Animal welfare charities vary enormously in cost-effectiveness. Evidence-based charity evaluation helps donors direct resources where they will do the most good for animals.
Welfare charity evaluation applies the logic of effective altruism to animal advocacy. Given finite donor resources, directing giving toward charities with the greatest evidence-based impact maximises total welfare improvement. Farm animal advocacy charities focusing on corporate campaigns have documented significant welfare improvements at scale. Wild animal welfare is an emerging but promising area for highly cost-effective long-term impact. Donor education about effective giving is itself a high-impact intervention.