We’re celebrating 15 years of Giving What We Can and the ten% Pledge, and we have been fortunate sufficient to assemble some great quotes and reflections from throughout our neighborhood to share how they really feel about their giving and the Pledge.
There’s additionally a protracted listing of posts and quotes our members (together with our founders) and collaborators have shared throughout social media.
Thanks for the continued help of our neighborhood over the 15 years that Giving What We Can has grown!
Peter Singer:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2009, as a founding member.
Comfortable fifteenth birthday, Giving What We Can!
I can keep in mind while you have been only a child. The truth is, I knew you while you have been only a twinkle in Toby Ord’s eye. That was once I visited Oxford in June 2007, and he advised me of his plans to begin a corporation that may inform individuals how vital it’s to present successfully, as a result of the best organizations serving to individuals in excessive poverty do a whole bunch of instances as a lot good as the typical organizations working in that space. He was already pondering of asking them to make a pledge. I expressed my enthusiasm to Toby, and the small group of supporters he had introduced collectively to talk to me. And when GWWC was launched, I used to be very pleased to make the ten% pledge.
It has been nice to see GWWC proceed to thrive, and trigger a really substantial sum to be given extra successfully than it might in any other case have been given. I am happy to have been part of the motion.
Peter Singer Credit score: Alletta Vaandering
Julia Sensible:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2012.
It was life-changing for me to find that there was a neighborhood of people that cared as a lot about donation as I did.
This neighborhood helps me really feel that we are able to make massive variations collectively. Though the dimensions of issues on the earth is big, none of us are helpless. We will use proof to search out one of the best methods to assist, and we are able to use our assets to place a dent even in massive issues.
I wrote up some reflections on persevering with to donate 50% now that my husband and I each work for nonprofits. Constructing in a behavior of great donation was vital to sustaining it over time, as we bought older and extra centered on elevating our youngsters than on activism.
A heat welcome to different people who find themselves discovering this neighborhood!
Bernadette Younger:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2009, as a founding member.
For 15 years I have been part of Giving What We Can. My pledge has helped me really feel linked to the world, and given me a way that it is at all times attainable to attempt to do some good. The tales of others who’ve made the identical pledge is extremely heartening, particularly once I suppose how far these donations can ripple to make a important distinction within the lives of others.
It’s extremely humbling to replicate what number of extra infections I’ve helped deal with or forestall on this method than in my daily job. In a greater world, it would not be attainable for small quantities of cash to have such a comparatively excessive impression. Until we now have that world. that is one thing I really feel it is actually vital for me to do.
Bernadette sporting her 1 yr and 10 yr pledge pins!
Dylan Matthews:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2016.
I wrote a massive piece for the Washington Put up in 2013 on efficient altruists who donated big shares, 50 p.c or much more, of their earnings to efficient charities. I keep in mind pondering as I reported it that this was noble however I might by no means be capable of do it myself. However I ultimately realized that even when I did not give most of my cash away, I may nonetheless do one thing. So I signed the GWWC pledge and have been donating 10 p.c to GiveWell prime charities ever since. It is simply develop into a part of my common price range and routine, and it is a good reminder, on days once I fear I am not having an impression, that quietly, each month I ship a test, I’m.
Dylan Matthews, Senior Correspondent and Lead Author at Vox
Claire Barton:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2022.
My solely remorse about taking the GWWC 10% pledge is that I did not learn about it sooner. Committing to present to the best charities to maximise profit appears so logical and intuitive, I’m wondering why this had by no means occurred to me earlier than. It simply feels so proper.
Joey Savoie:
Took the ten% Pledge in 2012.
An concept that has at all times motivated me is the thought of the veil of ignorance — the essential idea being, how would you need society to be in the event you didn’t know who you’ll be in it? A world the place individuals within the prime 25% donate considerably to these much less nicely off has at all times appealed to me and felt proper. The GWWC pledge was one of many first long-term charitable actions I took on this course. I keep in mind signing my paper copy of the pledge with 4 different buddies, two of us taking the additional pledge and the others taking the ten%. It felt each vital and vital to our group and carried actual weight.
We have additionally compiled a protracted listing of public social media posts from our members and collaborators who’ve shared their tales and nicely needs on-line:
