Many of us lucky enough to be born in the developed world are eager to share our relative wealth with those in need. But how can we give in a way that maximizes the effectiveness of our donations? In his 2013 TedTalk, our founder, the philosopher Peter Singer, asks provocative questions that will help you reconsider how you give—no matter what amount!
What would you do if you saw a small girl drowning in a pond? Most of us wouldn’t think twice about jumping in to save her life. But what if that girl were drowning in a pond on the other side of the world? Should we still feel compelled to save her? Each day, 7,500 children die of preventable conditions associated with poverty. The good news is that you can easily take action today to save a life!
Charlie Bresler talks about his journey of pursuing something more socially valuable and how that led him from being the president of The Men's Wearhouse to stepping into the role of Executive Director of The Life You Can Save.
Michael Faye of Give Directly and Dianne Calvi of Village Enterprise discuss what it means to be a charity recommended by The Life You Can Save, and how their work has been shown to measurably reduce extreme poverty.
Peter Singer explains how Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are changing the world like no other humans in history.
"If you really want to think of yourself as ethical, it's not enough to say 'I don't kill, I don't steal, I don't cheat, I don't assault people.' if you are an affluent person, or even just a middle class person in an affluent country...then you're not really living an ethical life unless you're prepared to share some of the good fortune that you have with people who are less fortunate."
Poker Champ Liv Boeree knows about high stakes giving.
If you’re like most of us, you’re probably already giving to charity. In 2014, 95 percent of Americans made charitable donations, and the typical American household donates an average of $2,974 to charity each year. That amount can go especially far in the developing world, where medical services and supplies, sanitation, housing materials, and school fees are much cheaper than they are at home and the need is usually greatest.
“What’s the least somebody can do to seem like a decent person?” Stephen Colbert asks. Watch to see Peter Singer’s answer to this question—and more—on the Colbert Report.
What would you do if a stranger handed you $10? We handed out cash to people on the street to find out how they would choose to use the money. Their choices might surprise you!
Can $10 make a difference? We set out to find out just how far $10 goes in the right hands. Filmed and directed by videographers based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Find out using our Impact Calculator.
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