Our approach to prioritising problems
Why do we prioritise problems?
With many problems and deserving causes to support, determining where to focus our donations can be challenging for individuals and organisations like Impactful Giving.
Resources are limited; we can’t address every issue. It’s crucial to adopt a thoughtful and strategic approach so that we direct our giving towards causes that have a track record of success and are proven cost-effective.
Each decision to support a particular cause inherently means not supporting others, making it essential to prioritise and choose carefully.
Combining heart and head
A billboard in the train station or along the road.
An ad on social media.
A person with a petition on the street.
We encounter many fundraising campaigns daily, often leading us to make momentary decisions influenced by advertisements, emotional connections, or simply personal preferences. Giving impulsively, without any deeper research or even a few minutes of deliberation, means missing an opportunity to have the maximum possible impact and address the most pressing needs effectively.
With numerous giving opportunities at our disposal, many people are considering a new approach, one that emphasises deliberate and rational decision-making. Consciously evaluating our choices can be especially beneficial when we are seeking to maximise the impact of significant contributions of income or wealth.
Would you buy a car on impulse?
Consider the process of purchasing a car. You likely invest time in researching features, quality, and overall value to ensure you make an informed decision.
Just as this leads to a purchase that best meets your needs, applying a similar level of diligence to charitable giving can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your donations.
Although it might not come naturally, approaching your charitable contributions with a rational and analytical mindset not only maximises the impact of your contributions but also aligns with a more purposeful approach to giving.
By applying a similar rationale to choosing problem areas and identifying the most promising solutions, we position ourselves to make a more substantial difference. Estimates from 80,000 Hours suggest that the right choice of focus can result in up to 100 times more impact in terms of lives saved or quality of life improved.
At Impactful Giving, we gather and distil insights from leading research to equip you with the knowledge and guidance needed to prioritise critical problems, identify high-impact donation opportunities, and make informed decisions that maximise the impact of your contributions.
How do we prioritise problems?
Our framework
To decide which areas to focus on, Impactful Giving employs a structured methodology for prioritising causes based on three key criteria:
Scale | Solvability | Neglectedness |
This methodology is derived from the STN framework, a model commonly used by various leading researchers and charity evaluators. While no model is flawless, we believe this approach is well-suited to optimise the impact of programs by focusing efforts where they can achieve the greatest results.
Understanding the SSN framework
Scale
To gauge the scale of a problem, evaluate its size and severity by considering how many people are impacted and the extent of the harm caused. A large-scale cause area affects a significant number of individuals and has a substantial impact on their lives. Addressing widespread issues in India such as those affecting health and development can yield substantial overall benefits compared to more localised concerns.
Solvability
To measure solvability (some call it ‘tractability,’ hence sometimes you’ll see this referred to as the ‘STN framework’), evaluate how feasible it is to address the problem by examining available or potential solutions. A solvable area is one where there are proven or promising ways to make progress, indicating a reasonable chance of success. For example, where effective treatments exist for diseases affecting impoverished regions, additional resources in these cause areas could significantly improve health outcomes. Conversely, some issues may be too complex or poorly understood to warrant further investment without clearer pathways to progress. Another way to think about solvability is to consider the concept of ‘low-hanging fruit’. Picking that fruit first means more success, more quickly. When lives are at stake, this might be a good practice.
Neglectedness
To assess neglectedness, determine how well-funded the problem is and whether additional contributions of money or other resources could drive substantial improvements. Some people use room for funding instead of neglecting to talk about this factor. A cause area with high neglectedness lacks sufficient attention and funding — where more support is likely to have a strong benefit.
By concentrating efforts on underfunded areas, you can achieve a high impact per rupee devoted to the cause.
Summary
To effectively maximise the impact of your giving, it is imperative to concentrate on causes that are significant in scale, solvable with additional resources, and neglected in terms of funding and overall attention. Whether you are an everyday donor or a philanthropist arranging a legacy gift, this approach ensures that every rupee you give is applied to its fullest potential.
To implement this framework effectively, Impactful Giving collaborates with expert charity evaluators and researchers in the non-profit sector to identify key problem areas to focus on.
Scale
How many people are affected? What is the extent of the harm or disadvantage caused?
Solvability
Are there proven and effective solutions for the problem? What is the likelihood of success?
Neglect
How much attention and funding does the problem already receive? Can small contributions lead to significant improvements?
Recommended causes areas
Based on this framework and learnings from our evaluators, Impactful Giving is currently focusing on Health and Development as a key problem area (or cause area).
We also recognise
Animal Welfare | Climate Change | Education |
as impactful cause areas where your contributions can make a significant difference.
We are currently working with evaluators and research organisations to identify specific high-impact programs and non-profits in these cause areas.
Building on the latest insights and recommendations from our evaluators, we will continue to add additional cause areas and programs where your support can make the greatest difference.