Jack's Journal - December 2021
Effective Altruism
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO

One of the most interesting developments I encountered during my career in the nonprofit sector, is that of metrics — the growing movement to develop standards by which the effectiveness of charitable spending and programs can be measured with some degree of objectivity. The reasoning goes that those charitable or nonprofit programs and organizations that can demonstrate with facts, figures and statistics that they are having a real-world impact will be better able to attract funding.
For example, see my article and short video at TANGO Alliance Insists Nonprofits be Accountable at TANGO Alliance Insists Nonprofits Be Accountable – InsideCharity.org where the topic is discussed in some detail.
I decided to write on this topic again after learning about a new variation on this theme that takes the form and title “Effective Altruism” and here is a link to a Web Page explaining the movement’s tenets and goals Introductory EA Program – Effective Altruism.
For an even deeper dive into the topic, I recommend a May 21, 2021 Article in Harvard Political Review entitled Effective Altruism: An Interview with Steven Pinker. Effective Altruism: An Interview with Steven Pinker – Harvard Political Review (harvardpolitics.com). Pinker is one of our cultures’ leading intellectuals and a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, and his thinking is provocative and deserves serious consideration.
2025: Cause for Concern or a Call for Action?
Social media updates emerge on a near daily basis regarding the freeze or cancellation of government funding and the weaponization of the IRS through legislation (for example, HR 9495) or executive action to target the tax-exempt status of certain nonprofits.
April 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster
As President and Founder of TANGO, and The TANGO Foundation one of my favorite “duties” is giving away money! But let’s be real here…I’m not simply giving away cash for the fun of it. We are making strategic investments, often referred to as Impact Investing.
CONTACT
TANGO
Jack Horak
Director of Nonprofit Education & Consulting
TANGO – The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity
135 South Road
Farmington, CT 06032
877-708-2646
tangoalliance.org