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GiveDirectly

Direct cash transfers to the poor

Overview

GiveDirectly provides direct cash transfers to people living in extreme poverty, funded by governments, foundations, and individual donors. It uses technology to locate recipients, connect them to electronic payments networks, and monitor transfers end-to-end, charging only the full cost of delivering the service. How it works: a recipient in need is identified, enrolled in an electronic payment system, and receives cash transfers with ongoing monitoring to ensure delivery, transparency, and accuracy. How it differs from competitors: it focuses on direct cash transfers with transparent pricing (no hidden fees) and end-to-end digital processes to scale efficiently, improve legitimacy, and reduce administrative overhead. Its goal: to create the world's most efficient, transparent, and scalable system to put resources directly into the hands of the poor and transform how international development is done.

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About GiveDirectly

Simplify's Rating
Why GiveDirectly is rated
B+
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated A on Growth Potential
Rated B on Differentiation

Industries

Data & AnalyticsSocial Impact

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$1M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2008

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What believers are saying

  • Malawi's 120,000-household program tests whether cash can lift whole local economies in 2026.
  • Canva Foundation's $100 million commitment anchors huge funding visibility and execution runway.
  • October 2026 SNAP Bridge and Warren County programs deepen U.S. operating leverage.

What critics are saying

  • Venezuela batches hit banking limits; registration glitches enrolled 1,500 extra people in 2026.
  • Uganda rumors once suspended transfers for nearly two years; government trust remains fragile.
  • If donors lose faith in complex digital delivery, GiveDirectly's emergency model stalls.

What makes GiveDirectly unique

  • GiveDirectly's October 2026 Venezuela USDC pipeline delivered cash under sanctions in days.
  • Its 2026 platform combines AI targeting, satellite damage maps, and phone-based enrollment.
  • By late 2026, it aims to absorb $5 billion annually through leaner teams.

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Funding

Total Funding

$1M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

-3%

2 year growth

-2%
Today in New York
Nov 4th, 2026
GiveDirectly sent cash to Venezuela earthquake survivors using USDC stablecoins.

GiveDirectly sent cash to Venezuela earthquake survivors using USDC stablecoins. In La Guaira, 3,765 people got $340 each via Pago Móvil, starting 21 days after the June 24 quakes. Of each donated dollar, 86 cents reached them as cash. My experience was amazing - it fell from the sky, because I used it to partly rebuild what the earthquake destroyed. And I still have further to go." - Hector, 57, recipient in Catia La Mar NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - GiveDirectly, a U.S. nonprofit that sends cash directly to people living in poverty, delivered $340 each to 3,765 survivors of the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. First payments went out 21 days after the earthquakes. GiveDirectly moved the money as USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, and recipients received it in bolívares through Pago Móvil, the mobile payment system many Venezuelans already use. GiveDirectly published the results and lessons on October 14, 2026. Where: Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, one of the areas hardest hit by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes. GiveDirectly worked with local organization Alimenta La Solidaridad. How much: $340 per person, to 3,765 people. How fast: first payments 21 days after the earthquakes. Once recipients were verified, the median time to payment was four days, and payments landed a median of two minutes after each batch was sent. How the money moved: GiveDirectly used Coinbase Business to convert dollars to USDC on the Stellar network. Decaf, a stablecoin payments platform, screened recipients' details for compliance. Vetted local cashiers on Airtm's marketplace exchanged the USDC for bolívares and paid recipients through Pago Móvil. Cost: 86 cents of every donated dollar reached recipients as cash, above the 70 to 80 cents GiveDirectly expected. Results so far: in early follow-up surveys, 95% of recipients said their sense of stability and wellbeing improved and 60% said the cash helped them restart or keep up income-generating work. 97% said it arrived at the right time. GiveDirectly had never worked in Venezuela and had no office or local team there. Sanctions limited which banks and payment providers it could use, physical cash was scarce, and common ways of sending dollars required a U.S. bank account. Recipients needed neither a crypto wallet nor a U.S. bank account, and GiveDirectly did not hold bolívares or transact directly with Venezuelan banks. To choose where to work, GiveDirectly combined an AI-powered alert system, satellite damage assessments from DISHA, and volunteer mapping through the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team and MapSwipe, then checked the findings on the ground. People enrolled on their phones by scanning QR codes. Automated ID and selfie checks meant only 5% of applications needed manual review, down from nearly 100% in GiveDirectly's first response in the Philippines. GiveDirectly also reported what did not work. The $340 payment was meant to cover basic needs for about three months; recipients said it lasted about three weeks, as prices rose and more than 45% reported no regular income. A registration glitch let roughly 1,500 more eligible people enroll than planned, and donors and a contingency fund covered them. Because local cashiers hit daily banking limits, payment batches were capped at 100 to 300 people. GiveDirectly is reviewing how it sets payment amounts. "My experience was amazing - it fell from the sky, because I used it to partly rebuild what the earthquake destroyed. And I still have further to go," said Hector, 57, one of the recipients (translated from Spanish). "Each lesson brings us closer to our five-day emergency cash goal - a world where families receive meaningful support within days of a crisis, wherever they are," wrote Gianmarco Morassutti Vitale, GiveDirectly's Delivery Manager for Emergency Cash. Questions and answers How did GiveDirectly send aid to Venezuela under sanctions? It worked through two providers, Decaf and Airtm, so it never held bolívares or dealt directly with Venezuelan banks. Decaf screened recipients' payment details for compliance, and local cashiers completed the last step as ordinary domestic bank transfers. Did recipients have to use cryptocurrency? No. The stablecoin only moved the money into the country. Recipients received bolívares in their existing accounts through Pago Móvil, and almost all said they would use it again. What did people spend the cash on? Half of respondents bought food and drinking water. Families also bought hygiene supplies, paid for medicine and clinic visits, and replaced damaged mattresses and cooking stoves. Is the program still enrolling? No. The Venezuela response is no longer enrolling recipients. GiveDirectly accepts cryptocurrency donations through Endaoment. The full post, with a step-by-step account of the payment route, is at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes-blog. GiveDirectly's goal is to get emergency cash to people within five days of any crisis. ABOUT GIVEDIRECTLY GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to people living in poverty, with no strings attached. Since 2009, it has delivered more than $1 billion in cash to more than 2 million people. GiveDirectly currently works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and the United States. Learn more at givedirectly.org. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. Today in New York do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Caravan News
Oct 16th, 2026
A little more room to breathe: San Joaquin County program offers seniors $1,000 a month.

A little more room to breathe: San Joaquin County program offers seniors $1,000 a month. Applications are open through November 18 for CASH SJC, a program that will provide a year of cash assistance to up to 250 eligible senior households. A rent payment, a utility bill, a trip to pick up medication. For older adults with limited incomes, everyday expenses can leave little room for anything unexpected. A cash assistance program in San Joaquin County aims to give selected senior households more flexibility to meet those needs - and the freedom to decide which ones come first. The Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin has partnered with nonprofit GiveDirectly and community organizations to offer Cash Assistance for Senior Housing in San Joaquin County, known as CASH SJC. Funded by the California Department of Social Services, the program will provide up to 250 eligible senior households with $1,000 a month for 12 months. Applications are open through Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Free help is available for residents who would like someone to walk them through the process. Help that leaves decisions with seniors. The monthly payments add up to $12,000 over a year. According to the program's press release, some participating households will also be randomly selected to receive an additional one-time payment of $4,000. The assistance is unconditional. Recipients can put the money toward the expenses they consider most urgent, including rent, groceries, medications, utilities or transportation. That flexibility is central to the program's approach. A household facing a pressing housing expense may have different priorities from someone trying to cover several smaller bills. CASH SJC leaves those spending decisions with the person receiving the assistance. GiveDirectly's program information states that recipients do not have to repay the money or report how they spend it. Who can apply? The program is intended for low-income San Joaquin County residents who are 60 or older. The outreach materials identify four requirements at the time of application: * Be at least 60 years old. * Live in San Joaquin County. * Meet the program's income requirements. * Not be participating in another guaranteed income program. Residents who are uncertain about their eligibility can call the program for help. GiveDirectly's website links to the Housing Authority's income limits and explains the documentation applicants may need. Eligibility does not guarantee a payment. Up to 250 eligible applicants will be invited to enroll through an equal-opportunity random selection process. Free help, with no computer needed. An online application can be a hurdle for someone without a computer or someone who would prefer to talk through the questions. CASH SJC offers free, one-on-one application assistance in person, by telephone or by video call. The assistance flyer says sessions take approximately 20-25 minutes, and applicants do not need a computer. A Stockton connection and a question to study. The partnership also includes research into how cash assistance can help older adults access and maintain affordable housing. Vincent Reina, a University of Pennsylvania housing researcher and principal investigator for the program, said in the press release that evaluating those effects is an important part of the effort. Former Stockton Mayor Michael D. Tubbs also connected the initiative to the city's earlier guaranteed income work. "The movement for unconditional cash started right here in San Joaquin County with the SEED pilot, and I'm proud to see it continue with this collaboration between the SJC Housing Authority, community partners, and our great state," Tubbs said in the release. For CASH SJC applicants, the immediate opportunity is practical: a chance to receive consistent assistance while retaining control over how to use it. CASH SJC: What to Know. Program: Cash Assistance for Senior Housing in San Joaquin County Assistance: $1,000 monthly for 12 months for selected households Additional assistance: Some participating households will be randomly selected for a one-time $4,000 payment, according to the press release Participation: Up to 250 eligible senior households Age: 60 or older Location: San Joaquin County Application deadline: November 18, 2026 Selection: Random selection among eligible applicants; applying does not guarantee enrollment Application cost: Free Application help: Free assistance in person, by phone or by video call Phone: 1-866-480-2769 Apply: CASH SJC application More information: GiveDirectly's CASH SJC program page For seniors weighing whether to apply, help is available before the deadline. A phone call or an assistance appointment can be the first step toward understanding the requirements and completing an application. Rate article. Rate this article:

International World Times
Jun 28th, 2026
GiveDirectly mobilizes Emergency Cash relief for Venezuela earthquake survivors.

GiveDirectly mobilizes Emergency Cash relief for Venezuela earthquake survivors. GiveDirectly raised $100,000 in 24 hours and is deploying a team to send cash directly to families hit hardest by Venezuela's June 24 earthquakes. NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, June 28, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - GiveDirectly, one of the largest and most trusted direct cash relief organizations in the world, is mobilizing an emergency cash response for families affected by the back-to-back earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. GiveDirectly has launched a fundraiser at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes and is deploying an Emergency Cash team to the field this weekend. In its first 24 hours, the fundraiser raised more than $100,000. Over the past decade, GiveDirectly has delivered cash to more than 2 million people across 15 countries. Key facts: - The disaster: A magnitude 7.2 quake and a 7.5 mainshock struck northern Venezuela 39 seconds apart on June 24, 2026 - the strongest in more than a century. - The toll: More than 1,400 people killed and thousands injured, with the toll expected to rise, according to officials. - GiveDirectly's response: Deploying an Emergency Cash team to identify the highest-need communities and send cash directly to families. - Early support: More than $100,000 raised in the first 24 hours. - How to help: Donate at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes (English) or givedirectly.org/venezuela-es (Spanish). What Happened in Venezuela: On June 24, 2026, two major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela seconds apart - a magnitude 7.2 quake followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. The quakes collapsed hundreds of buildings across Caracas and La Guaira. More than 1,400 people have been killed and thousands more injured, and officials expect the toll to rise. The disaster struck a country where nearly 80% of people already live in poverty, many in unreinforced homes that crumble in earthquakes. What GiveDirectly Is Doing: GiveDirectly is deploying an Emergency Cash team to Venezuela this weekend to assess conditions and scope a cash response for the families most affected. GiveDirectly will use damage and poverty data to identify the highest-need communities, then enroll and pay families directly. Because GiveDirectly delivers cash digitally, it can reach families even when roads are damaged. The cash helps families cover urgent needs: - Food, water, and medicine - Shelter and temporary housing - Bills for phone, utilities, and healthcare for the injured "Families who survive a disaster know better than anyone what they need to recover," said Nick Allardice, President and CEO of GiveDirectly. "By sending money directly, we let the Venezuelans hit hardest by these earthquakes rebuild on their own terms - quickly and with dignity. We have delivered more than $1 billion to more than 2 million people across 15 countries, and we can reach families within weeks of a disaster." Anyone can help families affected by the Venezuela earthquakes by donating to GiveDirectly: - Donate in English: givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes - Donate in Spanish (Dona en español): givedirectly.org/venezuela-es 100% of funds raised for this campaign go to GiveDirectly's Venezuela earthquake response. If GiveDirectly cannot deliver all funds to survivors, donations support the next emergency through its Emergency Response Fund. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States. GiveDirectly's Track Record in Disasters: GiveDirectly has a proven record of delivering cash quickly after major disasters: - 2023 earthquake in southern Turkey: cash to over 1,000 families across Hatay, Adana, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa, where 94% reported their homes destroyed or damaged. - Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica (2025): $650 transfers to more than 2,500 people in St. Elizabeth Parish after the first Category 5 hurricane ever to strike Jamaica destroyed an estimated 90% of homes in the region. - Los Angeles wildfires (2025): partnered with Propel to deliver $3,500 transfers to over 1,000 families, enrolled fully remotely with no extra paperwork. - Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024): used SKAI, a Google-developed AI tool, to find the hardest-hit, lowest-income households, then sent $1,000 to over 1,600 families within days. Frequently Asked Questions: How can I help Venezuela earthquake survivors? Donate to GiveDirectly at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes (English) or givedirectly.org/venezuela-es (Spanish). GiveDirectly sends cash directly to affected families. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States. What is GiveDirectly doing about the Venezuela earthquakes? GiveDirectly is deploying an Emergency Cash team to Venezuela and using damage and poverty data to identify the highest-need communities, then paying families directly through digital transfers. Why does GiveDirectly give cash instead of supplies? Cash lets families meet their own needs instead of having others guess for them, and people affected by disasters consistently say they prefer cash over donated goods. It is also fast and fully remote. How much of my donation reaches Venezuelan families? 100% of funds raised for this campaign go to the Venezuela earthquake response. If GiveDirectly cannot deliver all funds, they support survivors of the next emergency. How fast does GiveDirectly deliver cash after a disaster? In past emergencies, GiveDirectly has delivered cash to families within two to three weeks. Is GiveDirectly a trusted charity? Yes. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009. It pioneered direct cash transfers, publishes independent research on its impact, and has been recognized by Fast Company, Forbes, and Inc. as one of the world's most innovative organizations. About GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly is one of the largest and most trusted direct cash relief organizations in the world. Founded in 2009, GiveDirectly lets donors send money directly to people living in poverty, with no strings attached. Over the past decade, it has delivered cash to more than 2 million people across 15 countries. GiveDirectly works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United States. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-1661997). Learn more at givedirectly.org. Media Contact: GiveDirectly Press Team [email protected] givedirectly.org/press Yonah Lieberman GiveDirectly [email protected] Visit International World Times on social media: LinkedIn Bluesky Instagram Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. International World Times do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

US National Times
Jun 28th, 2026
GiveDirectly mobilizes Emergency Cash relief for Venezuela earthquake survivors.

GiveDirectly mobilizes Emergency Cash relief for Venezuela earthquake survivors. GiveDirectly raised $100,000 in 24 hours and is deploying a team to send cash directly to families hit hardest by Venezuela's June 24 earthquakes. NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, June 28, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - GiveDirectly, one of the largest and most trusted direct cash relief organizations in the world, is mobilizing an emergency cash response for families affected by the back-to-back earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. GiveDirectly has launched a fundraiser at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes and is deploying an Emergency Cash team to the field this weekend. In its first 24 hours, the fundraiser raised more than $100,000. Over the past decade, GiveDirectly has delivered cash to more than 2 million people across 15 countries. Key facts: - The disaster: A magnitude 7.2 quake and a 7.5 mainshock struck northern Venezuela 39 seconds apart on June 24, 2026 - the strongest in more than a century. - The toll: More than 1,400 people killed and thousands injured, with the toll expected to rise, according to officials. - GiveDirectly's response: Deploying an Emergency Cash team to identify the highest-need communities and send cash directly to families. - Early support: More than $100,000 raised in the first 24 hours. - How to help: Donate at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes (English) or givedirectly.org/venezuela-es (Spanish). What Happened in Venezuela: On June 24, 2026, two major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela seconds apart - a magnitude 7.2 quake followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. The quakes collapsed hundreds of buildings across Caracas and La Guaira. More than 1,400 people have been killed and thousands more injured, and officials expect the toll to rise. The disaster struck a country where nearly 80% of people already live in poverty, many in unreinforced homes that crumble in earthquakes. What GiveDirectly Is Doing: GiveDirectly is deploying an Emergency Cash team to Venezuela this weekend to assess conditions and scope a cash response for the families most affected. GiveDirectly will use damage and poverty data to identify the highest-need communities, then enroll and pay families directly. Because GiveDirectly delivers cash digitally, it can reach families even when roads are damaged. The cash helps families cover urgent needs: - Food, water, and medicine - Shelter and temporary housing - Bills for phone, utilities, and healthcare for the injured "Families who survive a disaster know better than anyone what they need to recover," said Nick Allardice, President and CEO of GiveDirectly. "By sending money directly, we let the Venezuelans hit hardest by these earthquakes rebuild on their own terms - quickly and with dignity. We have delivered more than $1 billion to more than 2 million people across 15 countries, and we can reach families within weeks of a disaster." Anyone can help families affected by the Venezuela earthquakes by donating to GiveDirectly: - Donate in English: givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes - Donate in Spanish (Dona en español): givedirectly.org/venezuela-es 100% of funds raised for this campaign go to GiveDirectly's Venezuela earthquake response. If GiveDirectly cannot deliver all funds to survivors, donations support the next emergency through its Emergency Response Fund. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States. GiveDirectly's Track Record in Disasters: GiveDirectly has a proven record of delivering cash quickly after major disasters: - 2023 earthquake in southern Turkey: cash to over 1,000 families across Hatay, Adana, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa, where 94% reported their homes destroyed or damaged. - Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica (2025): $650 transfers to more than 2,500 people in St. Elizabeth Parish after the first Category 5 hurricane ever to strike Jamaica destroyed an estimated 90% of homes in the region. - Los Angeles wildfires (2025): partnered with Propel to deliver $3,500 transfers to over 1,000 families, enrolled fully remotely with no extra paperwork. - Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024): used SKAI, a Google-developed AI tool, to find the hardest-hit, lowest-income households, then sent $1,000 to over 1,600 families within days. Frequently Asked Questions: How can I help Venezuela earthquake survivors? Donate to GiveDirectly at givedirectly.org/venezuela-earthquakes (English) or givedirectly.org/venezuela-es (Spanish). GiveDirectly sends cash directly to affected families. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States. What is GiveDirectly doing about the Venezuela earthquakes? GiveDirectly is deploying an Emergency Cash team to Venezuela and using damage and poverty data to identify the highest-need communities, then paying families directly through digital transfers. Why does GiveDirectly give cash instead of supplies? Cash lets families meet their own needs instead of having others guess for them, and people affected by disasters consistently say they prefer cash over donated goods. It is also fast and fully remote. How much of my donation reaches Venezuelan families? 100% of funds raised for this campaign go to the Venezuela earthquake response. If GiveDirectly cannot deliver all funds, they support survivors of the next emergency. How fast does GiveDirectly deliver cash after a disaster? In past emergencies, GiveDirectly has delivered cash to families within two to three weeks. Is GiveDirectly a trusted charity? Yes. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009. It pioneered direct cash transfers, publishes independent research on its impact, and has been recognized by Fast Company, Forbes, and Inc. as one of the world's most innovative organizations. About GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly is one of the largest and most trusted direct cash relief organizations in the world. Founded in 2009, GiveDirectly lets donors send money directly to people living in poverty, with no strings attached. Over the past decade, it has delivered cash to more than 2 million people across 15 countries. GiveDirectly works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United States. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-1661997). Learn more at givedirectly.org. Media Contact: GiveDirectly Press Team [email protected] givedirectly.org/press Yonah Lieberman GiveDirectly [email protected] Visit US National Times on social media: LinkedIn Bluesky Instagram Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. US National Times do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

University of Notre Dame
Apr 21st, 2026
UC San Diego economist Paul Niehaus to receive Notre Dame Award for pioneering global cash aid research.

UC San Diego economist Paul Niehaus to receive Notre Dame Award for pioneering global cash aid research. April 21, 2026 Paul Niehaus, co-founder of GiveDirectly and an economics faculty member at University of California San Diego, will receive the 2026 Ford Family Notre Dame Award during an April 24 event hosted by the Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity at the University of Notre Dame. The Ford Award and Lecture brings together scholars, practitioners and benefactors to engage with questions of poverty, human dignity and development practice. Niehaus will give a lecture on his experiences as co-founder of the GiveDirectly nonprofit organization, its role in facilitating direct cash transfers in anti-poverty work and key research findings that can inform international development. "Paul Niehaus exemplifies the kind of scholarship and impact we seek to recognize with this award," said Ford Program Director Patrizio Piraino. "His work combines rigorous research with a deep respect for human dignity, challenging conventional approaches to poverty alleviation while empowering individuals to make their own economic decisions." This alignment of research and impact is central to the Notre Dame Poverty Initiative, a University-wide effort to create a world intolerant of poverty by expanding knowledge about how to solve it. The University is deploying unprecedented resources, a wide range of research approaches and some of its brightest minds to better understand what causes poverty and how to end it. The GiveDirectly mission, Niehaus said, is rooted in a respect for people's agency and autonomy when delivering aid. Since 2009, direct cash payments have gone to at least 2 million people living in African nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as in the United States. "GiveDirectly has grown from a crazy idea that people thought would never work to over $1 billion now distributed," said Niehaus, who welcomes the Ford Program recognition and the opportunity to share data from some two dozen rigorous studies on direct cash transfer. They include a December 2025 paper, co-authored by Niehaus, that demonstrates how just 0.3 percent to 0.5 percent of global GDP is needed to effectively end extreme poverty - everywhere. The numbers fall within a range that about 60 percent of "rich world" survey respondents would give up if it were to end global poverty, according to separate research on direct cash transfer by Nobel Prize recipients Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, as well as economist Michael Greenstone of the University of Chicago. Niehaus finds these results encouraging, even as research on direct giving continues at a national scale in places like Rwanda and Malawi. "We're asking the question, if you come in and give people one-time wealth transfers, what does that get you?" he explained. The impact can vary based on a range of variables. Among them are how larger amounts compare with smaller universal basic income-like payments over time, how demographics like age affect preferences and specific goals the cash support is meant to help people achieve. Those goals are self-directed and articulated by the people themselves, Niehaus said, with GiveDirectly data showing that about $1,000 U.S. dollars, given in a lump sum, translates in a year or so to improved income and assets, health outcomes and community life. "There's a lot of diversity within an ethical worldview," Niehaus said, with many donors looking for market efficiencies and quantitative data to support the direct cash approach. Others may place more focus on anti-poverty work itself, or on a limited scope like coffee and specific crops. Program success is achieved through tech-driven tools for both facilitating donor gifts and managing individual digital accounts in places like Kenya. Niehaus says the model essentially works everywhere, although security challenges can limit operations in some communities. Yet there's no one-size-fits-all answer, and research helps the GiveDirectly team to see the ethical implications of how they define and assess poverty, as well as how aid works in the real world. Niehaus says he increasingly spends time helping younger academics to refine their thinking on how to make a difference while designing research approaches. "Research helps us to find out what matters to people," Niehaus added. He looks forward to sharing some of those same insights during the Ford Program lecture. Founded in 2008 with a gift from the family of University of Notre Dame Trustee W. Douglas Ford, the Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, part of the Kellogg Institute in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, promotes Integral Human Development through community-engaged research, teaching and service aimed at understanding and addressing the challenges of extreme poverty while fostering human dignity and flourishing. Originally published by the Kellogg Institute at kellogg.nd.edu on April 20.

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