Happier Lives Institute benchmark · Cash transfers
GiveDirectly
Sends cash directly to people living in poverty, with no strings attached. Evaluators use it as a benchmark to compare other charities against.
Happier Lives Institute's estimate
7.55 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated
Happier Lives Institute, published FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Modeled, not guaranteed. This is the evaluator's best estimate of the average, built from studies and assumptions. Your gift could do more or less. How to read these figures
Not yet rated
The evaluator hasn't published an evidence rating we can quote.
We never handle your money. You give on the charity's own site or through your own fund.
The published figures
Every figure below is copied exactly as the evaluator published it, with a link to the source.
| What it measures | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WELLBYs per $1,000 (benchmark) | 7.55 WELLBYs per $1,000 donatedpublished FAQ | Happier Lives Institute (opens in a new tab) |
A WELLBY is the Happier Lives Institute's unit of wellbeing: one point of life satisfaction, on a scale from 0 to 10, for one person for one year.
Cost-effectiveness figures are modeled, not guaranteed.
How strong is the evidence?
Ways to give
On the charity's site
The simplest route: give by card or bank transfer on GiveDirectly's own donation page.
Through your DAF
Recommend a grant through your fund sponsor. They will need the legal name, GiveDirectly, and EIN 27-1661997.
It appears in the IRS's public list of tax-exempt charities (we checked on ). Whether your gift is deductible depends on your own situation, so please confirm with your tax advisor.
Questions donors ask
- Is GiveDirectly a good charity?
Happier Lives Institute benchmark. Sends cash directly to people living in poverty, with no strings attached. Evaluators use it as a benchmark to compare other charities against. We don't rate charities ourselves; we report what independent evaluators publish, with links so you can check.
- How much good does a donation to GiveDirectly do?
The Happier Lives Institute estimates 7.55 WELLBYs per $1,000 donated. A WELLBY is the Happier Lives Institute's unit of wellbeing: one point of life satisfaction, on a scale from 0 to 10, for one person for one year. The figure is modeled, not guaranteed.
- Can I give to GiveDirectly through a donor-advised fund?
Usually, yes. Your sponsor will need the EIN, 27-1661997. Your sponsor's own rules apply.
- Is a donation to GiveDirectly tax-deductible?
It appears in the IRS's public list of tax-exempt charities (we checked on ). Whether your gift is deductible depends on your own situation, so please confirm with your tax advisor. Nothing here is tax advice.
- Does Did it work? take a cut or get paid for listing this charity?
No. We don't take, hold or route donations, we don't charge charities, and no one can pay to change what we show.
- How current is this?
We last reviewed this charity's record on . Evaluators update their figures, so check the linked sources before a large gift.
Cite or share this page
Please cite the evaluator too. Suggested citation:
Did it work?, "GiveDirectly: evidence and published figures," https://diditwork.org/charities/givedirectly
Writing about this charity? Paste this on your page to show a small evidence card that links back here. It updates itself when the evaluator's figures change. Preview the card.
<div class="diditwork-card" data-charity="givedirectly"><a href="https://diditwork.org/charities/givedirectly">GiveDirectly: evidence and sources on Did it work?</a></div>
<script async src="https://diditwork.org/embed/v1.js"></script>