Launching Euzoia: Beeminder for Effective Charities
New app stakes money on goals, donates forfeits to high-impact charities instead of keeping them.
Developers Cameron and Christoph Hartmann have launched Euzoia, a new web application that functions as 'Beeminder for effective charities.' The app is based on the proven concept of commitment contracts, where users stake their own money on achieving a personal goal. If they fail, the money is forfeited. Unlike existing platforms like Beeminder, stickK, or Forfeit, which either keep the money or donate it to a portfolio of average non-governmental organizations, Euzoia directs all forfeited funds exclusively to rigorously vetted, high-impact charities.
The tool is designed for quick adoption, requiring just two minutes to set up a goal and stake, and works across browsers and mobile devices. The founders acknowledge that donating to a good cause might provide less psychological 'pain' than losing money, which is a key driver in commitment contracts' effectiveness. Their solution is simple: users can stake a larger amount to achieve the same motivational effect. They position Euzoia as one component of a broader behavior change strategy, encouraging users to read their detailed post on the topic for a fuller picture.
- Directs forfeited stakes to effective charities, unlike Beeminder/stickK which keep or donate to average NGOs.
- Based on commitment contract studies showing money-at-stake boosts success rates by 60 percentage points.
- Web and mobile app built for a 2-minute setup, allowing users to adjust stake size for desired motivation.
Why It Matters
It turns personal failure into social good, creating a powerful incentive for habit change while funding high-impact causes.