The Pledge
Each member of Giving What We Can has made a public pledge to give a substantial portion of his or her income to organizations dedicated to fighting global poverty.
The Pledge to Give
I recognise that I can use part of my income to do a significant amount of good in the developing world. Since I can live well enough on a smaller income, I pledge that from today until the day I retire, I shall give at least ten percent of what I earn to whichever organizations can most effectively use it to help people in developing countries. I make this pledge freely, openly, and without regret.
Giving What We Can is built around this pledge. The idea is twofold. Firstly, making such a pledge helps each individual give more than they otherwise would: it lets them clearly see just how much good they can personally achieve, it lets them plan their budget to take account of giving, and it removes temptations to stop giving.
The pledge also helps on a larger level:
- It makes a public declaration of our beliefs on the importance of world poverty and shows the strength of these convictions.
- It forms a society of givers: encouraging others to join us and letting us share advice on the most effective ways to give.
- It provides hope for the future as a new kind of organisation built around a new way of giving.
For more details about the pledge please see here.
This is not the only way to get involved with Giving What We Can. Some people have made other pledges, including the Further Pledge and The Give More Tomorrow Pledge. If you are not sure about making a commitment yet you can Try Out Giving on a short-term basis first. We are also looking for volunteers to help with our research, and in many other areas. We realise that this may seem to be a big commitment, and one you would like to discuss with others who have made it. If you have any questions, please email us or chat to a member.
