FormallyknownasRoko comments on How to Save the World - Less Wrong

73 Post author: Louie 01 December 2010 05:17PM

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Comment author: VNKKET 01 December 2010 11:40:36PM *  3 points [-]

Thank you for this post! One thing:

  1. Look into matching donations - If you’re gonna give money to charity anyway, you should see if you can get your employer to match your gift. Thousands of employers will match donations to qualified non-profits. When you get free money -- you should take it.

If GiveWell's cost-benefit calculations are remotely right, you should downplay matching donations even more than just making this item second-last. I fear that matching donations are so easy to think about that they will distract people from picking good charities.

Comment author: FormallyknownasRoko 02 December 2010 08:27:20PM 1 point [-]

Sorry, I have to disagree on matching donations.

By switching a matching donation from third-world aid to existential risk mitigation, you do double your impact.

Comment author: VNKKET 12 December 2010 07:10:06AM 0 points [-]

Oh, we agree, I was just unclear about my objection. Fixed.