Grace Adams

Watch Rutger Bregman discuss “moral ambition” on The Daily Show and explore how his ideas connect with effective giving, meaningful work, and the 10% Pledge.

May news: Inspiration from Rutger Bregman on The Daily Show

This month, I wanted to share a fantastic segment from 

 featuring 10% Pledger — and bestselling author and historian — 

Rutger Bregman - “Moral Ambition” | The Daily Show

Rutger has a way of sparking real self-reflection, both individually and societally. In this segment, he talks about why he wrote his new book, 

, a new program designed to help people use their time and resources to work on solving the world’s biggest problems.

He defines “moral ambition” like this:

"It’s the idealism of an activist on the one hand, and the ambition of an entrepreneur. It’s the desire to stand on the right side of history before it is fashionable, and to really devote your career, your precious time on this earth, to make this world a much better place.” - Rutger Bregman on The Daily Show

Rutger shares that around 25% of people in the modern workforce think that their own job is socially meaningless. He wants to change that with his book, the proceeds of which will be poured into 

 to help interested people translate their idealism into real, ambitious action.

Personally, I found the book to be a fantastic read, and I plan to gift it to many people in my life.

We’re also thrilled that The School for Moral Ambition shares our commitment to effective giving as one of the many morally ambitious paths people can take. In fact, it even invites people to take the 

🎥 If you haven’t yet seen Rutger’s thoughts on the Pledge, I’d encourage you to check out this short clip:

How the 10% Pledge changed Rutger Bregman's life

Here are some of our favourite responses from people who took a pledge last m

What motivated you to take a pledge with Giving What We Can?

 blogs, announcements, & news from Giving What We Can

” video picking up over 100k organic views on Instagram!

We published a blog post aimed at reaching new audiences with the ideas of effective giving: 

How to stop buying things you don’t need

Our pledge booth at the EAGx Utrecht conference resulted in a 40% increase in the number of attendees who had an active giving pledge, with a total of 33 people deciding to take a pledge at the conference! (11 new 10% Pledges and 22 new Trial pledges!)

” option where people who are considering pledging can connect with a vetted pledger to ask questions, talk through concerns, or just get to know each other! Choose from a directory or opt to be matched based on your interests and background.

Highlights from our community & the wider effective giving ecosystem

An Australian family who has chosen to give away 25% of their income published some inspiring blogs about why and how they give so much:

10% Pledger Holly Elmore co-authored a call to action for Americans on AI risk, since the newest budget reconciliation bill includes a 10-year ban on states passing AI regulation. The post urges Americans concerned about AI risk to 

call their Senators and ask them to oppose the provision

 is hiring a dynamic Country Director to grow AMF Korea into a leading force in domestic philanthropy. 

 by May 31st. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

hiring a Chief of Staff to support the Program Director

. This person will work with the Program Director across various projects, drive critical initiatives, and enhance operational excellence. The application deadline is June 1st!

Program Associates and Senior Program Associates

to support its work by researching grant opportunities, supporting new initiatives, and building relationships in the field. Apply by June 8 for full consideration.

Highlights from the high-impact programs we list on our platform along with evaluators & grantmakers in the effective giving space 

 to end its use of fast-growing chicken breeds, which face severe health & welfare issues. On May 17th, Chris Packham joined THL UK protestors at the Co-op Annual General Meeting, where the motion they submitted to end the use of Frankenchickens 

passed with 90% of members voting in favour

. However, the Co-op ignored a similar motion passed two years ago, raising concerns about whether it will listen to the wishes of its members.

THL UK released a fabulous video covering the protest. Watch it here: 

Can Chris Packham get the Co-op board to listen?

2024 State of Alternative Proteins series

 is live! The series features cutting-edge insights across science, policy, and industry—including new reports, market data, and global snapshots to inform and empower the alt protein movement.

GFI Europe joined the UK House of Commons launch of 

, a new policy pathway co-authored with Green Alliance and the Food Foundation. The roadmap offers practical steps for the UK government to boost uptake of plant-rich diets.

, which includes info about its 2024 grant recipients, the research it published, a case study in cost-effectiveness, and much more!

 capturing a day of immunisations at a clinic in Kebbi, Nigeria. The blog highlights the triumphs and challenges faced by clinic staff and caregivers alike.

A post about how severe flooding can make it difficult to distribute preventative medication to protect children from malaria, and Malaria Consortium’s response to this challenge. Read: 

Reaching the hardest to reach: Maintaining seasonal malaria chemoprevention in flood-affected areas

A summary of key learnings from the SMC Alliance Annual Meeting, in light of the newly-released 

Advancing seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Key learnings from the SMC Alliance Annual Meeting

, arguing for the benefits of cash transfers on maternal & child health. You can also read the op-ed on 

The newest budget reconciliation bill on its way to the US Senate includes a 10-year ban on states passing AI regulation. Holly Elmore and Felix De Simone published a forum post urging Americans to 

 convened (with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) a forum for life science research funders to discuss and share perspectives on how best to integrate safety and security considerations into life science research funding decisions. The forum aims to “equip funders with tools, strategies, and resources to foster responsible innovation while protecting public health and security.” 

is considering funding programs that increase access to modern contraception in low- and middle-income countries and published a page outlining its current approach to 

evaluating the cost-effectiveness of contraception

recently released two new episodes in its ongoing 

: GiveWell CEO and co-founder Elie Hassenfeld speak with Program Officer Dan Brown about recent grants to create technical support units in six African countries that are navigating substantial funding gaps due to cuts in US government aid.

: Elie is joined by Director of Research Teryn Mattox to discuss the current challenges of making grants while long-term funding is uncertain.

 to the podcast for the latest updates, or 

 from the podcast episodes on the GiveWell blog.

, which shares: “In 2024, Giving Green’s research and recommendations influenced $17.0 million to high-impact climate nonprofits — our strongest year yet.”

Announced $880K in strategic response grants

 — a proactive effort to meet urgent climate needs under a rapidly shifting U.S. political landscape.

 is seeking people with technical and entrepreneurial backgrounds who want to launch a high growth, impactful company for the next cohort of the 

 program. Learn more about the program and apply 

Launched a substack focused on delivering strategic insights on animal welfare in an accessible format! Check out the 

 of the EU political landscape and its implications for advancing farmed animal welfare policy.

An uplifting story we didn't want you to miss: 

Bill Gates has announced he's giving away "virtually all" of his wealth over the next twenty years. He's also calling on other wealthy individuals to follow suit:

"I hope other wealthy people consider how much they can accelerate progress for the world’s poorest if they increased the pace and scale of their giving, because it is such a profoundly impactful way to give back to society."

Of course, at Giving What We Can, we don't think it has to be ONLY the wealthy who can impact lives. But we're very happy to see Gates calling out how much can be done through the power of giving. Read his post 

 about how New Incentives' mobile teams are helping reach children who might not otherwise be able to get vaccinated. Check out the post to see more about what their work is like on the ground!

 and stay connected with us for more news and updates.

If you’ve got questions about what it’s like to give more, and how a pledge might fit into your life, you can now sign up to speak to someone who has taken a pledge themselves — it’s a 30-minute, no-pressure conversation, and you can ask anything you’d like!

Do you have any feedback on our newsletter or communications? 

 with Giving What We Can and effective giving.

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

From malaria nets to AI governance, see what's shaping our shared future.

April news: Big risks, small bites. AI, World Malaria Day, & more 

We often focus on problems we know how to solve — like distributing malaria nets or increasing vaccination coverage. But some of the most pressing risks to humanity’s future are harder to see, harder to solve, and even harder to talk about.


One of those risks is the unchecked development of advanced artificial intelligence.

, released a scenario for how AI development could progress in the next two years. Experts believe that as powerful AI systems grow more capable, so do the risks of misuse, accidents, or even losing control of the very tools we’ve built.

It can feel distant or speculative — but many experts believe we’re at a pivotal moment. Decisions made now could shape the trajectory of this technology for generations to come.

That’s why we believe AI safety and governance is a cause area worth considering. Donating is far from the only way to support this cause area — direct work & lobbying are pretty important here — but donors can help fund research & advocacy initiatives. Here are some programs impact-focused donors may be interested in supporting that are working to address AI risk — either as a sole area of focus, or as part of a broader set of projects to address global catastrophic ris

You can also donate to GWWC's Risks & Resilience Fund, which currently splits donations among our two recommended programs: the Emerging Challenges Fund & the Long-Term Future Fund.

sn't to minimise the current funding crisis for global health programs. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention World Malaria Day, which is tomorrow (25th April). Funding for malaria prevention programs has been affected by the recent aid cuts, meaning that support from individual donors is more important than ever. Currently, around 600,000 people die of malaria each year, a number that will almost definitely rise without additional funding.

That said, I also believe challenges like those posed from rapidly approaching advanced AI (and little advanced governance to accompany it) have the potential to shape the future of everyone on the planet, including those living in extreme poverty and the animals that inhabit earth with us.

Read on for more updates, events, and opportunities to support impactful work — from AI to global health, animal welfare, and beyond.

 in order to focus more on our broader mission.

fabulous blog from 10% Pledger Eric Arellano about the challenge – and necessity – of balancing impact with personal goals

Saloni Dattani, global health researcher at Our World In Data, writes about how foreign aid cuts in both the US and the UK propelled her to take the 10% Pledge this month, and how she’s changed her views on the importance & power of individual philanthropy. She urges governments & other individuals to step up too. Read “

We don’t have to sit back and just watch the horror unfold

Philanthropically-minded people interested in Financial Independence (FI) may find 

Yield & Spread’s new “FI Purpose Planner”

 useful: it’s a free tool that allows you to map out various life scenarios (like increasing your donations or taking an income pledge!) & see how they’ll impact your FI timelines.

Ever feel like donating is just a drop in a very large bucket? Check out Trial Pledger 

Rory Fenton’s crystallation of this sentiment – and his reframing

 work on early detection of novel pathogens.

Luke Freeman, former CEO of Giving What We Can, published a call for Australians to take some easy advocacy actions for AI safety, including 

 and contacting your local candidates to ask for their positions. 

Read more about the AI Safety election campaign initiative here, and see more ways you can help.

If you are running a similar campaign in another country, The Good Ancestors team would be happy to share their signature/scorecard platform and lessons learned.

Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) is hiring for a Development Director. The Development Director is accountable for securing the financial support needed to run ACE, as well as increasing funds for the effective animal advocacy movement to optimally advance ACE’s theory of change. 

 for the Global Health & Wellbeing Partnerships team to help direct more funding to high-impact, evidence-backed giving. 

Apply by April 27 for the Strategy Fellow role and by April 25 for the Partnerships Associate role!

to support efforts to identify the most promising grantmaking opportunities to help animals confined on factory farms by facilitating the day-to-day operations of the team’s work. 

Effektiv Spenden is looking for a Country Manager in Switzerland. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the position is expected to be filled by mid-2025 at the latest. 

. Highlighted grants include advocacy work on applying local animal welfare standards to imports; cage-free initiatives in Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa; and a research & pilot program on humane chill-killing at Indian shrimp farms to inform global certification standards.

 shared some exciting animal welfare news: on 2nd April, Domino’s Pizza chain

 announced plans to commit to the Better Chicken Commitment

 (BCC), a decision that will positively impact the lives of approximately 1.4 million chickens annually. Domino’s commitment comes after years of collaboration with leading animal protection organisations, including The Humane League UK.

 to explain cultivated meat in an accessible, science-led segment—highlighting its health, sustainability, and potential to reshape the future of protein.

! Yearly, GFI funds open-access alternative protein research projects through their philanthropy-powered research grants program. This year, they expect to grant up to $3.5 million across innovative projects, with a priority focus on projects exploring fermentation-derived ingredients or cell line development. A 

previous grantee’s work on cultivated octopus has since catalyzed a €7M EU-backed project

Apply to the Research Grant Program by May 15th

a new paper by Senior Researcher, Michaël Beaulieu, arguing that wildlife rehabilitation’s positive impacts on the welfare of individual animals is a sufficient reason to justify it

, where university community members had the opportunity to meet WAI grantees and hear about their research.

, highlighting that philanthropic donations are a lifeline in a world where a child dies 

 from a preventable and treatable disease.

Reflections on the Covid-19 Pandemic: Five years of response, adaptation and impact

, a timeline-view of the challenges the organisation faced, the actions taken, and the lessons learned.

’s vice president of programs published an op-ed in Devex: 

Deep aid cuts show cash transfers have never been more urgent

 published an article sharing the results of an impact assessment it conducted in partnership with Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health, measuring progress towards elimination of parasitic disease in the region and 

showing significant progress against schistosomiasis

! The article also emphasises the importance of impact assessments to inform treatment strategies.

, which aims to build resilience to global catastrophic food shocks through research, development, and policy recommendations. published an emergency funding appeal: 

Help us raise $800,000 to avoid cutting half of programs

it is now offering a new service for donors looking to donate over 100K a year to AI safety projects

, which includes access to top AI grant recommendations.

a call to action for global health security

, which focuses on how the US government’s cuts to global & domestic health programs impact health security & pandemic prevention worldwide. At a time when “all countries remain dangerously unprepared for future public health threats,” NTI | bio calls for an increase in global commitments and urges national governments to step up.

 to provide an overview of how it is responding to the US aid cuts, which includes summaries of grants GiveWell has made and information on how donors can help. GiveWell is balancing a targeted, near-term response to urgent needs with a broad, long-term perspective of needs that may emerge.

 with the research team that shares timely snapshots of the rapidly evolving global health aid situation.

 (released on March 19, 2025): A broad overview of the impacts of US government aid cuts and GiveWell’s initial response.

: (released on April 3, 2025): Zooms in on a specific case, focusing on grants GiveWell has made to support urgent funding gaps for seasonal malaria chemoprevention.

Subscribe to receive notifications on the latest episodes 

 to identify potential flaws in their iron research before considering $10-20 million in additional grants for 2025.

Applications are open for the Spring 2025 round of High Impact Professionals’ 

 (IAP), designed to help experienced (mid-career/senior) professionals not currently working in a high-impact role identify paths to impact; take concrete, impactful actions; and join a network of like-minded, experienced, and supportive professionals. The free, 6-week program begins the week of June 16, 2025; 

U.S. Foreign Aid Funding Pause: A Framework for Giving in Uncertain Times

 comparing the cost-effectiveness of different charities using WELLBYs per dollar, concluding: “The best charities in our sample are hundreds of times better at increasing happiness per dollar than others.” The research was 

HLI believes this research may be the first attempt to directly compare the cost-effectiveness of a wide sample of charities, including cost-effectiveness calculations for large, well-known charities or typical acts of charitable giving. (Most cost-effectiveness calculations within the effective giving ecosystem focus on the charities that are most likely to have higher cost-effectiveness than typical, in order to identify the best options.)

This month's featured social post from our community

When foreign aid cuts were announced, Saloni Dattani — a researcher at 

— decided it was time to act.

“I’d thought about taking the 10% Pledge before,” she says but the cuts made her realise how easy it is to take global health and humanitarian programs for granted — and how urgently they need support.

She points out that these aren’t just abstract numbers being slashed — they’re programs that keep people alive, healthy, and able to care for their families.

One of the key tips to make your money go as far as possible is to use the research of impact-focused charity evaluators. But what is an impact-focused charity evaluator and how are its methods different from websites that feature hundreds of charity ratings?

Grace is the Head of Marketing at Giving What We Can. 

She has worked in marketing, digital product and customer experience through various roles including as a management consultant. 

Grace graduated with distinction from an applied bachelor of business with a major in marketing at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Having always wanted to do good, Grace was immediately taken with the ideas of effective giving and effective altruism when they were explained to her. She is working towards a flourishing future for all humans and non-human animals where suffering no longer exists.

In her personal time, Grace is an advocate for people living with migraine and has trained as a yoga teacher.

Grace Adams works on marketing for Giving What We Can. She has worked across marketing and product roles both in consulting and industry.

Grace Adams

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Articles

May news: Inspiration from Rutger Bregman on The Daily Show

April news: Big risks, small bites. AI, World Malaria Day, & more