I’ve struggled with the decision to link my adventure to charity. I wanted the trip to be free from external pressures. The journey would be for me and me alone. No justification needed. However, I suspect that is not the only reason. I feel embarrassed when fundraising. It might be because I’ve been quite cynical of charities in general. Are they using the money effectively? Why is this cause more deserving than any other? I have not felt a deep emotional connection to any particular charity. I have also let my ego get in the way. I didn’t want to fail. I was apprehensive of making a big song and dance of fundraising only to have to quit two weeks in.
My thinking has recently changed after reading “Doing Good Better” by William Macaskill. In the book he describes a method for ‘effective alturism’. It outlines a scientific approach to charity. How do we do most good? What is the most effective way to use our money? This approach resonates with me.
I’ve therefore made a U-turn on my decision. I may have missed the initial buzz and excitement of departure (and the opportunity to raise most money) but I’ve figured something will be better than nothing.
To decide which charities to donate to I’ll be using Givewell.org. Please head over to the website to learn how it works. There are good explanations for how the best charities are determined.
GiveWell was founded to answer the following question: How do I do the most good with my donation? It’s a hard question to answer—we think it’s a full-time job. Over time, we’ve developed criteria and processes for identifying the charities we believe do the most good, in terms of lives saved or improved, for every dollar donated.
I’ll add the link here so you can donate if you like what you read.
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South Wales to New South Wales 