Holly Spindler
There is a whole community of people making a positive difference to the world based on data. But who are they? And how can you join them?
Effective altruism is more than just a catchphrase; it's a philosophy that's changing the way people approach charitable giving and social impact.
At its core, effective altruism is about doing the most good possible with the resources we have. It's about using evidence and reason to guide our actions, and it's driven by a deep commitment to making a real difference in the world.
What is effective altruism?
Effective altruism is a community of people with a shared goal: to do the most good in the world. It’s about prioritising effectiveness in charitable giving and making sure that donations have the greatest impact possible.
This means carefully evaluating different causes and charities to determine where money can have the greatest impact, and ensuring that the ways in which you support a charity are effective too.
What is an effective altruism charity?
An effective altruism charity is an organisation that has been rigorously evaluated and found to be highly effective.
These charities typically focus on causes that have been shown to have a significant positive impact on the world, they use evidence-based interventions, and are transparent about their methods and outcomes. Effective altruism charities are also often highly cost-effective, meaning that they can achieve a lot with their funds.
For example, The Humane League has been recognised every year running by Animal Charity Evaluators as a Recommended Charity based on our cost effectiveness and our impact on a huge number of animals.
We focus our attention on where we can impact the biggest number of animals, suffering the most. That’s why, right now, we’re working to improve the lives of fish, egg-laying hens, and chickens raised for meat. We've campaigned against some of the UK’s most well-known companies (and won), such as KFC, Noble Foods, Starbucks, and Subway.
Our campaign to get hens out of cages has helped the percentages of caged hens in the UK drop significantly, and now over 75% of hens in the UK are now free from cruel cages.
We partner with animal advocacy groups across the world to go head to head with huge global organisations, using people power to make them change their animal welfare policies.
For example, with 70% of all caged hens across the globe living in Asia, we knew this was a key area to influence. In September 2022, we supported a global campaign through an on the ground protest and online pressure. We achieved a milestone victory as Toridoll, the parent company of brands including Wok to Walk and PokeWorks, made a commitment to eradicate cages from its global supply chain. This was a first-of-its-kind commitment from a company headquartered in Japan, and has improved the lives of 40,000 egg-laying hens in Japan alone.
How to become an effective altruist
Becoming an effective altruist starts with understanding your own values and motivations. Once you have a clear sense of your goals, you can start researching and evaluating causes and charities to determine where your donations will be most effective.
This might mean looking at websites like Animal Charity Evaluators or the Effective Altruism website. It may involve reading the annual reports of non profits. You should also join the community to get advice, pool resources, and learn more. You can do this through joining the Facebook group or the forum.
Many people also consider their career choices in the context of effective altruism. Some career paths, such as those in healthcare, may allow you to have a direct and significant impact on people's lives. Others choose a high-paying career specifically so that they can donate more money to effective causes.
If, like me, you care about animals, Animal Advocacy Careers can help train you for and find you a job that makes a big impact on the animals you love.
Applying effective altruism in practice
Once you've decided where to give, there are a number of strategies you can use to maximise your impact. One approach is to give to charities that have been rigorously evaluated and found to be highly effective (like The Humane League). Organisations like GiveWell and the Effective Altruism Foundation provide recommendations based on in-depth research and analysis.
Another strategy is to focus on causes that are neglected and therefore a donation can make a bigger difference. At The Humane League, our mission is to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Farmed animals like chickens and fish don’t have the same pull as cats and dogs, and don’t get as much public attention. But there are billions of farmed animals suffering in the UK and globally that need our help, who far outnumber other species of animals. That’s why giving to The Humane League can make a BIG impact.
It's also important to think about the long-term effects of your giving. Supporting initiatives that address the root causes of social problems, rather than just treating the symptoms, can lead to lasting change. For example, rather than rescuing individuals, we’re fighting to change the laws and policies that underpin the suffering of billions of chickens in order to create change for future generations.
Common misconceptions about effective altruism
Effective altruism is not without its critics, and there are a number of common misconceptions about the movement. Some people argue that it's overly focused on numbers and ignores the importance of empathy and compassion. However, most effective altruists are drawn to the community because they are highly compassionate and that’s why they want to make the most impact.
Others worry that effective altruism asks too much of individuals and places too heavy a burden on them to solve the world's problems. But effective altruism is not about guilt-tripping people into giving more than they can afford; it's about encouraging people to think critically about how they can make a difference and empowering them to do so in whatever way works best for them.
Challenges and Opportunities in Effective Altruism
While effective altruism has made significant strides in recent years, it still faces challenges. One of the biggest challenges is asking people to overcome the emotions involved in supporting a charity in order to make more rational decisions about how to give.
There are also practical challenges, such as finding ways to measure the impact of interventions that are difficult to quantify, like promoting mental health.
However, there are also many opportunities for growth and innovation in the field of effective altruism. Advances in technology and data analysis are making it easier than ever to identify and evaluate effective interventions, and there is growing interest in the idea of using evidence and reason to guide philanthropic efforts.
What next?
If you’re interested in effective altruism, you’ve come to the right place. The Humane League has been recognised as one of the most effective organisations with the biggest impact for animals.
You can donate to support our campaigns, or get in touch if you have any further questions about where we spend your money.
