A small percentage of an American individual’s salary can make an enormous difference elsewhere in the world. A movement called effective altruism offers guidance on maximizing the good from one’s charitable donations.

Derek Thompson, senior editor of The Atlantic, found out that it takes a bit of math and logic to determine how and where to give. He had personal reasons for thinking about this issue. He tells Here & Now’s Robin Young more about effective altruism and his quest to make a meaningful charitable donation.

Guest

Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic. He tweets @DKThomp.