Best charities for happiness and wellbeing – 2024
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These are the most cost-effective charities we’ve found for making the world a happier place.
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Top recommended charities
These charities are extremely cost-effective and backed by strong evidence – especially when compared to most other charities.
StrongMinds
Treats people for depression by delivering group psychotherapy for free. StrongMinds works primarily in Uganda and Zambia, where mental health services are severely underfunded.
More detail
Reviewedause area and intervention
Mental health – Psychotherapy
Cost-effectiveness
40 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $25 per WELLBY)
Evidence
- Our own systematic review and meta-analysis of 84 studies on psychotherapy
- Reviewed 1 randomised control trial of Strong Minds
- The monitoring and evaluation data from Strong Minds
Depth of analysis
High. We believe we have reviewed most or all of the relevant, available evidence.
Friendship Bench
Treats people with depression and anxiety using group-based counselling. It does this primarily in Zimbabwe, where there are very few mental health services.
More detail
Cause area and intervention
Mental health – Psychotherapy
Cost-effectiveness
49 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $21 per WELLBY)
Evidence
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 84 studies on psychotherapy
- Reviewed 4 randomised control trials of Friendship Bench
- Reviewed monitoring and evaluation data from Friendship Bench
Depth of analysis
Comprehensive. We believe we reviewed all useful, relevant and available evidence.
Promising charities
These charities are likely extremely cost-effective, but we need stronger evidence for them to qualify as a “Top recommended charity”. For now, we see these charities ‘higher-risk, but possibly higher-reward’.
Pure Earth
Works to eliminate lead poisoning, which can have a major impact on people’s cognitive abilities and wellbeing in later life. Lead poisoning kills as many people as malaria and HIV/AIDS combined.
More detail
Cause area and intervention
Pollution – reducing lead exposure in cosmetics through advocacy and technical assistance
Cost-effectiveness
108 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $9.23 per WELLBY)
Evidence
- 2 correlational studies linking childhood lead exposure to adult wellbeing
- Estimations of lead exposure levels, based on Pure Earth’s modelling
- Prediction of how much Pure Earth will reduce lead exposure, based on its track record
Depth of analysis
Shallow. So far we’ve managed to review 10-60% of the evidence we think is useful and relevant.
Taimaka
Treats malnutrition in children, which causes severe and lasting physical and mental health issues.
More detail
Cause area and intervention
Nutrition – reducing extreme malnutrition through therapeutic food
Cost-effectiveness
66 WELLBYs per $1,000 (or $15 to per WELLBY)
Evidence
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 13 studies, which used a similar nutritional supplement
- Reviewed 1 randomised control trial of Taimaka, based on using a similar nutritional supplement
- Reviewed 2 natural studies on the impact of famine
Depth of analysis
Shallow. So far we’ve managed to review 10-60% of the evidence we think is useful and relevant.
Reach Up (programme by icddr,b)
Provides evidence-based parenting programs, which are proven to improve children’s long-term health and wellbeing.
More detail
The “Reach Up” programme is provided by the charity “International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh” (icddrb). (Note: despite its name, the charity icddrb doesn’t just focus on diarrhoea, and doesn’t just focus on Bangladesh).
Cause area and intervention
Childhood development – psychosocial stimulation
Cost-effectiveness
50 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $20 per WELLBY).
Evidence
- 2 randomised control trials of similar programmes
- 4 causal studies of related interventions
Depth of analysis
Shallow. So far we’ve managed to review 10-60% of the evidence we think is useful and relevant.
Network for Empowerment & Progressive Initiative (NEPI)
Provides psychotherapy and cash to young men with violent or criminal backgrounds in order to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
More detail
Cause area and intervention
Crime – cash transfers combined with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cost-effectiveness
Conservative: 22 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $46 per WELLBY).
Generous: 104 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated (or $10 per WELLBY).
Evidence
- 1 well-conducted randomised control trial of the organisation’s on it’s impact to recipients and the community
- Several correlational studies of the benefits of crime reduction to society
Depth of analysis
Shallow. So far we’ve managed to review 10-60% of the evidence we think is useful and relevant.
Other great charities
Other effective charities that we think are worth a mention.
Other effective charities that we think are worth a mention.
Happier Lives Institute
Finds and promotes the best charities for improving global happiness. It does this by conducting scientifically rigorous research into different cause areas, interventions, and charities.
Charities we don’t currently recommend
In our search for the best charities, inevitably some charities haven’t yet met our criteria for us to recommend them outright. We found these charities either aren’t highly cost-effective, or don’t have a current funding gap. However, they are likely still much more impactful than most other average charities.
Walkthrough of our charities and research
Get a high level overview of our 2024 recommended charities, and a walkthrough of our new groundbreaking research reports.
A deeper dive on our charities and research
Get a high level overview of our 2024 recommended charities, and a walkthrough of our groundbreaking research reports.
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