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Michael Scott

Member Profile: Michael Scott

The following profile is provided by Michael Scott, an American currently living in Germany. Michael believes in serving others, which was instilled in him by his mother. He is an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army.

Tell us about yourself, what keeps you busy, what makes you tick.

My work as an U.S. Army Infantry Platoon Leader in Amberg, Germany keeps me quite busy. When I do get a long weekend, I love exploring the world around me and challenging myself physically and mentally. My goals for 2023 are to summit Mont Blanc and to complete my first ultramarathon.

Tell us about your effective giving journey.

From a young age, I felt an inclination to serve others. I think my mother instilled in me an affinity for service. She displays persistent empathy and love for everyone around her. This desire to serve led me to join the Reserved Officer Training Corps out of high school and commit to serving four years in the U.S. Army. In college, I read 

at the recommendation of a friend, and I expanded how I defined service. Two years after graduating college and commissioning as an Infantry Lieutenant, I found myself well within the top 10% of wealthiest people in the world. I am extremely grateful for the good fortune life has brought me, and I find it incumbent upon myself to give 10% of my income to effective charities in order to truly lead a life of service.

Common sense! It should be common sense to spend money to save lives if that money is not likely to bring one more happiness.

Do you have any interesting stories related to your giving?

Before taking the Giving What We can Pledge myself, I raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation in college. My friend and I read 

around the same time during our sophomore year of college. We turned our newfound motivation to raise money for effective charities into action by convincing our social club to transform a few house parties into fundraisers. The social club, similar to a fraternity, paid for all of the alcohol and supplies, and we charged a small cover at the door of around $5 

 While we never raised a ton of money, I'm still proud that we raised $300-600 at a few fun events by simply throwing some absolutely raucous college parties - my personal favorite was the "I'm Dreaming of a White Claw Christmas" Party, where we raised $370 that night and prompted an alum to give another $250!

Do you have any examples of times where you decided to not spend money on something your peers would have?

I have been very tempted to unload a thousand dollars on flying back to the U.S. to see family and friends recently. Fortunately, I have been able to find a lot of joy from my new relationships here in Germany.

Do you try to effect change in any other way?

I look forward to effecting change by working in policy or government back home in the U.S. after I finish my service commitment with the Army.

What suggestions do you have for other people considering the pledge?

Do it! I promise that you will never regret saving lives!

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

Lead by example everyday. Giving to an effective charity does not provide an excuse to ignore the struggles and pain of those closest to you. Always lead with empathy and you might be surprised how many others follow suit in augmenting your effective giving! If individuals want to serve their community, family, or country, with the right guidance and leadership, they will grow to serve the world!

Grace Adams

February 2023 Newsletter

Hello and welcome to our February newsletter!

Earlier this month, we were shocked to hear about the devastation across Turkey and Syria caused by the earthquakes. Our hearts go out to our members in Turkey, and their communities. Although harrowing, hearing about and seeing pictures of disasters helps us empathise with the most challenging conditions people can face.

In the wake of this disaster, we published a blog from Stefan Shaw and Louise Kihlberg about 

what to consider when thinking about donating to disaster relief efforts

One thing that’s always on my mind after these highly publicised tragedies, are the ongoing tragedies occurring around the world, that aren’t receiving any media attention. The famine and 

 have received little news coverage. And the suffering from the “silent catastrophes” of 

With all of the suffering in the world, I am extremely grateful to be surrounded by a global community of people who are dedicated to effectively improving the lives of others. Your gifts have a meaningful impact on those you are helping, and are contributing to a more equal world. I hope giving makes you feel empowered to be a part of positive global change, as it does for me.

 to donate a portion of your income to highly effective charities today. Committing to a pledge was one of the most powerful things I’ve done.

We also published a great article from member Alana Horowitz-Friedman 

busting the myth that “the best charities are the ones with low overhead costs”

. This is an excellent piece to bring up with friends and family when discussing where to donate. Thanks, Alana for this well thought out article!

-Grace Adams & the rest of the Giving What We Can team

Family Empowerment Media (FEM) is an evidence-driven nonprofit committed to eliminating maternal deaths and other health burdens from unintended pregnancies. FEM produces and air radio-based social and behavioural change campaigns on family planning to empower women and men who want to delay or prevent pregnancy to consistently use contraception. 

Effective Giving Global Coordinator and Incubator

 to help us support the global effective giving community and the development of new effective giving initiatives. Applications close March 1st. 

Are you interested in volunteering to help us with marketing our events? We’re looking for an ongoing volunteer who can assist with promoting our upcoming events. 

We have decided to have a single meetup each month and alternate between Europe/Asia and Americas/Oceania each month. We invite you to connect with other members from around the world at these events. This month will be a social event getting to know other community members.

Our open forum is an event where you can come along with questions about effective giving and/or to meet others interested in effective giving. This event alternates between Europe/Asia and Americas/Oceania each month.

new post about how much solutions differ in effectiveness

, this is a great piece from Ben Todd, who found that some of Toby Ord’s original research that underpins the concept of effective giving holds up, and can be expanded to other areas. But Ben also points out that it might be most fair to say that the best charities are 10 times better than the median.

Do you know a lawyer who can do a small amount of work to help our Charity Elections program expand into new countries? 

Due to the changes in the rules surrounding Meta’s Giving Tuesday match, the project has officially been hibernated, which we communicated in this 

Charity Entrepreneurship has announced their 

top interventions in Large-Scale Global Health and Biosecurity

, which potential entrepreneurs can launch through the July-August 2023 

. The application deadline is March 12, 2023. Links for applications can be found 

 on February 20, 6PM UK Time, where Sam Hilton, Director of Research, will introduce the ideas and answer questions. Team members and incubatees will also be present at EAG Bay Area.

Animal Charity Evaluators is accepting applications for our 2023 Movement Grants! If you’re looking for funding to support your promising charity or initiative, 

Open Philanthropy is hiring for two exciting new roles

 - work with the Global Health & Wellbeing cause prioritization team to 

 potential new focus areas enabling Open Phil to prioritize across causes which informs their grantmaking. (Deadline February 26)

 - make grants to support the forecasting community, support Open Phil staff in commissioning external forecasts on specific questions of interest, and lead their 

Faunalytics has released our newest original report, 

Reforming Animal Agriculture Subsidies: A Guide for Advocates

. This report dives into animal agriculture subsidies and how advocates can reduce their harmful impact. Additionally, we have released a companion report, 

The Animal Agriculture Industry's Perspective On Advocates & Cage-Free Reforms

investment data analysis + survey results

 show that long-term investor appetite for alt proteins is strong despite challenging macroeconomic & market conditions slowing growth in 2022.

 and began offering cash incentives to caregivers in Kano State last month in order to encourage childhood vaccinations.

The Happier Lives Institute published a shallow cause exploration of 

, including some rough cost-effectiveness estimates for possible interventions.

 with Aga Khan University doctors which found that 40% of oil-based paints sampled from the market in Pakistan contained dangerous and illegal levels of lead, endangering the health of children. Some paint contained 1000 times the legal limit for lead.

The Council on Strategic Risks is excited to debut our inaugural class of our 

Fellowship for Reducing Nuclear Weapons Risks

. They had their first convening in late January and are meeting regularly ahead of an experiential learning trip sometime later this spring.

Support from our community has enabled TerraPraxis to launch its 

to help coal plant owners, investors, and policymakers evaluate the opportunity to decarbonize the global coal fleet – the single largest source of carbon emissions – with emission-free heat sources by 2050.

Have any feedback on our newsletter or communications? 

Why not streamline your giving by setting up a recurring donation to a highly effective charity today?

 with Giving What We Can and effective altruism.

Discuss effective giving and effective altruism on the 

Do you have questions about the pledge, Giving What We Can, or effective altruism in general? Check out our 

Stefan Shaw

Louise Kihlberg

The news of the latest earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria is devastating. In this post, we discuss how effective donations to disaster relief are and what to keep in mind if you want to donate to support the recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria.

Turkey and Syria earthquake: Effective donation advice

The news that is currently reaching us from Syria and Turkey is devastating. The number of victims is revised upwards almost every hour. As of this writing, there are already over 

. The images are even worse, such as the photos of rescuers recovering bleeding and distressed infants from the rubble. And perhaps worst of all, imagining people still lying beneath the ruins calling for help while their loved ones try to reach them with their bare hands.

With the pictures and the news, human suffering reaches us unfiltered. What is happening there is beyond imagination.

Many people worldwide want to help and are looking for ways to support the rescue work through donations.

Experience shows that acute disasters accompanied by heartbreaking images trigger a desire to help in many people. In countries around the world, this can lead to enormous amounts of donations.

However, a very high volume of donations triggered by an acute disaster can sometimes lead to individual organisations receiving more money 

The horrific earthquake in Haiti in 2010 is an example of this. The overwhelming global support response meant that billions of aid funds had to be spent in Haiti, even when there were no longer any meaningful uses for the money. These organisations are often legally obliged to use the donations for the purpose defined by the donor — 

even if it no longer brings the recipients value.

At the same time as events such as those currently occurring in Turkey and Syria, other “silent” catastrophes are taking place worldwide. Unlike earthquakes, they do not suddenly appear — they have always been there. They rarely feature in international reporting because the newsworthy angle is missing and there is a lack of powerful images that capture attention.

One of these silent catastrophes is the young children dying daily from preventable diseases. 

More than 1,300 children die every day from malaria alone

, which can be prevented by providing simple interventions like mosquito nets. These deaths are like an earthquake occurring every day. And because this suffering goes largely unnoticed by the world, donations in fields like this are low — even though 

the life of a child can be saved here with just a few thousand dollars

, and many more children can be saved from pain and suffering.

But you can also look at it differently: Precisely because the high infant mortality rate from malaria is not the subject of ongoing reporting and the amount of donations is low, an individual can achieve a great deal here with their donation.

This is why Giving What We Can continue to recommend their 

, even in light of current disasters. The brutal and heartbreaking truth is that we do not have enough resources to help everyone. We believe individuals are likely to do more good by donating to these ongoing “silent” catastrophes.

What to consider when deciding to donate to the crisis in Turkey and Syria

Understandably, we strongly desire to contribute to acute crises, even when it is not where the money could make the most significant difference.

If you choose to donate to the situation in Turkey and Syria, here are some general tips to ensure your money goes the furthest.

Support an organisation with skills and experience.

Before donating your money to a charity, you should research to ensure they are running a well-coordinated effort with a professional approach and experience. If you can’t find an independent third-party evaluation, consider donating to a charity with better evidence supporting its work.

Act with consideration instead of making a quick decision. Rather than donating to the organisations that reach you quickly through outreach, take the time to find organisations with a high level of competence and the most significant potential to make a difference with your contributions.

Make sure your contribution will be used where it is most needed — even if it is not for this specific crisis.

Crises that receive a lot of attention can lead to an abundance of charitable giving, which can mean that money is not the limiting factor in how much help can be given (instead there might be other operational factors). If you don’t earmark your gift for a specific disaster, the organisation can choose where your money can make the most significant difference. Experience shows that money is sometimes left unused (as in Haiti in 2010).

Ensure that your gift will be used effectively by reviewing how the organisation reports its efforts and results.

Added 15 Feb 2022: Our friends at EA Turkey have compiled a 

 that may be well placed to help during the current disaster. These organisations have not been looked into for their effectiveness but we are sharing this list as potential organisations to look into if you did want to support the recovery efforts.

Thank you to Stefan Shaw and Louise Kihlberg for authoring this post.

Stefan Shaw is the Founder and Head of Philanthropy at Effektiv Spenden.

Louise Kihlberg works with communications for Ge Effektivt in Sweden.

Jon Lumer

Jon Lumer, a former attorney who started Western Pine Realty in Vancouver Canada shared his story with effective giving with us and we wanted to share it. Jon and his wife signed the Giving What We Can Pledge in July of 2020. They've now donated over $50,000 to effective charities and advocate for effective giving through the business.

Member Story: Western Pine Realty


On August 29, 2016, I heard Will MacAskill on the Making Sense podcast. The notion that a person could in fact save another person's life with what seemed like a relatively small amount of money was a revelation. The idea that this created some sort of obligation to do 

 was also immediately persuasive. I read Doing Good Better shortly thereafter and this conviction was reinforced.


I sent $1,000 to the Against Malaria Foundation at the end of November that year. Certainly this was the biggest donation I had ever made in my life at the time. Feeling confident that the money would actually do something made all the difference.


In 2015 I had stopped practicing criminal defense law in Montreal, moved across Canada with my wife, and began working in residential real estate sales in Vancouver, British Columbia by the middle of 2016. It wasn't easy getting off the ground, but I could see that the people around me were often making astounding incomes. We were living a nice life off much less. If we made a lot more, would we need it all? Could we justify keeping it or did others need it more? The answer was fairly obvious after reading Will's book.


We tried to become regular givers. It felt empowering when we made a big donation. But the giving could be sporadic. My income, entirely made from sales commissions, was (and is) unpredictable. How much did we need to save for lean times? How should we systematize the giving? Nevertheless, a seed had been planted and we kept giving and increasing our donations. I also felt like an evangelist for effective giving now. I wanted friends to know about GiveWell and effective altruism. I wanted my clients to know.


In July of 2020 my wife and I signed the Giving What We Can pledge. We were ready to commit to giving at least 10% of our income to effective charities for the rest of our lives. We also started our own real estate brokerage shortly thereafter.


By the middle of 2021, we had decided to make all of our donations via the corporation. More and more, I liked the idea of our brand being tied to the effective altruism movement. This would keep us more accountable and hopefully would help spread a message as well.


I decided that even though we couldn't fully anticipate our costs throughout the year and where we would be at the end of the year, it made sense to make our donations as soon as commissions were received. I have found it much easier to give if I do it before I start to even think the money is mine.


We started to give clients the choice of who would receive the money connected with their transactions from a predetermined list of GiveWell's top charities and eventually a couple from Life You Can Save.


We celebrated these donations by giving out sweaters with one of our logos on them and taking photos. We shared these on social media.


By the end of 2022, we had given away $50,000 (Canadian) through the corporation to effective charities over 18 months. For us, this is major. We plan to keep up with this giving and hope we can increase the dollar figure and proportion of giving year over year. We also wanted to put an emphasis on transparency, so we made all of the receipts available to our clients as well.



We have offered clients a free copy of Doing Good Better with every transaction and a few have taken us up on it. One client took us up on an offer to match any additional donation they made to one of the charities up to an amount of $1,000. I'd say we have received a lot of positive feedback.

Blog

Member Profile: Michael Scott

February 2023 Newsletter

Turkey and Syria earthquake: Effective donation advice

Member Story: Western Pine Realty

Member Profile: Luke Furness

Aren’t the best charities those with the lowest overhead costs?

Member Story: Sam Voigt

Financial Independence to Philanthropy: Yield & Spread's Rebecca Herbst

Member Profile: Forrest Wells

Member Profile: Meera Bradley