Your 1st example about the Photo Patch Foundation reminded me of SoGive’s shallow analyses, whose methodology here. I encourage people interested in practicing estimation to check them out.
To illustrate, here are the summaries of the 1st 3 I did during my SoGive volunteering back in 2021 (which were actually my 1st 3 EA-type analyses!):
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation is rated as Not Recommended (Firm) on the SoGive ratings scale.
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation (ROHF) is the charity running the Royal Opera House (ROH), which is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London.
Based on its 2018/2019 annual report, we believe the expenditure by the charity is on average about £17 per visit to the ROHF spaces or attendance of ROH performances or cinema screenings.
For this cost, a Gold-rated mental health organisation would be expected to avert about 1 month of severe depression. While there may be positive impacts on well-being from observing a performance, and less tangible cultural benefits, we do not believe such impacts are as good as averting 1 month of severe depression.
For this reason, it is very likely that a donation to the ROHF will achieve less positive impact than the same amount of money given to a Gold-rated organisation.
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (Great Britain) is rated as Not Recommended (Firm) on the SoGive ratings scale.
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (Great Britain) (LDSGB) has the objective of promoting and furthering the religious and other charitable work of its parent organisation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Church), especially in the United Kingdom.
Based on its 2019 annual report, we believe the expenditure per member of the Church in the UK during 2019 was about £820.
For this cost, a Gold-rated organisation would be expected to avert about 4 years of severe depression. While there may be positive impacts on well-being from being a member of the Church, we do not believe these are as good as averting 4 years of severe depression.
For this reason, it is very likely that a donation to LDSGB will achieve less positive impact than the same amount of money given to a Gold-rated organisation.
The British Museum Trust Limited is rated as Not Recommended (Firm) on the SoGive ratings scale.
The overall objective of The British Museum Trust Limited (BMT), to be achieved through the award of grants, is “to advance, in a manner in which the Trustees of the charity see fit, the charitable objects of the Trustees of the British Museum (as may be amended from time to time); and to advance culture, heritage, science, education and the arts for public benefit throughout the world in any manner incidental, conducive to or compatible with the charitable objects of the Trustees of the British Museum” (2019/2020 annual report, p. 4).
Based on its 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 annual reports, we believe the average cost to the charity per visit to the British Museum is at least £0.34.
For this cost, a Gold-rated organisation could be expected to avert about 15 hours of severe depression. While there may be positive impacts on well-being from visiting the British Museum, and less tangible cultural benefits, we do not believe these are as good as averting 15 hours of severe depression.
For this reason, it is very likely that a donation to BMT will achieve less positive impact than the same amount of money given to a Gold-rated organisation.
Ah, sorry, I should have clarified. I used SoGive’s Gold Standard Benchmark of 200 £ per year of severe depression averted. This was obtained surveying a sample of 500 nationally representative UK residents, 13 EAs, and SoGive’s team (see details in the link). I suppose Ishaan will come up with a better estimate in the process of this.
Great post, Nuño!
Your 1st example about the Photo Patch Foundation reminded me of SoGive’s shallow analyses, whose methodology here. I encourage people interested in practicing estimation to check them out.
To illustrate, here are the summaries of the 1st 3 I did during my SoGive volunteering back in 2021 (which were actually my 1st 3 EA-type analyses!):
Analysis of Royal Opera House:
Analysis of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints:
Analysis of The British Museum Trust:
Thanks Vasco, these are great. Though, where are you getting the depression baseline from?
Ah, sorry, I should have clarified. I used SoGive’s Gold Standard Benchmark of 200 £ per year of severe depression averted. This was obtained surveying a sample of 500 nationally representative UK residents, 13 EAs, and SoGive’s team (see details in the link). I suppose Ishaan will come up with a better estimate in the process of this.