This Giving Season, we’re excited to announce our new list of Best Charities addressing global poverty. These 20 non-profit organizations perform innovative and cost-effective work to bring medical services, vital nutrients, and economic opportunities to many of the 767 million people living in extreme poverty today. They use evidence-backed interventions to give new hope to the world’s neediest men, women, and children.
On this year’s new list, you’ll see we’ve added D-Rev and Helen Keller International’s Vitamin A Supplementation Program. This is the second year we have used our improved charity selection process. We’re confident that both D-Rev and HKI offer our supporters two highly effective Giving Season opportunities and hope you’ll spend some time learning more about both organizations as well as the others on our list.
People often ask me, “What can I do to help the poor? Can one person’s donation really make a difference?” In response, it bears quoting the British statesman Edmund Burke: “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” In America last year, individual donations totaled more than the amount given to charity by corporations, bequests, and foundations combined. That’s the good news. But only 6 percent of those donations went to international interventions—most donors do not direct their gifts to the developing world, even though that is where people need help the most and where each dollar goes furthest. And though many people think governments fill the void, this is unfortunately not true. For example, the U.S. gives a total of 0.18% of its gross national income to foreign aid, the U.K. .70%, and Australia .25%.
Each of us has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of the global poor; use our interactive Impact Calculator to see what your donation can “buy” through the charities on our list. Then if you haven’t already done so, consider taking The Life You Can Save’s Giving Pledge to donate a portion of your 2018 income to effective poverty relief, or update your pledge amount as part of your New Year’s resolution to improve your personal giving best. And don’t forget to help us share the word: talk to family and friends about your reasons for giving, and use social media to go public with your pledge to give during the holidays and in 2018.
With best wishes for the 2017 Giving and Holiday Season and for the year to come.
Peter Singer
