In June 2026 I ran a ‘matched giving’ to encourage people to give to effective charities improving the lives of those in extreme poverty.

The results are in…

Thank you to everyone who contributed!

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Together we have protected 2,443 children from vitamin A deficiency disorders, such as stunting, anemia, blindness, and death.

Based on the ‘The Life You Can Save’ Impact Calculator and some assumptions about where people donated.

There are many effective charities working to help the extreme poor, but Vitamin A supplementation has been shown to be one of the most effective. Supplements can be provided for $1 a dose. If it’s provided to children twice a year up to the age of 5, the risk of death can be reduced by 25%. 25 percent less risk of death!

It is incredible that we have the medicine to save lives in this way, organisations that efficiently operate in these spaces, technology to pool shared resources and people willing to contribute to improve the world around them.

A 2-minute video on how Vitamin A supplementation can positively improve lives.

Afterthoughts…

Positivity

My first thoughts after this month are ones of positivity. The amount I was matching was met and then exceeded, just by speaking to friends. Rationalizing what contributions from a single month of fundraising can do is inspiring.

I am very grateful of friends who have supported these efforts. Managing to get 18 donors contributing such a significant amount (on average 230 NZD) is really amazing!

Beginning Conversations

I think doing a process like this has been useful to begin conversations with friends about contributing to highly effective charities.

After a slow first few days, a friend told me about “the rule of 7” and how it might apply here. Not too many people set up recurring donations, but hopefully people have begun thinking about change they can make in the world.

Side note… I don’t think donating is the only thing people can and should do to improve the world. Political engagement (e.g., to try avoid the depressing trend in reduced aid spending globally) and changing minds and hearts of those around you is important too…

Clever Ideas

During this process I was, unrelatedly, offered to buy a PLB off a friend of a friend. The cost charged was “a donation to a charity of my choice”. I think this could be a great way to encourage people to give to charities in future, although I may stipulate that it is an effective charity of choice; given effective charities are often have 100x or more impact than other charities.

I am immensely fortunate

Living without having to think very closely about how I will fund my: housing, clothing, eating, and health is a standard of life I think everyone should have. I have much beyond this. I think tools like “How Rich Am I” and “The Birth Lottery” help to bring this point home for me, and continue to motivate me.