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How We Work
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You'll find information here on how GiveWell works. The pages linked below describe how GiveWell identifies and vets our recommended charities, as well as commonly asked questions about our research process. They also discuss our commitment to transparency in our work and the internal evaluations of GiveWell that have been conducted.
Not sure where to start? Check out our Quick Start Guide.
Our Process
GiveWell's mission is to find outstanding charities and to publish the full details of our analysis to help donors decide where to give. Our focus is on finding the most outstanding charities possible rather than completing an in-depth investigation for each organization we consider. In addition, we're interested in identifying and supporting the study or growth of potential future top charities and programs. More.
Our Criteria
GiveWell evaluates potential top charities along four main criteria: (1) Effectiveness, as supported by evidence the program the charity is implementing saves or improves lives; (2) cost-effectiveness, or how much ‘bang for the buck’ the charity offers in terms of lives saved or improved per donation; (3) room for more funding, or the charity’s ability to put additional donations to use; and (4) transparency.More.