Introductory Material
This matters because while many efforts to do good fall short, some can have an outsized impact. In fact, certain charities are up to 100 or even 1,000 times more effective than others at achieving results with the same resources.
By carefully evaluating how we can do the most good, we can dramatically improve outcomes.
Originating from academic work at Oxford University, Effective Altruism has since grown into a global movement, with tens of thousands of people in over 70 countries putting its principles into action. Their work spans a wide range of areas from distributing hundreds of millions of malaria nets, to researching the long-term impacts of artificial intelligence, to advocating for pandemic prevention policies. What unites them isn’t a single cause, but a shared commitment to using reason and evidence to maximize their positive impact.
If you're interested in learning more, see the following introductory materials:
The Effective Altruism Handbook
This series of articles will introduce you to some of the core thinking tools behind effective altruism, share some of the arguments about which global problems are most pressing, and help you to reflect on how you personally can contribute.
Join an Introductory EA Fellowship
A program designed to introduce newcomers to the core ideas of effective altruism! Participants engage in weekly discussions, complete curated readings and exercises, and connect with like-minded individuals to explore questions like global poverty, animal welfare, and global catastrophic risks, learning to apply these principles to their personal and professional lives to have the greatest possible impact.
Local EA groups typically run their own Introductory Fellowships at different times of the year. Kindly reach out to us if you are interested in joining one!
Dive Deeper
Effective Altruism isn’t just a single idea—it’s a growing body of knowledge built by researchers, philosophers, scientists, and everyday people asking one powerful question: How can we use our resources to help others the most?
There's a rich landscape of ideas waiting for you to explore and we highly encourage you to dive deeper!
