Collection

Creating the Greatest Possible Impact: Moneyball Philanthropy & Effective Altruism

Solutions Journalism Network

Can a science of philanthropy inform spending in a way that maximizes the benefit? This collection explores two concepts that proponents believe create the greatest possible impact: effective altruism and moneyball philanthropy. Rather than focusing on interventions that feel good, these approaches encourage the use of data-driven evidence to allocate resources.

Impact measurement appears as a Success Factor in these stories, which span several sectors, including philanthropy, education, and government spending. We meet “effective altruists,” who seek ways to mobilize their personal wealth for the greatest impact. Building on this, the two pieces by Tina Rosenberg’s describe efforts by organizations like ImpactMatters and Charity Navigator to increase the transparency of charities and social programs. David Bornstein’s article examines whether this kind of data-driven approach can help the government evaluate its own programs. We also see an example of the moneyball approach at work in higher education—using data to help boost student outcomes.   

This collection also includes links to two external articles. One is about a former hedge fund owner turned moneyball philanthropist, while the asks us to consider the limitations of data in showing us system-changing ideas.

Click here to explore other social change Success Factors represented in the StoryTracker!

External Links