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Center for High Impact Philanthropy

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP), a center within the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice, aims to assist charitable donors to best maximize the impact of their philanthropic giving through various initiatives and projects. Founded in 2006, CHIP’s overarching mission is to provide research-based guidance for donors seeking to maximize impact for a given level of investment. CHIP identifies places with the potential for meaningful impact and helps prospective contributors learn how and where to give. The Center conducts research on specific causes, offers educational programming like webinars and podcasts, and works collaboratively with high net-worth individuals or families on specific charitable engagements. Also offered are executive education programs that allow charitable foundation executives to learn how to make a greater impact through their organizations, as well as coursework for Penn students about charitable social impact.

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The Life You Can Save 

Peter Singer, a professor of bioethics in the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University, published The Life You Can Save in 2009. Singer asserts that it is possible to fully eradicate world hunger, but current broad humanitarian attempts to end it are both inadequate and “morally indefensible.” Singer uses historical studies on charitable poverty giving and ethical arguments to make the point that those that are able should be doing more. The book received praise for encouraging donors to be smarter about giving and influencing how people think about charity. It sparked a movement by those motivated to engage in productive and impactful poverty alleviation. In 2013, The Life You Can Save organization was formed.

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Givewell

GiveWell is a nonprofit dedicated to finding and recommending outstanding giving opportunities. GiveWell pioneered a new approach to charitable giving by vetting charities’ impact in terms of the lives they save or improve with each donation rather than just their overhead costs. GiveWell's top charities are evidence-backed, cost-effective, transparent, and underfunded. Since 2007, GiveWell has directed more than $260 million to its recommended charities, and thousands of donors rely on its research.

CHARITIES

Population Services International

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Category: Health

Vetting Center: Life You Can Save

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Feeding America​

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Category: Poverty

Vetting Center: Center for High Impact Philantrophy

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GiveDirectly​

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Category: Poverty

Vetting Center: Givewell

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Year Up​

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Category: Education

Vetting Center: Center for High Impact Philantropy

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Children's Literacy Initiative​

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Category: Education

Vetting Center: Center for High Impact Philantropy

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Nurse Family Partnership​

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Category: Health

Vetting Center: Center for High Impact Philantropy

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