Thread by @DearPandemic

1/ Q: I am so lucky to have my health and my job. Knowing that many others don’t enjoy the same good fortunate right now, I am eager to contribute. Are there evidence-based approaches to charitable #giving?

2/ A: Absolutely. Here are three great options:
(1) Donate $ to food banks;
(2) Choose a charity vetted and scored by a data-driven recommendation organization (e.g. Charity Navigator);
(3) Give cash directly to those in need through a trusted intermediary (e.g. GiveDirectly)

3/ More context:
We Nerdy Girls are so heartened by how many people have asked us a variant of this question. Our followers’ collective generosity blows us away! Thank you for being beacons of hope during these turbulent times.

So why do we recommend the three options above?

4/ FOOD BANKS:
Estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 4 children in numerous states are “food insecure” – lacking adequate access to food. In many places, this represents a doubling of 2018 levels. feedingamerica.org/sites/default/…

5/ Food banks serve a crucial role in serving food insecure families, and are grateful recipients of cash donations right now as they meet surging demand.
It’s best to give $ instead of food: feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/do…

6/ DATA-DRIVEN CHARITY RECOMMENDERS:
Several terrific groups rigorously vet charitable organizations using transparent and thorough ratings systems. We like Charity Navigator charitynavigator.org, which rates individual charities and gives general evidence-based tips to donors

7/ GIVE CASH DIRECTLY:
Rigorous randomized controlled trials – designed in the same way as those done for medical treatments – have demonstrated that giving cash directly with “no strings attached” to those in need can result in sustained improvements in well-being.

8/ The strong evidence base is why many economists are big cheerleaders for this “unconditional cash transfer” approach for charitable giving. GiveDirectly (givedirectly.org/research-at-gi…) is a well-respected intermediary that rigorously tests the results of its efforts.

9/ A final note: If you are able, please also consider giving blood, which is desperately needed across the country.

Note: Thanks to Mark Seyadarian, MBA/MPH, for his excellent research contributions for this post!]