We search for and support programs that save or improve lives the most per dollar.
We research the most cost‑effective ways to save and improve lives, share our work openly, and direct donations to the programs we believe will do the most good.
Backed by 70,000+ hours of research each year
We’ve been researching and funding global health and development programs since 2007. Our work aims to understand how programs work and how much they help the people they serve.
Only the best, according to our high standards
We’ve reviewed hundreds of programs. Very few meet our high bar for funding.
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Our operations are funded by donors who choose to support us. 100% of all other donations (minus standard bank and credit card fees) will go to the fund or organization of your choice.Dig into our Research
We conduct all our work in the open, so you can have confidence in our recommendations — and let us know where we can improve. From research reports to board meetings to our mistakes, you’ll find it all on this site. Here are a few recent highlights.
Responding to foreign aid funding cuts
As we navigate the implications of significant cuts to foreign assistance, we are balancing a targeted, near-term response to urgent needs with a broad, long-term perspective of likely future ones. We’ve also launched a podcast to share timely snapshots of this rapidly evolving situation.
A closer look at GiveWell’s research
Listen in as the Planet Money team follows along as GiveWell evaluated and then approved a grant to ALIMA so healthcare support and malnutrition treatment could continue in two subdistricts of northern Cameroon. This grant is one of more than 100 grants we approved this year.
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All Grants Fund
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will be granted to the highest-impact programs across all our grantmaking in global health and well-being. Some programs may be much more cost-effective than our Top Charities, but we may also be much more uncertain about their impact.Is there a downside?
It’s riskier than our Top Charities Fund. For example, we may not have as much confidence in the evidence base or may not have the same extensive history working with the grantee.Best for
If you want the highest possible expected impact and are comfortable with higher risk, donate to the All Grants Fund.Top Charities Fund
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will be granted to one of our Top Charities. These are the most reliably high-impact and cost-effective programs we’ve identified. We’ve evaluated them extensively and have high confidence that donations to them will do a lot of good.Is there a downside?
We have a high bar for the evidence and scalability of these opportunities. This may limit the cost-effectiveness ceiling for these grants.Best for
If you want high confidence in the effectiveness of your donation, donate to the Top Charities Fund.Unrestricted Fund
How will my donation be used?
Your donation can be spent on any GiveWell priority, including grantmaking and our own operating expenses.Is there a downside?
You cannot designate a specific use for these funds, so donating to the Unrestricted Fund requires trust in GiveWell’s judgment about the best use for donations.Best for
If you’d like to support GiveWell’s grantmaking and underwrite our ability to continue doing what we do, donate to the Unrestricted Fund.
More than 150,000 donorsiBased on our records of donors who’ve contributed either to GiveWell or to our recommended charities.
— Learn more have trusted GiveWell to direct their donations. Together, they have given over $2.6 billioniBased on our records of the money we’ve directed to organizations and grants we’ve recommended since 2011.
— Learn more to the organizations we recommend.
These donations will save over 340,000 lives.iBased on our cost-effectiveness analysis and our records of money we’ve directed to our Top Charities since 2009.
— Learn more