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Our top recommendations
Our top recommended charities are evidence-based, highly cost-effective, and have a strong track record. These charities are the best opportunities we have evaluated, so far, for cost-effectively improving wellbeing in the world.1
Learn more:
Note: We plan to update our evaluations of StrongMinds and AMF by December, 2024.
StrongMinds
StrongMinds is a non-profit that treats women struggling with depression in Uganda and Zambia by providing free group interpersonal psychotherapy
Against Malaria Foundation
The Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) funds, and helps coordinate, the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal bednets to help prevent malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South and Central America, and Oceania.
Summary
Depression has substantial negative effects on wellbeing, but mental health services are severely underfunded in low-income countries. StrongMinds provides free group interpersonal psychotherapy to help women with depression. Over 6 sessions, the women work with a facilitator to identify the underlying triggers of their depression and strategise solutions to their problems.
Who is this recommended to?
We recommend StrongMinds for donors who want a well-evidenced funding opportunity to improve lives.2
Funding need
StrongMinds is planning for rapid growth. In order to do this, it needs to raise a further $19 million over 2023-2024. The funding will be used primarily to support ongoing work to deliver services to more women. Some funds will also be used to help the organisation scale and to launch an RCT evaluating its effectiveness.
Summary
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted by certain mosquitoes. In 2020, there were an estimated 627,000 deaths due to malaria (WHO, 2021). Providing antimalarial bednets is a well-evidenced way of reducing child mortality due to malaria.
Who is this recommended to?
We recommend AMF for donors who want a well-evidenced funding opportunity to save lives.3
Funding need
GiveWell estimated that AMF could absorb $33.2 million in 2023.
StrongMinds
is a non-profit that treats women struggling with depression in Uganda and Zambia.
Summary
Depression has substantial negative effects on wellbeing, but mental health services are severely underfunded in low-income countries. StrongMinds provides free group interpersonal psychotherapy to help women with depression. Over 6 sessions, the women work with a facilitator to identify the underlying triggers of their depression and strategise solutions to their problems.
Who is this recommended to?
We recommend StrongMinds for donors who want a well-evidenced funding opportunity to improve lives.2
Funding need
StrongMinds is planning for rapid growth. In order to do this, it needs to raise a further $19 million over 2023-2024. The funding will be used primarily to support ongoing work to deliver services to more women. Some funds will also be used to help the organisation scale and to launch an RCT evaluating its effectiveness.
Against Malaria Foundation
The Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) funds, and helps coordinate, the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal bednets to help prevent malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South and Central America, and Oceania.
Summary
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted by certain mosquitoes. In 2020, there were an estimated 627,000 deaths due to malaria (WHO, 2021). Providing antimalarial bednets is a well-evidenced way of reducing child mortality due to malaria.
Who is this recommended to?
We recommend AMF for donors who want a well-evidenced funding opportunity to save lives.3
Funding need
GiveWell estimated that AMF could absorb $33.2 million in 2023.
1 There are likely other highly impactful organisations we have not yet evaluated. We aim to continually expand our research and look at further causes, interventions, and organisations. Our recommendations may change over time as we discover more cost-effective opportunities.
2, 3 Some charities do good by (primarily) improving the quality of people’s lives. Other charities do good by (primarily) extending the length of people’s lives. Comparing charities that improve lives and charities that save lives is difficult because it involves complicated philosophical issues. For interested donors, we discuss these issues in Plant et al., (2022), and we provide an online app to help you explore how different views impact our cost-effectiveness estimates. For donors who aren’t sure about their views, we recommend splitting your donation between our top charities.
Support further research
- We have a pipeline of foundational research on the nature and measurement of wellbeing and on applied research to uncover the most cost-effective ways to help people become happier; our progress depends on the financial support of our donors.
- We also need to raise additional funds to expand our team and fill our budget for future years.
- If you have any questions about our research or you would like some expert advice on your donation plans, please contact
Make a tax-deductible donation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands using the link above.
Donations from other countries can be made using the link above, but will not be tax-deductible.
To discuss other options, please contact us at:
hello@happierlivesinstitute.org