In late November, NPR’s Planet Money covered USAID, GiveWell, and Effective Altruism in a way that feels surprisingly uncritical of the movement. Worth remembering that EA has drawn substantial criticism, from its philosophical assumptions to its real‑world impacts. Interesting episode, but not the whole picture. #Economics #EffectiveAltruism #Nonprofits #PolicyStudies #NPR #Givewell #USAID

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/26/nx-s1-5622126/usaid-ngo-givewell-effective-altruism

When the U.S. attacked Iraq in 2003 I stopped paying U.S. federal taxes, and haven't paid since.

The IRS has 10 years to try to collect before the statute of limitations kicks in.

Each year they fail, I donate the uncollected taxes to charity.

This year, my 2012 taxes became permanently uncollectable. I just donated $4,384 to the Top Charities Fund run by #GiveWell (https://www.givewell.org/top-charities-fund).

#TaxResistance #TaxRedirection #EffectiveAltruism

#GiveWell is a nonprofit within the #EffectiveAltuism movement that evaluates and recommends charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar. It focuses on cost-effectiveness and evidence of impact.

In 2020, GiveWell donors contributed over $240 million to its recommended charities. These donations will save over 150,000 lives.

https://blog.givewell.org/2021/11/12/givewells-money-moved-in-2020/

In this thread I will explain in short how GiveWell translates a donated dollar amount into a number of saved lives.