Small note: the post originally had my second charity as the Stop TB Partnership (GiveWell’s second-place charity) rather than VillageReach, essentially on the theory that if everyone on GiveWell only donates to the very top charity, then other charities have no incentive to become more transparent unless they can claim the top spot.
Then I went to actually make my donation, and my warm fuzzies were interrupted by the donation process. I switched back to VillageReach, whose donations are handled much more efficiently.
Yeah, this is one of those minor issues, but I think it’s really important for my future willingness to donate that I have a good first experience and no nagging doubts about the process.
Just came up with a nice idea for a very good first experience:
Put actual money in the Jar.
When the year ends, make the donation through Check or Online.
Match the donation you just made with a donation for yourself, an yearly gift that your previous altruist selves gave you to spend in happiness increasing activities. That is, right after finishing your donation, open the Jar, put the money in your pocket, and start thinking about how to invest it in happiness.
Small note: the post originally had my second charity as the Stop TB Partnership (GiveWell’s second-place charity) rather than VillageReach, essentially on the theory that if everyone on GiveWell only donates to the very top charity, then other charities have no incentive to become more transparent unless they can claim the top spot.
Then I went to actually make my donation, and my warm fuzzies were interrupted by the donation process. I switched back to VillageReach, whose donations are handled much more efficiently.
Yeah, this is one of those minor issues, but I think it’s really important for my future willingness to donate that I have a good first experience and no nagging doubts about the process.
Just came up with a nice idea for a very good first experience:
Put actual money in the Jar. When the year ends, make the donation through Check or Online.
Match the donation you just made with a donation for yourself, an yearly gift that your previous altruist selves gave you to spend in happiness increasing activities. That is, right after finishing your donation, open the Jar, put the money in your pocket, and start thinking about how to invest it in happiness.