If you know that you can donate to SCI later, the expected utility of waiting would have to be at least that of donating to it now.
Why? Because you can invest the money and use the investment to donate more later? But donating more now increases the recipients’ functionality so that they’re able to contribute more to their respective societies in the than they would otherwise be able to in the time between now and later.
I misread your earlier comment, sorry for the useless response. I understand where you’re coming from now. Holden has written about the possibility of efficient opportunities for donors drying up as the philanthropic sector improves, suggesting that it might be best to help now because the poor people who can be easily helped are around today and will not be in the future. See this mailing list post.
I personally think that even if this is true probably true, the expected value of waiting to give later is higher than the expected value of donating to AMF or SCI now. But I might give to AMF or SCI in the near future to maintain the sense of being an active donor.
I misread your earlier comment, sorry for the useless response.
The response wasn’t useless. If you misread it, you’re probably not alone. Now that I replied to your comment, it’s easier to understand.
You’re probably best off giving now once you understand everything, but you obviously can’t just give to the first charity you can find. You have to do enough research that the expected decrease in utility from donating later exactly balances the expected increase from better research.
Why? Because you can invest the money and use the investment to donate more later? But donating more now increases the recipients’ functionality so that they’re able to contribute more to their respective societies in the than they would otherwise be able to in the time between now and later.
If you can donate it to SCI later, the value of that donation gives a lower bound. You also might be able to donate to something else you find.
I misread your earlier comment, sorry for the useless response. I understand where you’re coming from now. Holden has written about the possibility of efficient opportunities for donors drying up as the philanthropic sector improves, suggesting that it might be best to help now because the poor people who can be easily helped are around today and will not be in the future. See this mailing list post.
I personally think that even if this is true probably true, the expected value of waiting to give later is higher than the expected value of donating to AMF or SCI now. But I might give to AMF or SCI in the near future to maintain the sense of being an active donor.
The response wasn’t useless. If you misread it, you’re probably not alone. Now that I replied to your comment, it’s easier to understand.
You’re probably best off giving now once you understand everything, but you obviously can’t just give to the first charity you can find. You have to do enough research that the expected decrease in utility from donating later exactly balances the expected increase from better research.