Part of the second quote seems reasonable. “When you donate locally, you function as a tangible role model to others in your community.” I can appreciate that, but if we accept that most local causes are less effective than causes in developing countries, we want to be a role model that encourages people to give to more effective causes and give locally less.
The first quote is weak. Why do we have a moral obligation to do good less effectively just because we are part of a community? Perhaps the full article backs that up more, but as it stands it doesn’t stand.
Part of the second quote seems reasonable. “When you donate locally, you function as a tangible role model to others in your community.” I can appreciate that, but if we accept that most local causes are less effective than causes in developing countries, we want to be a role model that encourages people to give to more effective causes and give locally less.
The first quote is weak. Why do we have a moral obligation to do good less effectively just because we are part of a community? Perhaps the full article backs that up more, but as it stands it doesn’t stand.
It’s part of being a good citizen—your community supports you, so you should support it back.
GiveWell has made grants on this basis in the past to organisations whose research they’ve used: http://blog.givewell.org/2013/06/20/near-term-grantmaking/