(Not-so) radical giving, day 5: GiveDirectly

Sometimes the most effective way to help people living in poverty can also be the simplest. GiveDirectly makes unconditional cash transfers to people living in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Because here’s the thing: people living in poverty aren’t stupid or irresponsible — they’re poor. And they probably know how the money can help them the most.
GiveDirectly carefully researches and targets who might benefit most from the money, then checks eligibility and makes sure they haven’t paid bribes. If the recipient qualifies, they receive an SMS transfer for $1000 per household. (This is about a year’s budget.) People can use it to buy things like food or a better roof for their home, send children to school, start or improve a business, or pay medical costs. You can see a live newsfeed of how people are using their money on the GiveDirectly website. (If you’re giving money, you should! See what your money is doing!)
83–88% of money donated makes it directly to recipients, and GiveWell designates it as a standout charity for its strong track record (supported by one major randomized control trial), its transparency, its process, and its track record. A new study means it might be less effective than they thought, but not enough to strip it of its gold-standard recommendation.
I’ve donated through RC Forward for that sweet tax receipt. (For other countries, consult this handy chart from The Life You Can Save, which also covers other organizations I’ll recommend.)
Donating $20 might not seem like much, but it’s useful to apply William MacAskill’s 100x Multiplier, which reasons that someone’s money can do 100x the good in a low-income country as in a high-income one. “It’s like a 99-percent-off sale,” he writes, “or getting 10,000 percent extra free.” And what can I say? I love a deal.
