Effective Altruism: Why Nonprofits Should Not Ignore This Movement
Sometimes called ‘strategic giving,’ effective altruism is a growing philanthropic movement sweeping the nonprofit world. It encompasses both the mind and heart, requiring donors to ponder the question, “Of all the ways to make the world a better place, how can I have the greatest impact?”
While traditional charity is not dead by any means, this new trend in giving is something nonprofits should definitely pay attention to. Effective altruists rely on reason and evidence to decide where to donate. According to Nonprofit Chronicles, if enough people join this ‘movement,’ more charity dollars will flow to nonprofits that demonstrate doing the most good.
Nonprofit Challenges: Proving Their Impact
With traditional charity, when non-profits demonstrate how contributions are making a difference, donors are likely to continue giving to the cause. But as this new ‘breed of donor’ emerges, it shows that monetary donations to feed the homeless, fund a museum, or save animals are not enough. They think about the bigger picture: ‘How will my contribution make the biggest difference to the most people?’
For many nonprofits, tackling issues and world problems in a smart and effective way is at the heart of what they do. However, the metrics used to determine or track the success of their work are not always that easy. The amount of money a nonprofit receives is not always an indication of success.
What ‘Effective Altruists’ (a.k.a-Donors) look for in a Cause
- Scale: Will progress on the cause drastically improve a large number of lives?
- Tractability: Can a dedicated effort in support of the cause create a measurable difference?
- Neglectedness: How much has the cause been overlooked or undervalued?
Values Non-Profits Can Use to Appeal to ‘Effective Altruists’
- Open-mindedness: Consider all causes and actions, and then act in the way that brings about the greatest positive impact.
- Critical thinking ability: Apply evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to improve the world.
- Global empathy: Value all sentient life, regardless of nationality, creed, ancestry, religion, or species.
Bottom Line
Competition for donors is fierce in the nonprofit sector. More often than not, there are more nonprofits than there are contributions to go around. While traditional charity is still alive and well, it is worth a nonprofit’s time to explore the concept of ‘effective altruism’ in more detail. A simple Google search will bring up endless articles about a trend that doesn’t appear to be slowing down. In fact, according to some ethicists, this new philosophy is gaining momentum — particularly among younger and more quantitatively-driven philanthropists.
What do you think about ‘effective altruism’? What are you doing to bring in donors to your organization? Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.
Blog post by Alizah T. Epstein
Alizah is a seasoned, award-winning, creative professional. She founded the Epstein Creative Group—a strategic branding and marketing studio — with the purpose of using design for the greater good. She has stayed true to her values by building a design firm that supports mission-driven organizations that want to improve our community, with a focus on women’s and children’s issues. To learn more, visit epsteincreative.com. Design with purpose.