Previously: Donations, The Third Year / Donations, The First Year

In 2025, like in all previous years, I did what I was supposed to do. As each paycheck came in, before I did anything else, I dutifully put ten percent of it away in my "donations" savings account, to be disbursed at the end of the year.

It is still there, burning a hole in my pocket. I am very confused, and very sad.

EA was supposed to be easy, especially if you're one of the old school Peter Singer-inflected ones giving largely to global health and poverty reduction. You just give the funds away to whatever GiveWell recommends.

But one big thing that came into focus for me last year was that there are large institutional players who make up the shortfall whenever those charities don't fundraise enough from their own donor bases.

It is wonderful that this happens, to be clear. It is wonderful that the charities doing very important work get to have more stable financial projections, year over year. But as an individual small donor, the feeling I get now is that I am not actually giving to the Against Malaria Foundation. Instead, I am [...]

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First published:
February 8th, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rkmrQNmpg2m4tnfN3/donations-the-fifth-year

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

“Donations, The Fifth Year” by jenn

LessWrong (30+ Karma)

“Donations, The Fifth Year” by jenn