Funding for-profits that address a pressing social need can be a promising way to have a positive social impact.
An example of a social enterprise that is regarded as effective within the effective altruism community is Living Goods. It supports a network of community health promoters that sell health products door-to-door and provide basic health counseling in sub-Saharan Africa. GiveWell lists it under the “Other Charities Worthy of Special Recognition” category, but recommends donating to Living Goods rather than investing in them.[1]
Further reading
Wiblin, Robert (2016) Doing good through for-profits: Wave and financial tech, 80,000 Hours, February 15.
A profile of the social startup Wave.
Related entries
impact investing | investing | markets for altruism | socially responsible investing
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GiveWell (2014) Living Goods, GiveWell, November. An evaluation of the social enterprise Living Goods.