Thanks. Useful answer. I'll check that out. I'd also be interested on where these <$2k per life estimates come from, and why Give Well recommends $3.5-$5.5k per life charities and not these.
Looks like DMI $675 is their own estimate. https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Mp9ioib8HS4XC6exQ/dmi-scaling-priority-child-survival-campaigns-in-2026
However they published in BMJ so should be peer reviewed at least.
Some points:
i won't get into the details, but I'm super unconvinced by DMIs numbers. they haven't actually done a RCT which measures mortality, and i think they overestimate the benefits of more people turning up at health facilities after campaigns (what they measure). i like the work but not their cost effectiveness numbers.
it's a bit weird to me that there's no external cost effectiveness estimate there either for an org that size. Has GiveWell not had a look at them given their own numbers are so optimistic?
Hi everyone. New to forum, first post. In this paywalled article https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/magazine/bill-gates-foundation-closing-2045.html Bill Gates says "Normally we’re saving lives for $2,000 or $3,000. But given the problems that are out there, we’re actually now saving lives for less.”
He goes on in the interview to talk about TB and AIDS, but unclear if that's what he's referring to.
He may be referring to cuts in aid from the US government leaving low hanging fruit out there. Can I save a life for under $2,000? How?Who do I donate to? (As a best estimate, I'm aware there's uncertainty.)
Give Well is currently estimating $3,500-$5,500 per life saved for top 4 recommended charities. https://www.givewell.org/charities/top-charities.
You may be interested in our donation election! https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/YqYSGpRbLa7ppkuWs/meet-the-candidates-donation-election-2025 - all organisations on it have legitimate funding gaps.
I believe that Lafiya ($900ish), Development Media International ($600ish), and a few others on there are under estimated $2k per life saved. Some estimates are more certain than others, and estimates of past programs may not translate to future programs.
Away from the current candidates, there's also Taimaka for which future donations may well get a lot under $2k per life saved due to partnership scaling, the Lead Exposure Elimination Project (which doesn't necessarily *save* lots of lives but has very cost-effective DALYs). I don't know if these have funding gaps though.
There's also One for the World which will get under $2k per life saved by using your money to raise several times more for the Against Malaria Foundation (probably) than you donate to it.
Overall, the answer is yes - saving a life is cheaper and cheaper.
Just did a quick scan and Lafiya https://lafiyanigeria.org/ has Gates Foundation on its sponsor list, so yes I do believe Bill Gates has saved lives for under $2k.