Free Charities from The Idea of Charity: Nat Ware at TEDxCelje

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[femmefatale]

What a brilliant message and inspiring perspective to receive as someone who’s a charity board member. Thank you for sharing this timeless advice! 🎉

[zoewilson]

my two favorite lines are: "sometimes it takes Google-sized expenditure to have Google-sized returns" and "the scale of the problems facing our world demands solutions that altruism can't supply". may quote him at some point.

[nicolebates]

I agree. Nat's a better public speaker and deals with more issues, but Dan's talk is very good as well. The talks are certainly complementary.

[causemobilewallet]

This is brilliant & EXACTLY in line with our mission & idea! We've developed a solution. Thanks for being such an inspiration & spreading this ideal.

[nicolebates]

amazing talk!! One of the best TED talks I've heard. Especially liked the part where you say "in the game of social impact, method trumps money" - so true!

[i]

that's a good argument...i didn't know that about google...how they spend 60% of their budget on overhead...maybe charities really should spend more money on their administration to have bigger financial returns too

[alicemontgomery]

Very intelligent and eloquent. And totally agree with your points! Love the last few minutes...

[kmarinas]

We can keep in mind that one of the major factors driving out poverty in this world are the export-oriented developing economies, such as China. China basically acts as a giant for-profit engine, with some the caveats as you might expect (e.g. growth vs. safety). Railroads also go a long way to addressing the needs for distant communities to work together. Medical technology and research is also highly important. I think future charities will be mostly local and focus on very specific causes.

[claireblightly]

he's hot, successful, very smart and has a big heart. so dreamy!

[yfjameslo]

This is remarkably similar to Dan Pallotta's TED talk in March - the message is essentially the same.

[kmarinas]

As far as setting charities free, that is a good idea. If you want more methods being tried out and tested, you need more participants in the sector. Inevitably, this leads to more administration. Perhaps a combination would work best. You would source out administration to a for-profit corporate entity that works with small charities. This way, small charities can grow as they have an abundance of administrative resources, while they can still present themselves truly as having low admin costs.

[kmarinas]

In any other industry, you can separate investment and revenue as two different things. This separation does not occur so cleanly in the non-profit sector. In the non-profit sector you have proceeds. Are proceeds to charity investment or are they revenue? If you invest $100 in a company and that company spends $90 of that $100, that doesn't mean 10% profit. However, if you buy a product from a company for $100 and it cost $90 per unit, accounting for amortized fixed costs, it is 10% profit.

[experimentsofliving]

This is talk is essentially an overview of 'effective altruism'. If you agree with at least some of what is said here, get involved with the 'effective altruists' group on facebook :)

[UtopiaBlue]

You always support the two money plus innovative methods will certainly increase the chance to triple or quadruple the ultimate benefits to support a cause.

[benlingstone]

AnarchisticGringo - I think you misheard him. He's talking about the Coke Foundation and NOT the Koch Foundation. Besides, the point he is making is not that a foundation is good or bad, but that bigger is not always better. Also, you can have a foundation that does some good even if the main business does not. Supporting the former does not imply supporting the latter. The two aren't mutually exclusive, although obviously it would be better if the business had a big social impact as well! B