The Life You Can Save and Founders Pledge Launch Rapid Response Fund to Sustain Critical Global Health and Development Programs

New initiative gives immediate support to high-impact programs affected by recent cuts to foreign aid

SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Life You Can Save, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting extreme poverty, and Founders Pledge, a global nonprofit empowering entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their charitable giving, have announced today the formation of their Rapid Response Fund.

In the face of imminent federal funding cuts, the Fund will ensure that some of the world's highest-impact charities and programs can continue to function. Affected organizations include those offering critical interventions, particularly in basic health services, maternal and child health, infectious disease control, mental health, domestic violence, and organized crime.

"If these essential programs lose funding, the consequences will be severe—both immediately and in the long term—not just for the programs themselves, but for the millions of people who depend on them," said Jessica La Mesa, Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save. "The Rapid Response Fund was created to help bridge critical funding gaps and ensure that life-saving health services continue reaching the communities that rely on them. We are mobilizing individual and corporate donors to take action now, so resources can be deployed where they are needed most."

"Last year, the U.S. contributed nearly $4 billion to health initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, with about two-thirds supporting basic health services and one-third allocated to HIV/AIDS programs," La Mesa added. "Without alternative funding, many of these programs will no longer be able to provide essential care, leading to preventable illness and worsening health and development outcomes. Our goal is to direct resources effectively so that critical interventions are spared."

The Life You Can Save and Founders Pledge have a long track record of evaluating nonprofit organizations and interventions using rigorous, evidence-based criteria to identify those that deliver the greatest impact. For years, they have guided donors in directing their contributions to organizations that maximize positive outcomes. Through their partnership in the Rapid Response Fund, The Life You Can Save and Founders Pledge are leveraging their expertise in charity evaluation and strategic philanthropy to direct funding where it is most urgently needed. With their extensive experience identifying high-impact organizations, they will ensure resources are allocated to preserve essential programs that are at risk due to the aid suspension. This initiative aims to sustain vital progress in global health and development and prevent setbacks that would take decades to recover from.

David Goldberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Founders Pledge said: "For years, philanthropists and governments alike have funded interventions to fight extreme poverty and to create a cleaner, safer and more sustainable planet. As the federal government takes a step back, it's vital that philanthropists step forward to ensure that the highest-impact initiatives can continue. This is an emergency, and the Rapid Response Fund will enable anyone anywhere to act with the urgency this situation demands."

To donate to the Rapid Response Fund, visit founderspledge.com/rapid-response-fund

About The Life You Can Save
The Life You Can Save was founded to promote high-impact philanthropy, meaning giving that is research-based and cost-effective. Its mission is to improve the lives of people living in poverty by changing the way people think about and donate to charity. The team at The Life You Can Save does research to develop a list of recommended nonprofits delivering high-impact interventions across all of the dimensions of poverty. The Life You Can Save works to raise awareness of and connect donors with its recommended giving opportunities to increase the impact of giving. Through research and funds, The Life You Can Save offers a simplified donating process for individuals who want to maximize their impact in uplifting people experiencing extreme poverty.
Learn more about high-impact philanthropy at thelifeyoucansave.org.

About Founders Pledge
Founders Pledge is a global nonprofit empowering entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their charitable giving. Since 2015, our growing community has given almost $1.5 billion to charities and has pledged $11 billion more. We provide tailored advice on high-impact charities vetted by our in-house research team, as well as the infrastructure to enable ambitious, international grantmaking through our Donor Advised Funds, coupled with invitations to private events to connect & learn. Our members include fast-growth startups as well as the people behind household brands including Bolt, Unity, Klarna, Wise, Webflow, Twelve and Replicate.  Together, we are funding solutions to the world's biggest challenges, from health & education to climate change, AI safety and existential risk.
Learn more about making high-impact giving the norm at founderspledge.com.

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SOURCE The Life You Can Save