Short-Term vs. Long-Term Giving: A Moral and Utility-Based Perspective:
Helping charities is a topic that I often think about. Currently, I support several charities each month. Some, like Canteen and The Fred Hollows Foundation, provide immediate aid to people. Others, like The National Breast Cancer Foundation, focus on permanent solutions to issues faced by humanity.
One question arises when deciding where to donate: should we prioritise immediate needs, like famine relief, or invest in future outcomes, such as medical research? Both choices reflect our values and impact the world differently, offering distinct advantages regarding utility and moral responsibility.
Donating to short-term causes like famine relief delivers immediate utility. Lives are saved in the present, and suffering is alleviated almost instantly. From a utility standpoint, this type of giving is crucial in crisis situations, where immediate action can prevent further harm or loss of life.
Moreover, addressing basic human needs—such as food, shelter, and healthcare—is often considered a moral imperative. Saving lives today is ethically compelling and aligns with humanitarian principles.
In contrast, long-term giving, such as funding medical research, offers deferred but potentially larger-scale benefits. Although the effects may take years, the potential to cure diseases, improve healthcare, or prevent future crises can impact millions of lives over time. The utility here comes from the compounding value—improving future outcomes for a far larger cohort.
Long-term investments can be viewed as essential for systemic change. While immediate relief addresses symptoms of more significant problems, long-term solutions aim to eradicate the root causes of issues like disease and poverty. However, the delayed nature of these outcomes makes it harder for donors to see their contributions' immediate impact, making this giving less emotionally rewarding in the short term.
From a moral standpoint, both forms of giving are necessary. Short-term donations fulfil an ethical duty to help those in crisis right now, while long-term donations fulfil a moral responsibility to future generations.
Donating to short-term causes provides instant utility by helping people today, while long-term giving can potentially have a broader, lasting impact.
The Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is an organisation I have supported for around eight years. The thought of infants, toddlers, young people and their families battling cancer is heartbreaking to me! The CMRI conducts fundamental medical research to solve complex questions like what causes cancer and how to stop it. Their task is to make a better future.
I'm participating in the Great Cycle Challenge, a month-long fundraising event for the CMRI. I will greatly appreciate your support through my fundraising page:
https://lnkd.in/gkumMmNb