EA Forum Podcast (All audio)

“Why I donate - and why I’m committing to a dynamic pledge” by Tristan Katz


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Background: I've been donating since 2018, but I only signed the giving pledge last week. Thanks to @Amalie Farestvedt 🔸 from GWWC, Anthony Wong and others for helping me with the decision.

My reasons for donating

  1. Like most EAs, I want to do good, and recognize that my money can go a hell of a way to helping other people, animals, or preventing bad things from happening. I'm so grateful that there are incredibly impactful opportunities out there.
  2. But, less commonly in EA, I also think... that I shouldn't have as much money as I do. I think the world is built on inequalities - and sure, the division of labour is powerful, bringing me the laptop that I'm writing on, but I think a lot of what I have is also only possible due to the exploitation of other people and animals. For the record, I don't come from old money. I just grew up in a privileged enough environment to go to a good school, have a supporting family and one that could push me in the right directions. But these things were already only possible because of advantages that depended on historical injustices. In this [...]

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Outline:

(00:24) My reasons for donating

(01:28) Where I donate

(02:05) My income-dynamic pledge

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First published:

December 9th, 2025

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/74gbLxsFAiG33T8EL/why-i-donate-and-why-i-m-committing-to-a-dynamic-pledge

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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EA Forum Podcast (All audio)By EA Forum Team