Simple English News Daily Giving Effectively (with James Rayton)
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Dec 13, 2025 In this discussion, James Rayton, head of community and partnerships at Giving What We Can, shares insights from his humanitarian work across Kenya, Rwanda, and Somalia. He explores the concept of effective altruism, emphasizing the importance of research in charitable giving. James discusses the emotional aspects of donating and how a 10% pledge can provide moral clarity. They also delve into the implications of future aid cuts and the effectiveness of cash transfers through organizations like GiveDirectly. The talk encourages transparency in philanthropy to inspire others.
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Commit To A Fixed Giving Percentage
- Decide a fixed percentage of income to donate and treat it like an extra tax.
- Stephen committed to giving 10% of podcast profits and embeds it into budgeting forever.
Impact Varies Massively Between Charities
- Effective altruism shows some charities can be thousands of times more impactful.
- Giving What We Can and GiveWell research directs donors to highly effective options.
Helicopter Aid Versus Cost-Effective Interventions
- James recounts spending huge sums on helicopter aid that had limited life-saving impact.
- He contrasts that with research showing you can save a life for less than £4,000 with proven interventions.