This charity is giving cash directly to Americans suffering during the coronavirus crisis

Abstract

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who have been laid off as the coronavirus pandemic brings many businesses to the brink of collapse, the upcoming months look terrifying. That’s why policy think tanks and economists across the political spectrum (and even many lawmakers) have rallied around the same solution: sending you a lot of money, right away. Now, a nonprofit that pioneered large-scale direct cash transfers to people is moving fast to do just that. GiveDirectly is a charity that takes donor money and gives it straight to poor people, typically those who live in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last 10 years, the organization has moved $140 million to people in need. The principle behind the charity is simple: Instead of deciding for people in a poor area whether they need a cow or a water pump or a textbook, why not put cash in their hands and let them figure it out?