In a profession too often characterized by negative press, a trio of Atlanta-based plaintiff attorneys set out to demonstrate the altruistic potential of successful legal practitioners, thereby reigniting faith in the field.
Jeb Butler, Naveen Ramachandrappa, and Jay Sadd sought a means of distributing their hard-earned wealth to those in greater need. Their plan to use their resources for good was conceived over a steakhouse meal. Propelled by the belief that lives could be saved for as little as $2000, if the money were used wisely, the attorneys devised Smart Giving – a platform designed to channel high-impact donations to developing nations, where even small sums can have a huge impact.
Butler, Ramachandrappa, and Sadd have embraced the concept of ‘effective altruism’, ensuring that every dollar pledged through Smart Giving makes the maximum difference to saving lives worldwide. They have partnered with GiveWell, a non-profit organization, to see their vision come to life.
Smart Giving works by directing donations to a select few charities through GiveWell. Since 2007, GiveWell has been evaluating and ranking charities based on their effectiveness. According to its research, top-ranked charities are those that, per dollar, save or significantly improve lives. These include initiatives addressing malaria and vitamin A deficiency in Africa and Asia.
To Butler, the beauty of effective altruism lies in its simplicity yet compelling impact – those who have more should help those who have less. The power of this idea is amplified by the second principle of giving thoughtfully in ways that multiply the effect of each dollar.
In addition to this principle, the group advocates for informed giving. With the aid of charity evaluators like GiveWell, they assert that a moment’s thought can substantially enhance the impact of donations.
Butler, Ramachandrappa, and Sadd started this venture with a pledge of $350,000 through the end of the year to Smart Giving. They were shortly joined by Mike Caplan of Caplan Cobb with an additional pledge of $25,000.
For more on this inspiring story and efforts by legal professionals to make a difference, visit the original report on Above The Law.