New to EA and figuring out where to start? Long-timer looking for new things to do?

Here’s our guide to what to do next.

1: Learn more

We know that this doesn't sound like a very practical first step. But it is difficult to work out how you can best contribute to solving the problems the world currently faces, and learning more is often the most useful place to start.

We recommend our introductory series for a general introduction to the world's most pressing problems (there are podcasts and videos if you prefer). If you're interested in what you should do with your career, we recommend the 80,000 Hours Guide. If you'd prefer to have these resources sent to you, and receive monthly updates on recent thinking in the effective altruism community, sign up for the EA Newsletter below.

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If you're already familiar with these ideas, try out some recent research, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, or read 80,000 Hours' research.

2: Give to outstanding charities

One of the ways that you can most immediately help is to give to effective charities.

One option is to use our EA Funds platform. This allows you to make donations to many different effective charities. You can also donate into one of the four Effective Altruism Funds; if you do, experts in the relevant area will then guide your donation to the most effective organization they can find.

You might also consider the recommendations of an impact-focused charity evaluator: for instance, GiveWell evaluates global poverty charities and Animal Charity Evaluators evaluates… well, animal charities.

You might also consider committing to give a percentage of your income in the future.

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3: Discuss and connect

Working out how you should help is worth puzzling over. Your career is probably the biggest resource you have for doing good. And since we all have different skills and experience, you will need to find a career that is a good personal fit.

While you can learn a lot online, discussing things with others is often the best way to figure out how you can best help. It also helps you find people to collaborate with on useful projects.

There are effective altruism groups around the world which discuss these ideas and run projects aimed at helping others effectively. Check out our guide to finding an EA group or one-time event near you!

You can also discuss ideas and projects online using the Effective Altruism Forum, or check out EA Hub's list of relevant Facebook groups.

If you're still looking for ideas, you can find personalized recommendations below.

Running an effective altruism group? We recommend reading our guide to running a group.