the habit.

I would love to get other older people involved in the concept of donating a specified percentage of income to effective organisations. I would love to meet others who have taken the Pledge. I would love to see a broad-based group of people committed to effective giving.

Have any books, documentaries, articles, or studies significantly changed the way you see giving?

Peter Singer: "The Life You Can Save" and "The Most Good You Can Do"

Muhammad Yunus: "A World of Three Zeros".

I also recommend the video by Hans Rosling "

" that shows the vast improvements which have been made.

Have you found anything to be helpful in talking to people about effective giving?

Having leaflets and support information on hand; telling positive stories that show THERE IS HOPE.

Are there any other concrete ways that Giving What We Can has helped you?

I have really appreciated articles by Julia Wise on her personal life and thoughts.

Julia Wise

Introducing Luke Freeman as Head of Giving What We Can!

Earlier this year, CEA began the process of searching for new leadership for Giving What We Can in order to add capacity and focus. I’m so pleased to say that Luke Freeman is coming on to lead Giving What We Can!

I’ve been honored to lead Giving What We Can since 2017, but I knew it deserved more time and attention than I could give it, even with help from others at CEA. I’m really glad to be able to pass GWWC into Luke’s capable hands, and excited to see how it will grow and develop. In particular, Luke will be working on transitioning GWWC back to operating more independently of CEA, while continuing to receive operational and financial support from CEA. I’ll be continuing my work on community health at CEA.

The first time I remember meeting Luke was when I was leading a workshop on “Making EA groups more welcoming” at EA Global. Most people were there to learn and absorb, but Luke stood out because he was sharing ideas based on what his home group (EA Sydney) was doing to better welcome new members. As I’ve seen him work on other projects over the last few years, I’ve seen that’s typical of him. He’s proactive, always looking for ways to improve things, and a deeply kind and friendly person.

Luke comes with a history of leadership for EA Australia and the EAGx Australia conference, as well as a rich work history in startups and digital marketing.

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming him warmly! Now over to Luke.

G’day from Sydney, Australia – I’m Luke Freeman, the new Head of Giving What We Can.

I am grateful to Julia, the CEA team, board, volunteers, and members who have all played significant roles in spreading the ideas of giving more, and giving more effectively.

Giving What We Can has been a meaningful part of my life since I took the pledge in 2016 (and engaged with the ideas even earlier), and I’m honoured to dedicate my next chapter to motivate people to give more, and more effectively. Effective giving is a way that many people can have an outsized impact. I also believe that creating a culture of effective giving expands our moral circle and increases the number of people taking tangible actions to effectively improve the world.

I grew up engaged with campaigns such as the 40 Hour Famine and Make Poverty History. In 2011, I discovered the charity evaluator 

, which led me to learn more about effective giving, effective altruism, and Giving What We Can. I’ve spent the last 15 years working in marketing and technology roles (most recently leading 

, a startup aiming to improve social science), and I have volunteered on projects like 

, and the Global Shapers Community. I once 

lived on a food budget of less than $2/day for a month

I’ll be meeting with the community, gathering feedback and ideas, and reviewing what’s been done to date. This will help me to put together a plan for growing the pledge and supporting current members.

Giving What We Can is a community endeavour. Our success is defined by taking action and being the change we want to see in the world.

In that light, here’s how can you help:

 to relevant influencers (e.g. podcasters, journalists, corporate social responsibility managers, highly effective charities)

 (Sunday 10:30am BST / 11:30am CEST / 3pm IST / 5:30pm SGT / 7:30pm AEST)

 (Saturday 4pm PDT / Saturday 7pm EDT / Sunday 9am AEST)

I’m so thankful to all of you who have made this community so special, and I look forward to continuing on this journey with you!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing 

Toby Ord's book released: "The Precipice"

, founder of Giving What We Can, has a new book out today! 

The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

. The audiobook, narrated by Toby, will be available on March 24.

Matthew van der Merwe, who helped with the book, writes:

You can buy it on Amazon now, or at theprecipice.com/purchase

You can download the opening chapters for free by signing up to the newsletter at 

Talk about it with your friends and family, or share quotes you like on social media

If you enjoy it, consider writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads

The Precipice is a landmark book that provides a new way of thinking about our time.



We live during the most important era of human history. In the twentieth century, we developed the means to destroy ourselves - without developing the moral framework to ensure we won't. This is the Precipice, and how we respond to it will be the most crucial decision of our time.



Oxford moral philosopher Toby Ord explores the risks to humanity's future, from the familiar man-made threats of climate change and nuclear war, to the potentially greater, more unfamiliar threats from engineered pandemics and advanced artificial intelligence. With clear and rigorous thinking, Ord calculates the various risk levels, and shows how our own time fits within the larger story of human history. Can we protect the legacy of the hundred billion who have come before us, and secure a future for the trillions who could follow? What can we do, in our present moment, to face the risks head on?



A major work that brings together the disciplines of physics, biology, earth and computer science, history, anthropology, statistics, international relations, political science and moral philosophy, The Precipice is a call for a new understanding of our age: a major reorientation in the way we see the world, our history, and the role we play in it.

Dominic Roser

Saving a life doesn't have to be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrance.

The drowning child on a Thursday evening

It happened on a mild summer evening. We were relaxing at the Marzili, Bern’s free swimming pool on the riverside. When I close my eyes, I can still see the boy’s eyes underwater — wide open.

Is he just playing and diving, or might he be drowning? I notice he is moving slowly. And he doesn’t emerge from the water to breathe! After some initial hesitation, I had no choice but to pull him out of the water. I shouted for help, and others took over. In retrospect, I am incredibly glad about my decision to take a closer look at the child. The boy was actually drowning – if I had waited longer, his short life might well be over now. To this day, I don’t know the boy’s name. I don't know who he is, where he comes from, or where he will be heading in life.

Extraordinary? Was the evening really extraordinary? After all, I am confronted with the same situation every evening. Every evening, countless children die whose names I do not know and whose lives I could save with very little effort. The costs of saving a life are 

 to be just a few thousand dollars – in the form of shifting some money from by bank account to one of the most effective charities. With a normal Swiss salary, I wouldn't even have to give up nice holidays, eating out, or a big place to live, and I could still give several children per year the opportunity to make something out of their lives rather than having to die. I could repeat the evening at the Marzili multiple times a year! Why not?