Our approach to identifying solutions
Solving a problem in the best way calls for choosing the best solution(s)
People working to solve our social and environmental problems have devised multitudes of solutions to address each problem.
For example, programs trying to reduce absenteeism in Kenyan schools have focused on interventions like bringing in more teachers, building new schools; providing books and uniforms, and various health initiatives. |
It might seem like any solution that makes progress is good enough—it’s the thought that counts.
But, a decade of charity research shows that the different solutions can vary dramatically in the degree to which they solve the problem.
Choosing the most difference-making solution and the most impactful charity to support is crucial to maximise the impact of your donations.
Assuming you have already selected a problem area to focus on, not by personal preference or gut feeling, but using a careful framework to prioritise the problem areas where you can have the most significant effect, it’s time to identify the most impactful solutions (or programs) addressing these problems, the charity (or charities) through which your support will do the most good.
Key factors to identify the most promising solutions
We rely on two factors to evaluate which solutions or programs are the most impactful.
Evidence-basis - Is the solution evidence-based?
While many solutions may seem promising, they don't always deliver fully on their intended results. We remain critical and open-minded to accurately assess the true effectiveness of each solution, which might sometimes mean making hard decisions to acknowledge and recommend the most promising solutions within a cause area, rather than settling for those that are merely 'good’. (It’s the difference between ‘making some difference’ and ‘making the largest difference possible’.) |
Cost-effectiveness - Is the solution cost-effective?
Our goal isn’t to pinch pennies but to maximise the impact of our resources and help as many people as possible through our giving. We look for solutions that can save or improve the greatest number of lives per rupee given. As some solutions can achieve almost 10 to 100 times more impact per rupee, it becomes crucial to identify and support those that have the greatest potential to address the problem effectively. |
Examples of the most impactful programs
A large-scale study conducted by the MIT Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in Haryana, India, led by Nobel laureates and MIT economists Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, tested the effectiveness of 75 different interventions aimed at boosting immunisation rates. The findings revealed that a combination of SMS reminders and the involvement of "immunisation ambassadors" (trusted community members who encourage vaccination) increased the number of fully immunised children by 25%.
Likewise, for reducing health disparities, substantial evidence both globally and within India demonstrates significant health improvements resulting from fortified wheat flour. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises fortification as one of the most cost-effective public health strategies. In a resolution adopted in May 2023, delegates at the World Health Assembly highlighted large-scale food fortification as a powerful, evidence-based, and cost-effective intervention to combat the consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
These programs are among those recommended by Impactful Giving as among the best ways to have your gifts go the farthest—help the most people.
Expert evaluators help us identify solutions
Comparing solutions, even within the same cause area, is a complex task.
It requires hundreds of hours of research, specialised expertise, and significant resources to systematically evaluate and identify the most effective options. To ensure we're recommending the best solutions, we collaborate with expert evaluators and researchers, such as those from GiveWell and Founders Pledge, who specialise in identifying high-impact interventions. You can read here about how we select and collaborate with these evaluators. We also hold in high regard the work of researchers and data organisations in the Indian non-profit sector, including J-PAL, Ashoka University, Dasra, and IDinsight.
Impactful Giving’s expert evaluators also identify and recommend non-profits by systematically searching through and evaluating non-profits implementing the most promising solutions. They follow rigorous evaluation techniques based on factors like evidence of the cost-effectiveness of the charity, transparency of their data, and room for funding.
Recommended solutions (programs)
Currently, we recommend the following programs:
Programs in Health and development
Fortification of wheat to improve iron-deficiency anaemia
Boosting vaccination through SMS reminders and ambassadors
Fighting against lead poisoning through policy changes
Limitations of our approach
We are committed to continually refining our recommendations in the light of new insights and emerging research.
However, it's important to acknowledge that the majority of social programs and services have yet to undergo rigorous evaluation. This field is still relatively new, and while significant progress has been made in the past decade, many questions remain unanswered.
Ultimately, generating evidence is an ongoing process, and determining the best course of action requires continuous iteration and evaluation.
If you would like to discuss any of these recommendations or findings, please reach out at team@impactfulgiving.in.