Most people seem to have a problem with #3, egoist or otherwise.
I guess it depends on whether your purpose is to help people, to be seen as helping people (signaling), or to alleviate guilt.
Or fourth option, which I personally espouse, to make your personal living environment as pleasant as possible. Even ineffectual donations can serve this fourth purpose; sometimes supporting values which are important to you is as important as serving those values.
Most people seem to have a problem with #3, egoist or otherwise.
I guess it depends on whether your purpose is to help people, to be seen as helping people (signaling), or to alleviate guilt.
Or fourth option, which I personally espouse, to make your personal living environment as pleasant as possible. Even ineffectual donations can serve this fourth purpose; sometimes supporting values which are important to you is as important as serving those values.