The Pledge

Will you do your part to save the lives of people living in extreme poverty? In The Life You Can Save, I suggest a new public standard for a minimum that we should expect people to give. By pledging to donate the percentage of your annual income that meets the standard, you will be making a difference to the poor. But that’s not all: you will also be helping to change the public standard of what is involved in living an ethical life in a world that contains both great affluence and extreme poverty.

The Standard
Income Bracket Donation
Less than 105 000 USD At least 1% of your income, getting closer to 5% as your income approaches 105 000 USD
105 001 USD  148 000 USD 5%
148 001 USD  383 000 USD 5% of the first 148 000 USD and 10% of the remainder
383 001 USD  600 000 USD 5% of the first 148 000 USD, 10% of the next 235 000 USD and 15% of the remainder
600 001 USD  1 900 000 USD 5% of the first 148 000 USD, 10% of the next 235 000 USD, 15% of the next 217 000 USD and 20% of the remainder
1 900 001 USD  10 700 000 USD 5% of the first 148 000 USD, 10% of the next 235 000 USD, 15% of the next 217 000 USD, 20% of the next 1 300 000 USD and 25% of the remainder
Over 10 700 000 USD 5% of the first 148 000 USD, 10% of the next 235 000 USD, 15% of the next 217 000 USD, 20% of the next 1 300 000 USD, 25% of the next 8 800 000 USD and 33.33% of the remainder
Change currency
(if your country uses a currency that is also used in other countries, please choose the country in which you live):

Note: This currency conversion takes into account not only exchange rates but also differences in purchasing power, as given by the International Monetary Fund with minor adjustments for some more recent changes in value. Please inform us of any errors.

If your currency is not listed, or if you prefer to make your own calculation, you can go to http://www.xe.com to convert your currency to US dollars. You can also take account of differences in purchasing power by using this map . You may, of course, use any other source you have available to convert the US dollar figures.

If you want to see how much the scale commits you to give, click here.

I pledge that over the coming year I will meet the public standard described above, and give at least the amount specified, in accordance with my income level, to an organization helping people living in extreme poverty.