“Why I Donate: A Personal Story” by Stien

Thank you

At EAGx Amsterdam, I shared most of this as a talk. I was afraid I'd run out of time, so I decided to do things backwards and start with the thank you. I did not want to miss the most important thing. Since I might lose you halfway reading this long and personal piece, I decided to keep this order.

The EA community creates a space that makes it easier to donate and to live my values—and to be okay with living in this world. It normalizes caring about effectiveness and spreadsheets, provides frameworks and research and feedback. This community makes me feel less alone in trying to navigate the absurdity and burden of existence.

My Story, Not Yours

I am assuming that anything I do is determined by luck and circumstance, nature and nurture. Therefore, one way to explain why I donate is to show you some of those things. This is personal; my story might not be applicable or relatable to you. I’m not sure there's anything practical you can learn from it. But maybe my experience raises questions that help you in your giving journey.

First I’ll tell you about my life [...]

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Outline:

(00:10) Thank you

(00:53) My Story, Not Yours

(01:39) My life

(08:01) I donate because it helps others

(08:17) It's my responsibility to do something

(09:23) I should do good responsibly

(10:20) I donate because it helps me

(10:30) Retail Therapy Donation Therapy Effective Giving

(12:39) Convenience of effective giving

(14:06) This is how I can live the lives I wont get to live

(15:16) How I Donate

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First published:
December 31st, 2026

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/bRMQB85KXz6uzqXkf/why-i-donate-a-personal-story

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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