We help your donation!
Support the world's most effective aid organizations. Selected on the basis of scientific studies and recommended by independent experts. So you can be sure that your donation not only gets through, but really makes a difference.
Support the world's most effective aid organizations. Selected on the basis of scientific studies and recommended by independent experts.
Known from
How we identify the most effective aid projects
Prioritizing problems
The impact of a donation depends heavily on the issue at hand. We focus on problems that are significant but neglected, and for which proven solutions exist.
Evaluating solutions
Independent experts analyze the most cost-effective approaches in these cause areas, based on scientific research.
Recommending charities
Projects that focus on cost-effective solutions to the most urgent problems are extensively evaluated. Only the best are recommended by us.
effective donations
committed donors
hours of research per year
What do you want to achieve with your donation?
Fighting Poverty
Thousands of children die every day as a result of extreme poverty. This does not have to be the case: The most effective aid projects in this area can save the life of an infant for less than CHF 5,000.
Mitigating Climate Change
We are currently heading for global warming of more than
2.5°C with considerable consequences. This does not have to be the case: The most effective climate protection projects can save a ton of CO2 for less than a euro.
Improving Animal Welfare
Billions of animals live and die in horrific conditions every year. This does not have to be the case: The most effective aid projects in this area can help numerous animals living in inhumane conditions with just one franc.
Preserving the future and Controlling AI
Humanity faces a range of existential threats, such as a potentially even more aggressive pandemic, nuclear war, or how we can control AI. Our donation fund supports the most effective measures to effectively counter these risks.
Defending Democracy
Democracy is under threat worldwide. With our Giving Fund, you can support initiatives that effectively defend democracy in key countries and critical situations.
Your personal advice
People who donate want to make a difference. We are happy to help you achieve the greatest possible impact in line with your ideas and values. Simply make an appointment for your personal consultation.
Philipp Augenstein,
Country Manager Switzerland
Why donating with us is better
The most effective charities
We introduce you to the aid organizations that have been rated as outstandingly effective by leading experts in an international comparison.
Conveniently donate through us
You choose the cause or project that moves you the most and can support it directly and without deductions via our platform.
Deduct donation from tax
We forward your donation without deducting any fees and issue you with a donation receipt—even for aid organizations based abroad.
Maximum
impact
With your donation, you support demonstrably outstandingly effective organizations in the areas that are particularly close to your heart.
FAQs
How much should I donate?
How much you want to donate is, of course, ultimately your own personal decision. But perhaps you will find some inspiration in the article "How much should I donate?" and "Why and how I donate".
Can I deduct my donation from my taxes?
Yes, your donation is tax-deductible in Switzerland. Effektiv Spenden Schweiz (ESS) - UID: CHE-175.741.919 - is listed on the List of donations from the Canton of Basel-Stadt and is therefore recognized in all cantons as a charitable, donation-deductible organization.
We will automatically send you a donation receipt for all your donations by e-mail at the end of February of the following year. You don't have to do anything else.
(If you make your donation in Germany, Austria or in Czechia (if you would like to deduct your donation - this is possible in all these countries - please select the relevant country in the donation form at the top right).
I don't want to donate online, can I also transfer the money?
Yes! To do this, simply select "Bank Transfer" in the last step of the Donation form the payment method Bank transfer from. You will then receive our account details and can transfer your donation. Please use your personalized reason for transfer (starting with "ES-") so that we can automatically allocate the transfer.
What fees are incurred in Switzerland? Will 100% of my donation go to effective aid projects?
We use donations to our donation funds in full to implement outstandingly effective aid projects together with partner organizations. We do not keep any of your donation for ourselves. However, for donations made by credit card or TWINT, fees are charged by the payment service provider we work with. These fees are deducted from your donation. For donations made within Switzerland, the fees are calculated as follows:
- Bank transfer: free of charge
- Credit card/Apple Pay/Google Pay: 2.7 % + 0.30 francs for Swiss cards (3.25 % + 0.30 francs for international cards)
- TWINT: 1.9 % + 0.30 francs
Therefore, for donations with amounts < 10,000 euros, we recommend For donations of more than 10,000 francs, the free Bank transfer.
Comparable fees apply to all organizations that collect donations. We have already negotiated with all payment services and receive particularly favorable conditions for charitable organizations.
We also finance ourselves through donations, but completely independently. You can here .
How can I cancel my recurring donation?
You can cancel your recurring donation at any time and without giving reasons. Simply send us an informal e-mail to schweiz@effektiv-spenden.org or call us at +41 (0)44 244 27 38.
How do you cover your costs?
Effektiv Spenden is made possible by private sponsors. This support covers all the costs of our educational work and the operation of the platform. This allows us to use your donation to our donation fund entirely for the implementation of effective aid projects with our partners. Of course, we also appreciate your donation to us as a platform. You can find out more about our funding here.
“Through good research, we can measure better and better what is most effective in supporting people in extreme poverty. The aid organizations on effektiv-spenden.org are among the most effective that we know of so far. That's why I focus most of my donations on these organizations.”
Dina Pomeranz (Professor, University of Zurich)
“Yes, there are a whole series of examples of ineffective aid organizations. But that just means you have to do your own research. Where can you find the most effective donation projects in the world? On effektiv-spenden.org.”
Rutger Bregman (Author and historian)
"Limiting the risks of artificial intelligence is important to me. The technology is developing rapidly, also thanks to Switzerland as an AI location. In addition to my lectures, I therefore specifically support organizations that are working on safe and socially acceptable AI via the ES Giving Fund."
Severin Trösch (Head of AI, Datahouse AG)
"After more than twenty years of working in the climate sector, I don't know of any better tips for climate donations than on this site. I also use Effective Donations because they think radically from the recipient's perspective."
Dominic Roser (Teaching and Research Council at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Ethics and Human Rights at the University of Fribourg)
"In the past, I often had to spend hours researching for myself which animal welfare organization would use my money most effectively. Thanks to Effektiv Spenden, this work is done for me by specialists and I can always see transparently where my money goes."
Dieter Ammann (Director SME Switzerland, Coty Beauty Swiss SARL)
“I deliberately seek the exchange with experts on the topic of foundation efficiency, such as Stefan Shaw, who previously headed the Reimann Family Foundation and built the platform effektiv-spenden.org.”
Raoul Rossmann (Entrepreneur)
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