The Votes are In!

When our founder Peter Singer won the 2021 Berggruen Prize last fall, he elected to donate his entire US$1 million award to charity and pledged US$600,000 specifically for The Life You Can Save. (The remainder went to organizations opposing factory farming and promoting plant-based eating.) Peter decided that you, the supporters of The Life You Can Save, and readers of this newsletter should have a say in how part of the money he donated to The Life You Can Save should be allocated. In December 2021, we asked you to cast your vote and help us decide which of our recommended Best Charities would receive $100,000 of Peter’s prize money.

After thousands of votes were cast, we are pleased to announce the three charities that received the most votes:

1. Fistula Foundation, a global leader in treating obstetric fistula — a devastating childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent, humiliated and often shunned by their communities — received the most votes and will receive US$50,000.
2. The Seva Foundation, a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives and strengthens communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness, came second and will receive US$30,000.
3. GiveDirectly — a nonprofit that provides unconditional cash transfers using cell phone technology to some of the world’s poorest people, as well as refugees, urban youth and disaster victims — was third and will receive US$20,000.

In the media release announcing the results of our contest, co-founder Charlie Bresler had these kind words to say about Peter’s decision:
“Peter Singer’s decision to donate his monetary award from the Berggruen Institute is a direct reflection of the values he has lived his entire adult life. We hope that by having the public allocate prize funds to some of the world’s most effective charities, we will increase awareness about effective giving and its impact on reducing extreme poverty, premature death and unnecessary suffering.”

You can learn more about all of our Best Charities by visiting the Best Charities page on our website. Thank you so much for participating in our contest and supporting our Best Charities!