Latest news with #TheLifeYouCanSave
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Ways Strategic Philanthropy Can Stay Agile Without Government Funding
Jessica La Mesa is the Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save, a charity evaluator focused on eradicating extreme poverty. The global philanthropic landscape is at a turning point. Recent sweeping cuts to U.S. foreign aid have left high-impact organizations without the resources they need to deliver life-saving services. In this shifting environment, the future of philanthropy will depend on how philanthropic leaders adapt. We must be willing to evolve, respond with urgency and tolerate more impact risk around the changing global conditions and act strategically with how we interact, communicate and call on donors. It's about rethinking how we collaborate, invest and innovate across borders and sectors to ensure that progress is not only preserved but accelerated. Whether you're leading a foundation, managing a high-impact program or directing a nonprofit organization, now is the time to reimagine what effective philanthropy can look like. Identify the immediate and most critical gaps. As federal funding remains uncertain, the giving community needs to work together to identify the programs with the greatest funding need and highest impact on the largest number of beneficiaries. In order to identify these funding opportunities, major funders need to collaborate at a scale not seen before. They must implement ways to cross-share diligence and evaluation across their granting portfolios, discussing the best methodologies to prioritize funding across all of the highest-impact granting opportunities. And then they must coordinate funding to avoid over- and under-funding critical organizations and programs in the ecosystem. For instance, there are still major gaps in funding for health programs addressing malaria, tuberculosis and maternal health that could have catastrophic effects on the poorest communities. These areas, which saved millions of lives in the previous decade, are now threatened. By focusing on the most vulnerable groups, organizations can direct philanthropic resources to those places where they may prevent doomsday reversals for those groups and the world. Know your donors. Knowing your donors—and not just their capacity to contribute—is arguably the most fundamental component of effective philanthropy now. What moves them to give? What's the impact that drives them? As the philanthropic sector becomes increasingly uncertain, nonprofit organizations must engage their donor base substantively and reliably. By establishing relationships based on trust, impact and values, nonprofits can form long-term relationships that drive effective and impactful change. Reaching donors can take many forms depending on how your donor base likes to be interacted with, which may take trial and error. For example, when the USAID freeze and then permanent cuts were first announced, our team at The Life You Can Save, which primarily works with the most impactful global charities fighting extreme poverty, pivoted quickly to reach our donors. Increasing our newsletter cadence, cold calling donors and initiating even more personal face-to-face interactions with larger donors have helped foster relationships and trust-building across our benefactors. Work together and collaborate. I often think about how scientists and governments across the world collaborated to an extent never seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling the production of vaccines and a return to normal life in record time. We need collaboration of this scale on both sides of the aid ecosystem. There has always been competition for limited resources, but to maintain and grow levels of service delivery and impact, it may be necessary to ideate partnerships, collaborations or even consolidations that will enable their work to continue. For example, the Rapid Response Fund—a partnership between our organization and Founders Pledge—brought together several different donor types to raise millions for high-impact foreign aid organizations. I remember the day I went to Dominic Finelli at Founders Pledge with the idea of uniting our organizations to bring this fund to life, right when our donors were looking for a way to help nonprofits facing funding cuts. From large-scale philanthropists to charitable startup founders to retail donors, funds created in partnership bring together more donors of different backgrounds, bringing in more capital for causes in need and making a deeper impact than if we all worked alone. Act urgently. Now is the moment that everyone needs to accelerate their contributions and get their capital off the sidelines, as this is a moment we can come together and demonstrate that we want to live in a more just and fair world. The velocity that is required to save lives and maintain critical programs requires donors to move quickly with rigor and balance. It also requires funders to be more flexible than they were before and consider relinquishing capital allocation decisions to experts in the space who have done the research to understand where capital can be most effective. Be flexible with shifting landscapes. The problems facing philanthropy today are huge, but they are not insurmountable. The approach you took last year may not work the same this year. The donors who showed up for you in the past may need more convincing now. Be flexible to adapt to the changing behaviors, giving patterns and financial aid that may no longer be available. By focusing on the most pressing gaps, knowing donors, building strong alliances, acting with a sense of urgency and possessing a clear plan for grant distribution, philanthropy can still make a difference even in a post-government era of funding. Nonprofit executives and philanthropic organizations must stay nimble, flexible and innovative to continue their effectiveness in this new landscape. To those committed to ensuring the world becomes a better place, these strategies are not just convenient—they are essential. With the right plan, we can ensure the work of stopping poverty, cutting disease and empowering communities is a continued success no matter what challenges come our way. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peter Singer Named to the Inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy List
Founder of The Life You Can Save and philosopher named as top 100 most influential leaders in philanthropy SEATTLE, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TIME named Peter Singer, founder of The Life You Can Save, to its inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy, a list recognizing the most influential people shaping the future of giving. Singer, a moral philosopher and professor of bioethics, is widely credited with sparking the global effective altruism movement. Singer's 2009 book, titled The Life You Can Save — and the nonprofit organization of the same name — have helped redirect hundreds of millions of dollars to the most cost-effective charities working to alleviate extreme poverty globally. "This recognition by TIME is not just an honor for me — it's a spotlight on the power of effective giving," said Singer. "It shows that by using evidence and reason, we can have an extraordinary impact on the lives of people living in poverty." Singer was named to TIME100 Philanthropy for revolutionizing modern philanthropy, on top of an extensive library of published work spanning 50 books and hundreds of essays. As the originator of effective altruism, Singer has redefined philanthropy through a moral framework emphasizing measurable impact and cost-effectiveness, bringing the most funds to the causes that will bring about the greatest change. His work has inspired a new generation of donors, researchers, and nonprofit leaders to think more with their head over their heart, redirecting billions in charitable dollars to the world's most urgent and solvable problems, specifically working to end extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The Life You Can Save surpassed $100 million in donations in 2024, ten years after Singer founded the organization. "Peter's work has inspired countless individuals to rethink what it means to give effectively," said Jessica La Mesa, co-CEO of The Life You Can Save. "We are honored to carry forward his vision by connecting donors with high-impact giving opportunities, truly changing lives through this organization." The TIME100 Philanthropy list debuts in 2025 as an extension of the iconic TIME100, spotlighting leaders whose work fundamentally reshapes how capital, compassion, and community intersect. The full list will appear in the June 9, 2025 issue of TIME, available on newsstands on Friday, May 30. To see the full list of the 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy now, visit About The Life You Can SaveThe Life You Can Save was founded to promote high-impact philanthropy, meaning giving that is research-based and cost-effective. Its mission is to improve the lives of people living in poverty by changing the way people think about and donate to charity. The team at The Life You Can Save does research to develop a list of recommended nonprofits delivering high-impact interventions across all of the dimensions of poverty. The Life You Can Save works to raise awareness of and connect donors with its recommended giving opportunities to increase the impact of giving. Through research and funds, The Life You Can Save offers a simplified donating process for individuals who want to maximize their impact in uplifting people experiencing extreme poverty. Learn more about high-impact philanthropy at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Life You Can Save Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peter Singer
Credit - Courtesy Alletta Vaandering Through clear-eyed arguments and ceaseless advocacy, Australian philosopher Peter Singer has revolutionized modern philanthropy—twice. His 1972 essay 'Famine, Affluence, and Morality' argued that people ought to prevent suffering from death and poverty when they can do so without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance. It has long influenced giving strategies for wealthy donors and laid the foundation for the effective altruism movement. Meanwhile, his 1975 book Animal Liberation, which argued that the interests of non-human animals deserve equal moral consideration, helped launch the modern animal welfare movement. Last year, Singer's charity, The Life You Can Save, which makes research-based recommendations of nonprofits fighting extreme poverty, passed the $100 million mark in donations to organizations it recommends, a decade after its founding. And in recognition of his impact, Singer, a professor emeritus of bioethics at Princeton, won the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture in 2021, donating the $1 million that came with it to high-impact charities tackling extreme poverty and animal suffering. While broadly celebrated, Singer's utilitarian views have also attracted controversy: for example, he's faced significant criticism from some disability advocates, religious groups, and fellow bioethicists for arguing that, in certain cases, euthanasia of newborns with severe disabilities is morally permissible. At the same time, Singer, 78, continues to argue that all sentient beings deserve moral consideration. 'I'm happy that I'm still around, having some influence, and I hope to have some years to expand that influence,' says Singer, whose 2024 book Consider the Turkey was the latest in an extensive body of work that includes 50 books and hundreds of essays. 'That seems to me to be the best thing I can do with the remaining time that I have.' Contact us at letters@
Los Angeles Times
26-02-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Emergency fundraisers offer a lifeline to groups that lost foreign aid
NEW YORK — Though they know they can never replace all the money lost due to the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance, nonprofits are fundraising to help organizations struggling with the cuts. Unlock Aid, which advocates for U.S. Agency for International Development reforms, started the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund last week. It will take donations and make grants to groups around the world to try to avert some of the worst impacts of this policy change. Other groups including Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save have also launched fundraising campaigns. The Network for Empowered Aid Response, a coalition of civil society organizations from developing countries, has opened a fund, though it's not accepting donations from individuals. GlobalGiving, a nonprofit that fundraises for grassroots international organizations, was one of the first to launch a campaign to support affected groups. As part of a barrage of executive orders in his first days in office, President Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance to review whether it aligned with his policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio turned off the funding spigots essentially overnight. At the urging of billionaire advisor Elon Musk, mass layoffs of USAID staff followed. 'I don't think we're under any illusion that the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund is going to close the entirety of the gap,' said Walter Kerr, co-executive director of the nonprofit Unlock Aid. 'But I think in a moment like this, people need to do what they can.' An independent group of advisors will decide on the grants and has already awarded several. While any organization can apply, it will prioritize giving to direct service providers and groups that have diversified sources of revenue. The U.S. spent $68 billion on foreign aid in 2023 and is the largest global funder of humanitarian responses. Programs funding HIV treatment, disease monitoring, child vaccinations, refugee support and malnutrition treatments have halted because of the freeze. Many in the international aid sector believe U.S. funding will never fully return. 'This is not about ending foreign aid, but restructuring assistance to serve U.S. interests and ensure money spent on aid programs actually reaches people in need,' said a State Department spokesperson in an emailed statement. A group of nonprofits sued over the freeze and a judge Tuesday ordered USAID and the State Department to resume payments by Thursday. Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save said just the nonprofits they have previously supported face almost $100 million in funding shortfalls because of the freeze. Founders Pledge asks business people to promise a portion of the money they make from startups and investments to charities. They research and recommend different nonprofit programs their members can give to. Similarly, The Life You Can Save, founded by Australian philosopher Peter Singer, recommends charities that work on reducing extreme poverty. David Goldberg, co-founder and CEO of Founders Pledge, hopes to raise tens of millions for their fund. But even 'fractions of that money save real lives, prevent people from dying needlessly who otherwise would live,' he said. 'So I think everything matters and we should be aiming to have as much public support for this as possible.' Their rapid response fund has already donated $100,000 and will only give to organizations they've already vetted, Goldberg said. The U.S. funding freeze has cascaded through the international development ecosystem. Many American businesses have also lost funding and thousands of American workers have lost jobs as the vast majority of U.S. foreign assistance actually went through U.S.-based organizations. 'I do deeply hope that philanthropy and individual donors step up in this moment. Philanthropy can never fill the gap that public funding fills,' said Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving. 'And yet, I do believe that organized philanthropy, corporate philanthropy, foundations can and should do more.' When Unlock Aid began planning their bridge fund, they wanted to make it as easy as possible for donors to give. Their fund is sponsored by Panorama Global, a philanthropic consulting nonprofit, so people in the U.S. can claim a tax deduction. The donation link is hosted by an online giving platform which can process payments from credit cards and stocks to cryptocurrencies. Amanda Arch, co-executive director of Unlock Aid, said their emergency fund has received gifts in all of those forms so far. 'When we think about the ability to do really quick and urgent mobilization, it's just amazing to see the infrastructure and how it's evolved to meet these types of moments,' she said. They also reached out to people who had experience mobilizing money held in donor-advised funds, a type of investing vehicle for funds that are earmarked for nonprofits. Donors immediately get a tax benefit when they put money in a donor-advised fund, but there is no deadline when it must be given to a nonprofit. While major foundations have been listening to grantees and watching closely, few have announced major changes to their funding strategies, even in the face of so much need. People who consult with major foundations said they may be waiting to see what comes next from the administration and to see how ongoing court challenges play out. The amount of money stored in donor-advised funds has ballooned in recent years from $148 billion in 2019 to $251 billion in 2023, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. Kerr and Arch spoke with Jennifer Risher, who started a pandemic-era campaign called #HalfMyDAF along with her husband, Lyft CEO David Risher, that asked donors to give away half the money in their donor-advised fund accounts. With the Rishers matching some donations, the campaign has tracked $70 million in gifts in four years. Risher said it was nice to take a tangible step and advise Unlock Aid. 'I love seeing them take action and setting a goal,' she said. 'That's exciting to see.' Beaty writes for the Associated Press.
Washington Post
26-02-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Emergency fundraisers offer a lifeline to groups who've lost foreign aid
NEW YORK — Though they know they can never replace all the money lost due to the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance, nonprofits are fundraising to help organizations struggling with the cuts. Unlock Aid, which advocates for U.S. Agency for International Development reforms, started the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund last week. It will take donations and make grants to groups around the world to try to avert some of the worst impacts of this policy change. Other groups including Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save have also launched fundraising campaigns . The Network for Empowered Aid Response, a coalition of civil society organizations from developing countries, has opened a fund , though it's not accepting donations from individuals. GlobalGiving, a nonprofit that fundraises for grassroots international organizations, was one of the first to launch a campaign to support impacted groups. As part of a barrage of executive orders in his first days in office, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance to review whether it aligned with his policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio turned off the funding spigots essentially overnight. At the urging of billionaire advisor Elon Musk, mass layoffs of USAID staff followed. 'I don't think we're under any illusion that the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund is going to close the entirety of the gap,' said Walter Kerr, co-executive director of the nonprofit Unlock Aid. 'But I think in a moment like this, people need to do what they can.' An independent group of advisors will decide on the grants and has already awarded several. While any organization can apply, it will prioritize giving to direct service providers and groups that have diversified sources of revenue. The U.S. spent $68 billion on foreign aid in 2023 and is the largest global funder of humanitarian responses. Programs funding HIV treatment , disease monitoring , child vaccinations, refugee support and malnutrition treatments have halted because of the freeze. Many in the international aid sector believe U.S. funding will never fully return. 'This is not about ending foreign aid, but restructuring assistance to serve U.S. interests and ensure money spent on aid programs actually reaches people in need,' said a State Department spokesperson in an emailed statement. A group of nonprofits sued over the freeze and a judge Tuesday ordered USAID and the State Department to resume payments by Thursday. Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save said just the nonprofits they have previously supported face almost $100 million in funding shortfalls because of the freeze. Founders Pledge asks business people to promise a portion of the money they make from startups and investments to charities. They research and recommend different nonprofit programs their members can give to. Similarly, The Life You Can Save, founded by the Australian philosopher Peter Singer, recommends charities that work on reducing extreme poverty. David Goldberg, co-founder and CEO of Founders Pledge, hopes to raise tens of millions for their fund. But even 'fractions of that money save real lives, prevent people from dying needlessly who otherwise would live,' he said. 'So I think everything matters and we should be aiming to have as much public support for this as possible.' Their rapid response fund has already donated $100,000 and will only give to organizations they've already vetted, Goldberg said. The U.S. funding freeze has cascaded through the international development ecosystem. Many American businesses have also lost funding and thousands of American workers have lost jobs as the vast majority of U.S. foreign assistance actually went through U.S.-based organizations. 'I do deeply hope that philanthropy and individual donors step up in this moment. Philanthropy can never fill the gap that public funding fills,' said Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving. 'And yet, I do believe that organized philanthropy, corporate philanthropy, foundations can and should do more.' When Unlock Aid began planning their bridge fund, they wanted to make it as easy as possible for donors to give. Their fund is sponsored by Panorama Global, a philanthropic consulting nonprofit, so people in the U.S. can claim a tax deduction. The donation link is hosted by an online giving platform which can process payments from credit cards and stocks to cryptocurrencies. Amanda Arch, co-executive director of Unlock Aid, said their emergency fund has received gifts in all of those forms so far. 'When we think about the ability to do really quick and urgent mobilization, it's just amazing to see the infrastructure and how it's evolved to meet these types of moments,' she said. They also reached out to people who had experience mobilizing money held in donor-advised funds (DAF), a type of investing vehicle for funds that are earmarked for nonprofits. Donors immediately get a tax benefit when they put money in a DAF, but there is no deadline when it must be given to a nonprofit. While major foundations have been listening to grantees and watching closely, few have announced major changes to their funding strategies, even in the face of so much need. People who consult with major foundations said they may be waiting to see what comes next from the administration and to see how ongoing court challenges play out. The amount of money stored in DAFs has ballooned in recent years from $148 billion in 2019 to $251 billion in 2023, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. Kerr and Arch spoke with Jennifer Risher, who started a pandemic-era campaign called #HalfMyDAF along with her husband, Lyft CEO David Risher, that asked donors to give away half the money in their DAF accounts. With the Rishers matching some donations, the campaign has tracked $70 million in gifts in four years. Risher said it was nice to take a tangible step and advise Unlock Aid. 'I love seeing them take action and setting a goal,' she said. 'That's exciting to see.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit .
