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GiveWell - Evidence-Based Charity Evaluator
webgivewell.org·givewell.org/
GiveWell is a leading EA-adjacent charity evaluator focused on near-term global health causes; relevant to AI safety funding debates as a contrast to long-termist cause prioritization, but does not directly evaluate AI safety organizations.
Metadata
Importance: 25/100homepage
Summary
GiveWell is a nonprofit charity evaluator that researches and recommends highly effective giving opportunities, focusing on evidence-based interventions with strong cost-effectiveness. It conducts in-depth analysis of charities to identify where donations can do the most good, primarily in global health and poverty. GiveWell exemplifies the effective altruism methodology of rigorous expected-value reasoning applied to philanthropic decisions.
Key Points
- •Publishes in-depth charity research and top charity recommendations based on cost-effectiveness and evidence quality
- •Developed influential frameworks for evaluating philanthropic impact, including cost-per-life-saved metrics
- •Focuses primarily on global health and poverty interventions rather than AI safety or long-termist causes
- •Serves as a model for evidence-based, data-driven philanthropic decision-making within the EA community
- •Relevant to AI safety funding discussions as a contrast case for near-term vs. long-term cause prioritization
Cited by 3 pages
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| AI Safety Research Value Model | Analysis | 60.0 |
| Holden Karnofsky | Person | 40.0 |
| Toby Ord | Person | 41.0 |
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# Homepage
# We search for the charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar.
Our goal is to produce the world’s top research on where to give. Free, for everyone. We recommend a small number of charities that do an incredible amount of good. [Explore our Top Charities](https://www.givewell.org/charities/top-charities)
Photo credit to: Malaria Consortium/Sophie Garcia
Photo credit to: Malaria Consortium/Sophie Garcia
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#### Backed by 70,000+ hours of research each year
We’ve been researching and funding charities since 2007. Our work aims to understand how charities work and how much they help the people they serve.
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#### Only the best, according to our high standards
We’ve reviewed hundreds of charities. Very few meet our high bar for funding.
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#### GiveWell takes zero fees
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.
#### Responding to foreign aid funding cuts
As we [navigate the implications](https://blog.givewell.org/2025/11/24/help-us-respond-uncertain-future-for-global-health/) 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](https://givewell.transistor.fm/ "(opens in a new window)") to share timely snapshots of this rapidly evolving situation.
[Read the blog post](https://blog.givewell.org/2025/11/24/help-us-respond-uncertain-future-for-global-health/)
#### A closer look at GiveWell’s research
[Listen in](https://www.npr.org/2025/11/26/nx-s1-5622126/usaid-ngo-givewell-effective-altruism "(opens in a new window)") 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.
[Listen to the episode](https://www.npr.org/2025/11/26/nx-s1-5622126/usaid-ngo-givewell-effective-altruism "(opens in a new window)")
## The gold standard for giving.
#### As seen in
[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/opinion/ezra-klein-podcas
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