Animal Welfare Charity Evaluation: How to Give Effectively

Choosing which animal welfare charities to support is one of the most impactful decisions an advocate can make, and evidence-based evaluation tools help guide these choices.

Key Facts

Animal Charity Evaluators publishes annual top charity recommendations based on evidence
GiveWell began evaluating animal welfare interventions through Open Philanthropy partnerships
Effective charities are assessed on evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and room for more funding
The Good Food Institute is rated highly for its systemic approach to protein transition
Top-rated charities include The Humane League and Shrimp Welfare Project
Self-reported impact metrics from charities should be treated critically without independent verification

Welfare Considerations

Donating to poorly-chosen charities can waste resources and even cause harm if they crowd out more effective organisations. Evidence-based charity evaluation applies rigorous standards to identify which organisations deliver the most welfare improvement per dollar. Advocates who give strategically can multiply their impact many times over compared to ad hoc giving.

What You Can Do

Consult Animal Charity Evaluators before making animal welfare donations
Give to top-rated charities unless you have strong specific evidence for alternatives
Encourage friends and family to adopt evidence-based giving practices
Advocate for large foundations to fund rigorous charity evaluation research
Share ACE resources widely to raise the standard of welfare giving in your community