Most of us want to make a difference and have a positive impact. Even the most selfish, money-and-status-seeking student has issues they care about. However, in such a complicated world it’s hard to know where to start. You may have a good heart, but without direction, you might end up donating to the first charity fundraiser who approaches you on the street. While this is definitely well-intended, it’s not always the best option, as some charities can do far more good than others.

Effective altruists consider a variety of things when trying to achieve this lofty goal. It seems trivial to point out, but high-impact causes that make a bigger difference, all else being equal, are obviously preferable. Similarly, causes in which progress is easier to achieve are better than ones where the same achievements will take longer and cost more. In general, causes which are more neglected may be better opportunities to do good, as they will be further from the point of reaching diminishing returns.

In order to do the most good you possibly can, you must first decide on your goals. The effective altruism movement can allow you to save more lives and help more people than you could ever have managed otherwise.

Read the full article by Louie Terrill about effective altruism from Felix