10 years of earning to give

Abstract

This article provides a personal account of an individual’s experiences with and reflections on a decade of practicing Earning to Give (EtG), a concept that encourages individuals with high earning potential to donate a significant portion of their income to effective charities. It begins by describing the author’s initial skepticism about EtG, influenced by negative portrayals in the media. The author then details his personal journey, including his early motivations and adherence to the Giving What We Can pledge, his career path as a trader, and his gradual increase in household spending over time. He discusses his reasoning behind saving and donating strategies, citing concerns about burnout and the desire to balance personal and altruistic goals. The author highlights the challenges of maintaining altruistic motivation within the EA community, especially as it shifts towards focusing on networking, connections, and job opportunities rather than addressing the underlying motivations and values of donors. He argues for the importance of seeking inspiration and validation from diverse sources and expresses disappointment at the lack of attention given to non-financial ways of doing good. The author concludes by reflecting on the moral implications of his financial choices, emphasizing the value of considering the opportunity cost of personal wealth accumulation when assessing the impact of donations. – AI-generated abstract.