have you ever donated to charity and wondered what impact has my donation
wondered what impact has my donation
wondered what impact has my donation actually made I’m going to talk you
actually made I’m going to talk you
actually made I’m going to talk you through my journey and exploring that
through my journey and exploring that
through my journey and exploring that question through my experiences in the
question through my experiences in the
question through my experiences in the charity sector through my decision to
charity sector through my decision to
charity sector through my decision to create the only comprehensive database
create the only comprehensive database
create the only comprehensive database of charity impact in the UK and the
of charity impact in the UK and the
of charity impact in the UK and the fascinating insights that came from
fascinating insights that came from
fascinating insights that came from analyzing that data including the
analyzing that data including the
analyzing that data including the realization that not only can all of us
realization that not only can all of us
realization that not only can all of us have a huge impact on people’s lives
have a huge impact on people’s lives
have a huge impact on people’s lives through the directions we make but
through the directions we make but
through the directions we make but through smart giving through being a
through smart giving through being a
through smart giving through being a data-driven donor we can multiply that
data-driven donor we can multiply that
data-driven donor we can multiply that impact by a factor of 100 or even a
impact by a factor of 100 or even a
impact by a factor of 100 or even a thousand first let’s start with the
thousand first let’s start with the
thousand first let’s start with the question when you donate to charity do
question when you donate to charity do
question when you donate to charity do you ever have that feeling that your
you ever have that feeling that your
you ever have that feeling that your money is just going into a black hole
money is just going into a black hole
money is just going into a black hole does it ever feel like I’ve given 10
does it ever feel like I’ve given 10
does it ever feel like I’ve given 10 pounds and all I know now is that I’m
pounds and all I know now is that I’m
pounds and all I know now is that I’m ten pounds poorer I felt like a great
ten pounds poorer I felt like a great
ten pounds poorer I felt like a great way to get to the bottom of this
way to get to the bottom of this
way to get to the bottom of this question was to spend more time with
question was to spend more time with
question was to spend more time with actual charities so I volunteered with
actual charities so I volunteered with
actual charities so I volunteered with several there are lots of anecdotes I
several there are lots of anecdotes I
several there are lots of anecdotes I could tell about my experiences i’m
could tell about my experiences i’m
could tell about my experiences i’m going to choose just one I was
going to choose just one I was
going to choose just one I was volunteering with a phone helpline and
volunteering with a phone helpline and
volunteering with a phone helpline and one particular cool that I got from a
one particular cool that I got from a
one particular cool that I got from a distressed person is one that I don’t
distressed person is one that I don’t
distressed person is one that I don’t think I’ll ever forget that person told
think I’ll ever forget that person told
think I’ll ever forget that person told me about traumas that they’d experienced
me about traumas that they’d experienced
me about traumas that they’d experienced that were so horrific I was in all at
that were so horrific I was in all at
that were so horrific I was in all at that person strength and resilience to
that person strength and resilience to
that person strength and resilience to survive what they had survived I was in
survive what they had survived I was in
survive what they had survived I was in anger at the injustice of a world where
anger at the injustice of a world where
anger at the injustice of a world where something like this could happen when I
something like this could happen when I
something like this could happen when I was next in the branch there was a note
was next in the branch there was a note
was next in the branch there was a note for me that person I’ve been speaking to
for me that person I’ve been speaking to
for me that person I’ve been speaking to had called back and wanted me to know
had called back and wanted me to know
had called back and wanted me to know that through that conversation there had
that through that conversation there had
that through that conversation there had been a connection made
been a connection made
been a connection made it was a turning point and the thing I
it was a turning point and the thing I
it was a turning point and the thing I don’t think I’ll ever forget is that
don’t think I’ll ever forget is that
don’t think I’ll ever forget is that that person was alive today and they
that person was alive today and they
that person was alive today and they wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t been
wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t been
wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t been there I felt really humbled and
there I felt really humbled and
there I felt really humbled and privileged to have had that sort of
privileged to have had that sort of
privileged to have had that sort of impact on the life of somebody who was
impact on the life of somebody who was
impact on the life of somebody who was suicidally despairing and it was through
suicidally despairing and it was through
suicidally despairing and it was through experiences like this one and many
experiences like this one and many
experiences like this one and many others that I came to realize that of
others that I came to realize that of
others that I came to realize that of course the answer is no it’s not a black
course the answer is no it’s not a black
course the answer is no it’s not a black hole when you donate to charity it’s not
hole when you donate to charity it’s not
hole when you donate to charity it’s not just going nowhere that the charity
just going nowhere that the charity
just going nowhere that the charity sector really is having an impact on
sector really is having an impact on
sector really is having an impact on people’s lives that it is really making
people’s lives that it is really making
people’s lives that it is really making people’s lives better so why was it that
people’s lives better so why was it that
people’s lives better so why was it that for me as a charity donor I still felt
for me as a charity donor I still felt
for me as a charity donor I still felt dissatisfied with this answer I thought
dissatisfied with this answer I thought
dissatisfied with this answer I thought about it’s more and at the time I was
about it’s more and at the time I was
about it’s more and at the time I was working in finance I was crunching data
working in finance I was crunching data
working in finance I was crunching data on companies and helping investors to
on companies and helping investors to
on companies and helping investors to optimize their outcomes for their
optimize their outcomes for their
optimize their outcomes for their portfolios um and I was wondering is
portfolios um and I was wondering is
portfolios um and I was wondering is this some way that i can use data
this some way that i can use data
this some way that i can use data analysis to help me to make better
analysis to help me to make better
analysis to help me to make better charitable giving decisions so that I’m
charitable giving decisions so that I’m
charitable giving decisions so that I’m not just trying to answer the question
not just trying to answer the question
not just trying to answer the question am i giving to a charity that does
am i giving to a charity that does
am i giving to a charity that does something and not nothing but rather to
something and not nothing but rather to
something and not nothing but rather to try and do the most good i can with the
try and do the most good i can with the
try and do the most good i can with the donations that I’m making when I was
donations that I’m making when I was
donations that I’m making when I was thinking about this there was one idea
thinking about this there was one idea
thinking about this there was one idea that seemed really seductive I thought
that seemed really seductive I thought
that seemed really seductive I thought why don’t we get all of the charities
why don’t we get all of the charities
why don’t we get all of the charities list them out and rank them according to
list them out and rank them according to
list them out and rank them according to how much they spend on admin or how much
how much they spend on admin or how much
how much they spend on admin or how much they spend on overheads this seemed
they spend on overheads this seemed
they spend on overheads this seemed really promising but I’d also seen
really promising but I’d also seen
really promising but I’d also seen through my experiences in the charity
through my experiences in the charity
through my experiences in the charity sector from being a trustee of many
sector from being a trustee of many
sector from being a trustee of many charities I realized that actually this
charities I realized that actually this
charities I realized that actually this was not going to work I discovered that
was not going to work I discovered that
was not going to work I discovered that admin expenses as a ratio give you a
admin expenses as a ratio give you a
admin expenses as a ratio give you a full sense of efficiency and a full
full sense of efficiency and a full
full sense of efficiency and a full sense of transparency for example
sense of transparency for example
sense of transparency for example imagine you have the start off
imagine you have the start off
imagine you have the start off complement of a
complement of a
complement of a and then you take out the admin stuff
and then you take out the admin stuff
and then you take out the admin stuff what happens well the admin work doesn’t
what happens well the admin work doesn’t
what happens well the admin work doesn’t go away and so it means that the
go away and so it means that the
go away and so it means that the remaining staff possibly more qualified
remaining staff possibly more qualified
remaining staff possibly more qualified staff end up picking up the remaining
staff end up picking up the remaining
staff end up picking up the remaining work by focusing on lower admin we might
work by focusing on lower admin we might
work by focusing on lower admin we might not be making a charity more efficient
not be making a charity more efficient
not be making a charity more efficient we might be making them less efficient
we might be making them less efficient
we might be making them less efficient also there’s no hard and fast rule about
also there’s no hard and fast rule about
also there’s no hard and fast rule about what is admin and what isn’t admin so by
what is admin and what isn’t admin so by
what is admin and what isn’t admin so by optimizing for the lowest admin costs we
optimizing for the lowest admin costs we
optimizing for the lowest admin costs we might actually just be choosing a
might actually just be choosing a
might actually just be choosing a charity that classified expenses in one
charity that classified expenses in one
charity that classified expenses in one way rather than another way and this is
way rather than another way and this is
way rather than another way and this is actually not what we’re interested in at
actually not what we’re interested in at
actually not what we’re interested in at all so admin expenses overheads this I
all so admin expenses overheads this I
all so admin expenses overheads this I realized it’s not helping us inspiration
realized it’s not helping us inspiration
realized it’s not helping us inspiration came for what might be useful when I was
came for what might be useful when I was
came for what might be useful when I was buying a mobile phone it was an
buying a mobile phone it was an
buying a mobile phone it was an important decision and there are lots of
important decision and there are lots of
important decision and there are lots of questions to ask but I realized at no
questions to ask but I realized at no
questions to ask but I realized at no point was i asking but how much is
point was i asking but how much is
point was i asking but how much is Samson’s CEO paid how much does Apple
Samson’s CEO paid how much does Apple
Samson’s CEO paid how much does Apple spend on admin there were lots of
spend on admin there were lots of
spend on admin there were lots of questions that I did ask and they
questions that I did ask and they
questions that I did ask and they followed a pattern how much does the
followed a pattern how much does the
followed a pattern how much does the phone cost what do i get for my money i
phone cost what do i get for my money i
phone cost what do i get for my money i wondered could this be a framework for
wondered could this be a framework for
wondered could this be a framework for thinking about charitable giving too is
thinking about charitable giving too is
thinking about charitable giving too is there an appetite amongst donors for
there an appetite amongst donors for
there an appetite amongst donors for thinking in this way well clearly to
thinking in this way well clearly to
thinking in this way well clearly to some extent there must be because some
some extent there must be because some
some extent there must be because some charities are already using this source
charities are already using this source
charities are already using this source of language in their marketing is the
of language in their marketing is the
of language in their marketing is the data available well I’m very familiar
data available well I’m very familiar
data available well I’m very familiar with the charity sector I’ve know how
with the charity sector I’ve know how
with the charity sector I’ve know how charities put together their reports and
charities put together their reports and
charities put together their reports and where they go and I had to look around
where they go and I had to look around
where they go and I had to look around and I found that even outside of that
and I found that even outside of that
and I found that even outside of that minority of charities that communicate
minority of charities that communicate
minority of charities that communicate in this way the answer is yes there is
in this way the answer is yes there is
in this way the answer is yes there is charity impact data out there not always
charity impact data out there not always
charity impact data out there not always for every charity not always to the same
for every charity not always to the same
for every charity not always to the same level of detail and standards that I’d
level of detail and standards that I’d
level of detail and standards that I’d like but yes there is charity impact
like but yes there is charity impact
like but yes there is charity impact data out there in the public domain on
data out there in the public domain on
data out there in the public domain on the internet was there anybody who was
the internet was there anybody who was
the internet was there anybody who was already taking all of the data that’s
already taking all of the data that’s
already taking all of the data that’s out there and putting it together in
out there and putting it together in
out there and putting it together in one nice structured place where it can
one nice structured place where it can
one nice structured place where it can be analyzed and used there wasn’t my
be analyzed and used there wasn’t my
be analyzed and used there wasn’t my project started just with me and a
project started just with me and a
project started just with me and a spreadsheet on Saturday afternoons or in
spreadsheet on Saturday afternoons or in
spreadsheet on Saturday afternoons or in evenings going around on the internet
evenings going around on the internet
evenings going around on the internet picking up data putting it in there
picking up data putting it in there
picking up data putting it in there after I got to almost a hundred
after I got to almost a hundred
after I got to almost a hundred charities I started to analyze and
charities I started to analyze and
charities I started to analyze and understand the data more and some really
understand the data more and some really
understand the data more and some really interesting stuff came out of that in
interesting stuff came out of that in
interesting stuff came out of that in this chart each dot represents one
this chart each dot represents one
this chart each dot represents one charity so for example that dot in the
charity so for example that dot in the
charity so for example that dot in the middle there is nay pack the National
middle there is nay pack the National
middle there is nay pack the National Association for people abused in
Association for people abused in
Association for people abused in childhood in this case I’ve actually met
childhood in this case I’ve actually met
childhood in this case I’ve actually met with the management team of that charity
with the management team of that charity
with the management team of that charity and I can vouch for the fact that these
and I can vouch for the fact that these
and I can vouch for the fact that these guys are smart credible they really know
guys are smart credible they really know
guys are smart credible they really know what they’re talking about in this up in
what they’re talking about in this up in
what they’re talking about in this up in their subject area one of the volunteers
their subject area one of the volunteers
their subject area one of the volunteers in this project has gathered data on
in this project has gathered data on
in this project has gathered data on this charity and based on that I’d
this charity and based on that I’d
this charity and based on that I’d estimate that if you can donate a
estimate that if you can donate a
estimate that if you can donate a hundred pounds to this charity for
hundred pounds to this charity for
hundred pounds to this charity for example maybe you donate ten pounds a
example maybe you donate ten pounds a
example maybe you donate ten pounds a month for almost a year then you funded
month for almost a year then you funded
month for almost a year then you funded them enough to enable one person to get
them enough to enable one person to get
them enough to enable one person to get access to their services via their phone
access to their services via their phone
access to their services via their phone helpline I phone helpline not dissimilar
helpline I phone helpline not dissimilar
helpline I phone helpline not dissimilar to the one that I volunteered on myself
to the one that I volunteered on myself
to the one that I volunteered on myself and if you do that you’ve done something
and if you do that you’ve done something
and if you do that you’ve done something really awesome you’ve enabled someone to
really awesome you’ve enabled someone to
really awesome you’ve enabled someone to get access to something that might be
get access to something that might be
get access to something that might be really useful information or it might be
really useful information or it might be
really useful information or it might be an extraordinary transformative
an extraordinary transformative
an extraordinary transformative life-changing event and if you’ve done
life-changing event and if you’ve done
life-changing event and if you’ve done that that’s amazing and I’d really like
that that’s amazing and I’d really like
that that’s amazing and I’d really like to congratulate you for that the real
to congratulate you for that the real
to congratulate you for that the real opportunity comes when we use the data
opportunity comes when we use the data
opportunity comes when we use the data to explore the rest of the charity space
remember earlier I said there were two
remember earlier I said there were two questions we were interested in one of
questions we were interested in one of
questions we were interested in one of them is how much does it cost to achieve
them is how much does it cost to achieve
them is how much does it cost to achieve a charitable outcome a vaccination a
a charitable outcome a vaccination a
a charitable outcome a vaccination a child educated or whatever and what do
child educated or whatever and what do
child educated or whatever and what do we get for our money how much good does
we get for our money how much good does
we get for our money how much good does that outcome create and that’s what
that outcome create and that’s what
that outcome create and that’s what these two axes represent the x-axis over
these two axes represent the x-axis over
these two axes represent the x-axis over here is how much does it cost
here is how much does it cost
here is how much does it cost if you go further to the right it
if you go further to the right it
if you go further to the right it becomes cheaper and the y-axis is an
becomes cheaper and the y-axis is an
becomes cheaper and the y-axis is an estimate of how much good is done /
estimate of how much good is done /
estimate of how much good is done / thing funded let’s look at another one
thing funded let’s look at another one
thing funded let’s look at another one of these dots this dot over here which
of these dots this dot over here which
of these dots this dot over here which it should be slightly to the left sorry
it should be slightly to the left sorry
it should be slightly to the left sorry slide to the right represents SC I
slide to the right represents SC I
slide to the right represents SC I there’s just the samaya sysctl
there’s just the samaya sysctl
there’s just the samaya sysctl initiative this is a charity that treats
initiative this is a charity that treats
initiative this is a charity that treats people mostly in Africa for a parasitic
people mostly in Africa for a parasitic
people mostly in Africa for a parasitic got disease these treatments enable
got disease these treatments enable
got disease these treatments enable people to to not have this disease
people to to not have this disease
people to to not have this disease anymore which obviously has a clear
anymore which obviously has a clear
anymore which obviously has a clear impact on the well-being and there’s
impact on the well-being and there’s
impact on the well-being and there’s also a number of subtle and robustly
also a number of subtle and robustly
also a number of subtle and robustly tested impacts on education and income
tested impacts on education and income
tested impacts on education and income in later life it’s also a really
in later life it’s also a really
in later life it’s also a really reliable and consistent treatment the
reliable and consistent treatment the
reliable and consistent treatment the fascinating thing is that this is
fascinating thing is that this is
fascinating thing is that this is incredibly inexpensive taking into
incredibly inexpensive taking into
incredibly inexpensive taking into account all of the costs transport
account all of the costs transport
account all of the costs transport warehousing admin everything the total
warehousing admin everything the total
warehousing admin everything the total cost to get to just one person is under
cost to get to just one person is under
cost to get to just one person is under a pound which means that if you’re
a pound which means that if you’re
a pound which means that if you’re donating ten pounds a month for a year
donating ten pounds a month for a year
donating ten pounds a month for a year over a hundred people get access to this
over a hundred people get access to this
over a hundred people get access to this treatment I thought would charity donors
treatment I thought would charity donors
treatment I thought would charity donors not want to have access to this sort of
not want to have access to this sort of
not want to have access to this sort of data when they’re donating would you as
data when they’re donating would you as
data when they’re donating would you as a donor not want to know for the amount
a donor not want to know for the amount
a donor not want to know for the amount that I’m donating to this charity I
that I’m donating to this charity I
that I’m donating to this charity I might reach one person or by choosing a
might reach one person or by choosing a
might reach one person or by choosing a different charity the same money might
different charity the same money might
different charity the same money might help three people or 10 people or a
help three people or 10 people or a
help three people or 10 people or a hundred people or a thousand people and
hundred people or a thousand people and
hundred people or a thousand people and would you not want to know what is the
would you not want to know what is the
would you not want to know what is the impact that’s having on a per person
impact that’s having on a per person
impact that’s having on a per person basis to know whether reaching a
basis to know whether reaching a
basis to know whether reaching a thousand times more people is having a
thousand times more people is having a
thousand times more people is having a thousand times more impact these
thousand times more impact these
thousand times more impact these questions inspired me to create so give
questions inspired me to create so give
questions inspired me to create so give a not-for-profit social enterprise which
a not-for-profit social enterprise which
a not-for-profit social enterprise which is creating an online giving platform
is creating an online giving platform
is creating an online giving platform where you can make donations to
where you can make donations to
where you can make donations to charities online and you can
charities online and you can
charities online and you can have access to this data so that you can
have access to this data so that you can
have access to this data so that you can make smart giving decisions and have
make smart giving decisions and have
make smart giving decisions and have hundreds or thousands of times more
hundreds or thousands of times more
hundreds or thousands of times more impact and when you’ve donated to a
impact and when you’ve donated to a
impact and when you’ve donated to a charity you can see not just what does
charity you can see not just what does
charity you can see not just what does the charity do but how much of that
the charity do but how much of that
the charity do but how much of that chart is impact is attributable to me
chart is impact is attributable to me
chart is impact is attributable to me the donor in my donations I believe that
the donor in my donations I believe that
the donor in my donations I believe that the potential here is huge I believe
the potential here is huge I believe
the potential here is huge I believe that there’s a possibility that people
that there’s a possibility that people
that there’s a possibility that people will say now that I can see how much
will say now that I can see how much
will say now that I can see how much impact I’m having I feel motivated to
impact I’m having I feel motivated to
impact I’m having I feel motivated to give more there’s a possibility that
give more there’s a possibility that
give more there’s a possibility that people will say now that I can express
people will say now that I can express
people will say now that I can express my donations in terms that are
my donations in terms that are
my donations in terms that are meaningful to me I feel more comfortable
meaningful to me I feel more comfortable
meaningful to me I feel more comfortable sharing them online we can have more
sharing them online we can have more
sharing them online we can have more virality of of charitable giving and I
virality of of charitable giving and I
virality of of charitable giving and I believe that it’s possible that through
believe that it’s possible that through
believe that it’s possible that through this mechanism we can become data-driven
this mechanism we can become data-driven
this mechanism we can become data-driven donors and as data-driven donors we can
donors and as data-driven donors we can
donors and as data-driven donors we can have a huge extra impact on people’s
have a huge extra impact on people’s
have a huge extra impact on people’s lives hundreds of times more impact
lives hundreds of times more impact
lives hundreds of times more impact thousands of times more impact not even
thousands of times more impact not even
thousands of times more impact not even without having to give more to charity
without having to give more to charity
without having to give more to charity so I would encourage you if you also
so I would encourage you if you also
so I would encourage you if you also would like to be a data-driven donor
would like to be a data-driven donor
would like to be a data-driven donor visit so give dot org sign up it only
visit so give dot org sign up it only
visit so give dot org sign up it only takes a moment we’re at the early stages
takes a moment we’re at the early stages
takes a moment we’re at the early stages we’re building momentum and we would
we’re building momentum and we would
we’re building momentum and we would like to see a change in the world thank
like to see a change in the world thank
like to see a change in the world thank you
”
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