[throwawayinfo]

Isn't it wiser to donate $5 mil after you've lived a full life? Giving away your future nest egg is quite a rash decision for a young person. Especially when that money will almost certainly end up mismanaged or end up in the pockets of cronies.

[Xcelerate]

This is my hesitation. My wife and I debate about whether it is better to donate continuously or save up and donate most of it toward the end of our lives. My argument is that 1) if all human lives are equal in value, then we can help more total humans by letting investments compound 2) if we have some kind of unexpected emergency in life we will really wish we still had that money available. Her argument is that 1) we could die at any time and would not be around to see that the money is used how we like and 2) helping those in need earlier can also compound the benefits for their lives, which could potentially cause those people to then help others, and so on.

I’m not sure which way is “right”.

[svieira]

Her #2 is critical - people have needs now and you're in community with them now. Don't leave for tomorrow the good put before you to do today.

[DudeInBasement]

Why have ridge rules?

[verall]

> Especially when that money will almost certainly end up mismanaged or end up in the pockets of cronies.

This attitude is toxic. It is possible to find charities that fit your own definition of well-managed and it is worth it.

[throwawayinfo]

For sure, but I don't believe it's the majority.

[anonymoushn]

EAs have attempted to calculate how much better it is to donate to e.g. deworming today than to donate to the best cause in a few years. The implied interest rate is decently high.

[thundergolfer]

No, it's not wiser. The charities to which I give have a clear and immediate need of funds to protect children from malaria and worms. It does not help those children if I wait 40 years before giving anything.

> Giving away your future nest egg is quite a rash decision for a young person.

There's risks involved, of course. But the risks are minuscule compared to the risk unfairly borne by others because they do not have the privilege of sophisticated healthcare systems, food, and clean drinking water.

I'm in my twenties and make more money than 99% of my fellow citizens. If I can not find a way to help children literally at severe risk of death before 5 years of age, who can?

[everybodyknows]

>almost certainly end up mismanaged

Not so -- if you do your homework. My first donation is always of time rather money: A thorough, skeptical vetting of the organization itself. Start with reading the Form 990 (in USA). If the org makes its Form 990 hard to get, that's red flag #1.