2020 ANNUAL REPORT YEAR in REVIEW Helping Donors and Effective Charities Transform Lives for the Better, Together

Annual Report 2020 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT YEAR IN REVIEW Helping donors and effective charities transform lives for the better, together. © Living Goods In a year that challenged so confident that my donations can make a many across the world, we were real difference. Thank you for all the hard 2020 In Numbers honored here at The Life You Can work you do!” – Anne, The Life You Can Save to help effective charities Save supporter Donations to Net Total books 3-year leverage and donors transform lives for effective charities impact distributed* ratio the better, together. “The new edition of The Life You Can Save has inspired over 200 people to take the US$18.2 US$17.5 ~40,000 17:1 million million What readers and 10% Giving What We Can Pledge, and I supporters are saying think it’s one of the best ways to introduce * Includes free downloads, giveaways and sales of the ebook, audiobook and paperback editions of the 10th Anniversary Edition of The Life You Can Save; estimated number of book plays from the free podcast version of the new people to the core principles of book; and content based on the book (e.g. Blinkist’s 15-min version of the book) “The world’s problems overwhelmed Effective Altruism.” – Luke Freeman, me. This book empowered me.” - Kelsey Executive Director, Giving What We Can Breaking Down Your Impact Piper, Vox Impact examples based on The Life You Can Save’s Impact Calculator “Thank you for providing a clear case What our charities are for giving generously, a helpful guide saying Total Amount for targeting an amount to donate, and “The new free edition of The Life You Can Recommended Donated Through Possible Interventions These Donations valuable recommendations for effective Charity The Life You Can Could Fund Save has generated significant interest in Save (US$) charities to support. Before I found Peter Against Malaria Foundation and led to Against Malaria Purchase 1,126,934 anti-malarial nets. 1 Singer and his books, I was a bit lost in Foundation $2,253,868 net can protect 2 people for up to 3 years. an increase in donations” – Rob Mather, terms of how/what to give to charity, CEO, Against Malaria Foundation Sanku-Project 1-year supply of micronutrient food and as a result, I tended to be frozen. If Healthy Children $329,032 fortification for620,815 people I couldn’t choose where to give, I simply “The Life You Can Save is one of the The Fred Hollows Foundation $250,387 5,007 cataract surgeries didn’t. Now, I can simply trust the experts main ways new supporters find Fistula to do the research that I’m frankly Foundation” – Kate Grant, Executive Village Enterprise Seed capital for up to 2,044 small $306,650 businesses too busy (lazy) to do myself, and I am Director, Fistula Foundation

2 3 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Message from the Message from the Board: 2020 year in Executive Director: review Looking ahead

2020 was nothing short of a watershed your generosity allowed our charities to “The world’s problems livelihoods. They do good that also makes year for The Life You Can Save. The continue to make life-saving interventions overwhelmed me. This book them feel good. COVID-19 pandemic brought unforeseen despite many obstacles. In short, in empowered me.” That’s how Every day, we hear from supporters who challenges and impacted our work at a year marked by many drastic and Vox journalist Kelsey Piper have been inspired by the principles of every level. Travel restrictions forced us to difficult changes, you helped our charities described our founder Peter effective giving presented in The Life You reimagine how we support our charities transform thousands of lives for the better. Singer’s book The Life You Can and connect with our donors. Global Can Save. Still, relatively few people have To be sure, not everything went as we Save in a recent article. shortages in medical supplies and other heard of or considered the idea of effective might have hoped. We had to put our Her statement perfectly encapsulates the logistical disruptions threatened the vital giving. In other words, we have work to do! plans to expand in India on hold. Our operations of many of our recommended profound impact The Life You Can Save marketing trial with Amazon intended to I’m honored to have the opportunity to charities. Above all, the risk of severe had on me when I first read it 10 years distribute the book to a wider audience lead our team at The Life You Can Save illness and death made life even more ago. And it’s a sentiment I hear repeated was not as fruitful as we hoped. But we precarious for those already suffering time and time again in conversations still have much to celebrate. We saw under extreme global poverty. with you, our supporters. Some have even a steady stream of downloads as we described the book as life-changing. I’ve Yet, through it all, you — our supporters continued to offer free versions of The Life heard more than one joke that it’s the — continued to give generously. This You Can Save across multiple formats “most expensive” book they’ve ever read year, you helped raise over US$18 million and platforms. We experimented with — referring, of course, to how much more for our recommended charities, and exciting new virtual fundraising formats, they were inspired to donate after they including two crowdfunding events and read it. a live-streamed concert featuring world- renowned musician and The Life You The true power of the argument in The Can Save supporter José González. And, Life You Can Save becomes even more finally, we celebrated the accomplishments evident when we consider the real-world of our co-founder and former Executive impact its readers go on to make. Simply Director Charlie Bresler as he “leaned put: by embracing effective giving and back” from his role at the Life You Can donating to effective charities, they help Save and welcomed our new Executive transform lives for the better. They help

4 5 6 • • • • effectively. Toachievethesegoals,wewill and inspireevenmorepeopletogive efforts tospreadourmessageevenwider in 2021andbeyondasweredoubleour THE LIFEYOU CAN SAVE 2020ANNUAL REPORT translation) other languages(ex.ournewHindi Translate TheLifeYouCanSave and bookpublishingspace companies inthetechnology,media like-minded organizationsand Establish fruitfulpartnershipswith short versionsofthebook accessible formatsincludingvideoand Produce inspiringcontentinnew reach newaudiences Create excitingcampaignsdesignedto into Executive Director Vikstrom Rickard what makesallthispossible. I amtrulygratefulforyoursupport.It’s • • • You can help by: more peopleinallcornersoftheworld with ustohelpspreadourmessage companies and organizations with us Connecting itself Donating to The Life You Can Save and family other resourceswecreatewithfriends Sharing TheLife You CanSave and sothatwecanexpandourwork interestedinpartnering

© Helen Keller International All $ amounts referenced below are in USD the obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. those organizations to continue making life-saving interventions despite recommended charities in 2020 and the many ways your support enabled In this section, we take a closer look at the impact of your donations to our Charities Effective Supporting 2020—The Year in Numbers Expenses $1M+ Donations Money Moved Excluding Money Moved Impact Net Metric $20,000,000 Impact Over Time $10,000,000 $14,000,000 $18,000,000 $16,000,000 $12,000,000 $4,000,000 $8,000,000 $6,000,000 $2,000,000 $0 Moved TotalMoney 2014 2015 $17,503,713 $17,503,713 $18,177,826 $18,177,826 $12,077,826 $12,077,826 Impact Net $674,113 2016 2020 2017 $1M+ Donaons $1M+ Money Moved Excluding $13,161,224 $13,161,224 $6,637,793 $6,637,793 $12,176,516 $984,708 $984,708 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE CHARITIES EFFECTIVE SUPPORTING 2019 2018 change 1 yr% -32% 44% 38% 82% 2019 (Right Axis) LeverageRao growth rate Compound since 2014 2020 annual annual 68% 57% 76% 21% 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 7 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE CHARITIES

Thank You Notes “Your support [for One Acre Fund] is special fund, with over US$240,000 of December 2020, we partnered with the fueling our impact and will enable us gifts coming in the first 3 months. Gifts to experts at The Funding Network Australia From a Few of Our to serve over 1 million farm families in the COVID-19 Fund were divided among (TFN) to host Live Virtual Crowdfunding Best Charities 2021. With the average farmer achieving ten of our recommended charities that Events featuring three of our effective a 40% increase in income on activities developed special projects to address charities: The Fred Hollows Foundation, “On behalf of our US Board of Directors supported by our program, your gift is an the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you so Sanku Project Healthy Children and and the beneficiaries of Malaria investment in a more prosperous future much for donating to this special fund GiveDirectly. At these two events, Consortium’s seasonal malaria for every community we serve. Thank you and helping our recommended charities supporters from across the world came sustain their vital operations and meet chemoprevention program, I want to for your generosity!” — Andrew Youn, together to hear these three pioneering One Acre Fund new, unforeseen needs in the communities extend our deepest gratitude to The charities share stories about their Life You Can Save and your donors. In they serve. “2020 was Living Goods’ most impactful evidence-based, cost-effective, and high- 2021, we plan to reach over 17.2 million year, EVER! Thanks to the swift program impact work. In a wonderful outpouring of children in six countries and your Live Virtual modifications we were able to make in generosity, our supporters pledged a total contribution will make a significant response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Crowdfunding of A$218,400 at our June 2020 event and difference.” — Madeleine Marasciulo- community health workers (CHWs) with The Funding US$169,170 at our December 2020 event. Rice, Malaria Consortium involved in our directly managed Network We were inspired by the global network of operations saved an estimated 17,000- organizations and supporters that united

20,000 lives — nearly double the estimate While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted to make these events not only possible but for 2019... We were able to accomplish our normal approach to networking and great successes. They were not only much- all of this because of donors like you who forced us to reimagine how we connect needed expressions of community in a supported us throughout the pandemic. with our donors, it also allowed us to time of social distancing. They were truly Thanks to you, CHWs and governments experiment with innovative virtual testaments to the creativity, unity, and are equipped to provide high-quality fundraising formats. In June and resolve of our supporters and partners. health care to those in need.” — Ashley Brekke, Living Goods The COVID-19 Fund

When the coronavirus pandemic first struck, The Life You Can Save established Register a special COVID-19 Fund designed now for our to help our recommended charities next event respond rapidly and effectively to the many different challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our supporters

8 9 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT SPREADING OUR MESSAGE AND INSPIRING ACTION

or on ebook platforms, or through information about effective giving Spreading Our Message promotional campaigns. Our three-month should be as easily accessible as trial campaign with Amazon KDP Select possible, in 2020 we looked for ways for instance, allowed us to give away free to capitalize on this widely popular and Inspiring Action format. In October 2020, we made our copies of the book for five days, over which celebrity-read audiobook of The Life we generated roughly 4,200 downloads on In 2020, with your generous support, we were able to distribute You Can Save available on all major Amazon. more resources across more formats than ever before and expose podcasting apps for free. Since our thousands of people to the concept of effective giving. Although our total book distribution in initial launch, we have seen different 2020 was significantly lower than we had chapters of the book downloaded ~63,000 times. Distributing Peter edition of The Life You Can Save in hoped, we laid the groundwork for what December 2019, getting the book to as we expect to be much better distribution We remain incredibly grateful to Singer’s The Life You many people as possible has remained in the future as our marketing campaigns our audiobook narrators for their Can Save a top priority. In 2020, we distributed help us discover and connect with continued support and for sharing the approximately 40,000 copies of the book new audiences. We also saw increased podcast release on their platforms: As the reader testimonials in this section in complete and abridged formats. While engagement with the book’s core ideas show, Peter Singer’s groundbreaking we continued to see sales of the book through alternative formats like our The Life You Can Save remains our most across bookstores and major online book audiobook, podcast, and Blinkist summary valuable asset for spreading the idea of retailers such as Amazon and Kobo, we (all described below). effective giving and inspiring action. Since were able to distribute many of these Help Us Spread Our Message! We are we launched the free 10th anniversary copies for free, either on our website, still learning what works best with book distribution. If you or your organization has experience in the book industry and would like to help us increase our book “In 2020, we distribution (across any and all formats), distributed please contact us via [email protected]. approximately Teaming Up with 40,000 copies of the book in Publishing Our Blinkist complete and Audiobook As a While we strive to get the full text of abridged formats.” Podcast The Life You Can Save in the hands of as many readers as possible, we also Podcasting has become an increasingly understand the importance and value Download the book important format for spreading of offering shorter, condensed formats ideas in a way that is both accessible that convey the book’s core ideas in a and engaging. Since we believe that quick and accessible manner for people

10 11 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT SPREADING OUR MESSAGE AND INSPIRING ACTION short on time. In 2020, we teamed up inspire action. In 2020, The Life You Connecting with had a virtual sit down with our co- with Blinkist, a subscription-based Can Save received prominent media founder and Executive Board member book-summarizing service, to develop features in Vox, on Boston-based People Through Charlie Bresler to discuss the impact a “book-in-blink” — or 15-minute audio radio station and National Public Music and Film Peter Singer’s ideas had on him as a and text summary — of The Life You Radio affiliate WBUR, and in The young man and his passionate support We are fortunate to have many Can Save. Founded in 2012 and based Daily Princetonian. Our founder Peter for The Life You Can Save. Around talented artists among our supporters, in Berlin, Blinkist currently has over 16 Singer spoke about effective giving 2,500 live viewers tuned into the event, and in 2020 we were delighted to million subscribers and offers English and helping the extreme poor on a which remains available on Facebook, partner with several of them to raise and German-language summaries of where it has been viewed over 133,000 number of podcasts including Crazy awareness about effective giving and more than 4,000 bestselling nonfiction Money with Paul Ollinger, Australian reach new audiences. In September, times. In total, the event raised roughly books. Blinkist released its short take Investors Podcast, Conversations With we partnered with Swedish singer- US$19,000 for our All Charities Fund, of our book in mid-December, and Coleman, The Lex Fridman Podcast, songwriter José González for a free attracted new subscribers, and inspired nearly 10,000 people read or listened Ferg Goes Live, and EconTalk. It is live streaming concert event and book downloads. We extend a big to it that month alone. common to see spikes in donations fundraiser broadcast on Facebook thank you to José and his team for Reaching New of all sizes after media appearances. and Instagram from José’s home in volunteering their time and talent to Audiences Through For instance, Peter’s appearance Sweden. Between musical sets, José support our mission. on Australian Investor inspired Media one listener to donate A$10,000 to Media appearances such as journalistic Helen Keller International, and his profiles and podcast interviews have interview with Coleman Hughes on proven to be some of the most effective Conversations with Coleman inspired Book Testimonials ways to reach new audiences, spread another listener to donate US$200,00 Many of our existing and new supporters have been deeply the word about effective giving, and to our new 90/10 Fund. impacted by the book. Here are some of their stories:

“I could not put that book down. I love your entire team and to Peter for the time, the articulate, thorough approach to effort and research it took to write the the psychology behind giving and how book and start the charity. It kind of made systematically [the book] acknowledges me feel hopeful that there are people like and covers any counterpoints - it’s you all out there doing so much good!” so powerful. It put things in sharp – Sarah Watts, Australia perspective. I am recommending it to all of my nearest and dearest and getting “This is one of the most important into interesting conversations with friends books of our generation — one that about it, one of whom already donates makes us think of global poverty in 2% of her salary yearly because of the very new (and personal) ways.”

12 13 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT MEASURING OUR IMPACT, MULTIPLYING YOURS

“I stumbled across this book randomly perhaps am not willing to go as far while browsing the Internet and as some of the people mentioned in Measuring Our Impact, decided to read it on a whim. I the book, I should be doing more thought it presented very thought- than what I’m doing now (which is provoking and persuasive arguments Multiplying Yours basically nothing). I really admire as to why most people in affluent the work that your organization and nations should give (or give more) to In this section, we explain some of the primary metrics we use to others around the world are doing effective charities specifically aimed measure our impact and how donating to The Life You Can Save to help those in need, and I hope at reducing the suffering of those in itself helps you multiply your impact. that by giving to and through your extreme poverty. It made clear to me which resulted in a net impact of US$17.5 some of the psychological and illogical organization, my contribution will Measuring Our million. barriers that were in my mind with really make a difference in at least some people’s lives around the world.” Impact regard to charitable giving, and it Our 3-Year Leverage Ratio: convinced me that even if I personally – Leonard Hua, USA At The Life You Can Save, we strive to be as data-based, cost-effective, and impactful 17:1 as the charities we recommend. We focus If you take all the money we raise annually on four primary metrics to help us evaluate for our nonprofits and divide that number our overall impact. by the money we spend operating our Total Donations to Effective organization, you get what we call our Charities: “leverage” for that year. To gauge our impact over time, we rely on a “3-year US$18.2 million leverage ratio” which is simply the average In 2020, our supporters donated a total annual leverage over the past three years. US$18.2 million to our recommended From 2018-2020, our 3-year leverage charities either directly through the ratio was 17:1. That means that for every donation platforms on our website or as a $1 we invested in spreading our message direct result of our outreach. and helping others discover and donate to effective charities over the last three Net Impact: years, we raised $17 for our recommended US$17.5 million nonprofits.

We measure our “net impact” by Total Books Distributed: subtracting our total annual expenses ~40,000 from the total “money moved” to our recommended nonprofits. In 2020, we We use analytics from our website and spent less than US$700,000 on our other platforms to calculate our “Total operations globally and raised US$18.2 Books Distributed,” or the number of

14 15 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT MEASURING OUR IMPACT, MULTIPLYING YOURS

You Can Save or its related resources, secure media opportunities and keep our Can Save itself so that we can continue spread Peter’s message. Thank you so either through views or downloads. In website and donations platforms running to share these resources with others. But much for supporting us so that we can help 2020, we estimate that approximately — all to make it easy to support great perhaps the best argument for supporting you and our recommended charities save 40,000 people engaged with core ideas of charities. our organization is how we can help you and transform lives, together. The Life You Can Save, either through the multiply your donation’s overall impact on At The Life You Can Save, we always put “The book The Life You Can Save impacted book itself, or through one of its alternative our effective charities. In concrete terms, me profoundly and changed how much I formats, or through other book-related our recommended charities first, and our 17:1 leverage ratio means that for every donate and which organizations I support. resources offered on our website. 100% of every donation you make to our $1 you donate to The Life You Can Save, On an emotional level, I donate to The recommended charities goes directly we can generate an average of $17 for our Life You Can Save itself because it truly towards saving lives, reducing unnecessary recommended charities. Multiplying Your saddens me to see human beings suffer. suffering, and empowering livelihoods Impact by Donating We are very proud of our leverage ratio, But knowing that each dollar invested among people living in extreme poverty. and we believe it’s one of the main in their work over the past three years to The Life You Can However, to continue our work, it is critical reasons that we’ve seen the number of has generated $17 makes supporting The that we find donors willing to support The Save Itself voluntary contributions to The Life You Life You Can Save’s mission not just an Life You Can Save itself. Can Save itself more than triple in 2020. emotional decision to me but a rational Our work at The Life You Can Save is We are especially humbled to see more one as well. The incredible compounding made possible by individuals who choose We often hear from supporters who have and more supporters choose to donate to effect of donating to The Life You Can to donate to The Life You Can Save itself. been inspired by The Life You Can Save or our new 90/10 Fund, which divides 90% Save allows me to magnify my impact in We use these funds to print more books, our resources and wish to “pay it forward” of your donation equally amongst our making the world a better place.” promote our free ebook and audiobook, by making a contribution to The Life You recommended charities and allocates 10% – Nathan Savundra-Shepherd, The Life of your donation to The Life You Can Save You Can Save donor itself.

Above all, we are deeply grateful for Support The Life You Can Save your continued support of The Life You Can Save itself. The more we can grow our organization effectively, the more money we can raise for our recommended nonprofits and the more widely we can

“ I welcome your support in helping us achieve our objectives by donating to support The Life You Can Save itself, as I do myself.”

16 17 THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX

2020 Money Moved - Donations to our Appendix recommended charities The Life You Can Save Entities The table below provides a representative snapshot of the “money moved” — or amounts raised — for each of our Recommended Nonprofits (RNPs) in the 2020 metric year. This table excludes donations made by foundations and individuals 2020 Metric 2020 Calendar that have requested that the designation of their contributions remain confidential. Year* Year

Money Moved Money Moved 2020 Expenses Organization (USD) (USD) (USD) Organization Money Moved (USD)

The Life You Can Save US Fistula Foundation $3,394,848 (92.4%) $15,886,341 $16,051,118 $598,200 Against Malaria Foundation $2,253,868 The Life You Can Save GiveDirectly $1,046,353 Australia (7.2%) $2,274,134 $2,200,428 $75,913 Oxfam $690,684 The Life You Can Save UK Included in US (0.3%) $17,350 $19,743 numbers Development Media International $610,084

Total $18,177,826 $18,271,290 $676,113 Malaria Consortium $605,446 Evidence Action $471,283

*Our 2020 “Metric Year” spanned from Feb 1, 2020 - Jan 31, 2021. We calculate the “Metric Year” along with Sanku-Project Healthy Children $329,032 the standard “Calendar Year” (Jan 1, 2020-Dec 31, 2021) because January giving typically reflects donations made as a part of the previous year’s “giving season.” As such, the “Metric Year” often provides a better Equalize Health $324,714 picture of our annual performance than the Calendar Year alone. Village Enterprise $306,650 Note: our expenses only reflect our operating expenses and do not include donations we regranted to our recommended charities. Living Goods $250,415 The Fred Hollows Foundation $250,387 Population Services International $231,420 Seva $225,529 One Acre Fund $207,905 Helen Keller International $179,599 Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition $163,179 Innovations for Poverty Action $152,235 Schistosomiasis Control Initiative $114,308 Iodine Global Network $99,585 Possible $70,666 Zusha! $53,878 New Incentives $45,758

18 19 MAKE A DONATION