Donations, The Fifth Year
An effective altruist feels her donations just subsidize billionaires, not save lives.
Deep Dive
After five years of dutifully donating 10% of her income, the author feels confused and sad. She believes her contributions to top-recommended charities like the Against Malaria Foundation merely subsidize major institutional donors like tech billionaires, rather than providing critical, neglected funding. This realization challenges the core EA principle of marginal utility and has led to a crisis of confidence in the movement's current direction and donor helplessness.
Why It Matters
It questions whether a major philanthropic movement has lost its original, impactful DIY spirit.