Research Partner

GiveWell is an independent nonprofit organization based in the United States that has been developing evidence-based recommendations for donors since 2007. GiveWell's goal is to identify organizations that achieve the greatest possible impact per dollar donated. GiveWell does not operate its own aid programs but focuses exclusively on research and advice on fund allocation. Donations to recommended organizations or GiveWell's All Grants Fund are based on these independent analyses.

GiveWell follows a systematic, multi-stage evaluation process. First, potential organizations are identified based on publicly available data and initial impact indicators. Organizations that pass this preliminary selection undergo a comprehensive review: GiveWell requests access to internal monitoring data, evaluation reports, and financial information. An individual cost-effectiveness model is created for each organization, comparing interventions and expressing impact in "multiples of cash"—relative to the impact of direct cash transfers to people in extreme poverty. In addition to quantitative analyses, qualitative assessments of scalability, organizational performance, and sustainability are incorporated. All results, assumptions, and uncertainties are openly documented and regularly updated.

GiveWell is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from donors and grants from partners like Open Philanthropy. Donations that are forwarded to evaluated organizations are strictly separated from funds for GiveWell's own operations. This clear separation minimizes conflicts of interest and ensures the independence of the recommendations.

GiveWell applies exceptionally high scientific standards. The recommendations are based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and robust impact measurements. In all cost-benefit models, uncertainties are systematically analyzed and transparently communicated. Method documents, critical assumptions, and potential sources of error are disclosed and continuously updated. Due to this methodology, GiveWell is considered one of the world's most reliable sources for evidence-based donation decisions in the Effective Altruism community.

Wealth for the World does not make its own funding decisions but follows GiveWell's analyses. Each year, 2% of our fund's assets are donated to organizations that GiveWell has identified as particularly effective. By default, these funds go to the All Grants Fund, which flexibly supports the most urgent and cost-effective projects.