A quest for the best

Abstract

This article recounts the journey of Holden Karnofsky, a young professional, as he attempts to reform the philanthropy sector. Frustrated with the lack of accessible data on the effectiveness of charitable organizations and foundations, Karnofsky establishes GiveWell, an organization dedicated to thoroughly evaluating charities and providing grants to those deemed most impactful. The article highlights Karnofsky’s belief that effective philanthropy requires transparency and data-driven decision-making. It also discusses the challenges faced by GiveWell in its mission, such as limited resources and pushback from established organizations, but also its potential to influence the way donors evaluate and support charities. – AI-generated abstract.