About GiveWell
What is GiveWell?
GiveWell is a nonprofit charity evaluator. Its postings say "GiveWell’s mission is to help people in need as much as we can by researching the most cost‑effective ways to save and improve lives, sharing our work openly, and directing donations to the programs we believe will do the most good." Its work "focuses on global health and well-being" and is "funded by tens of thousands of donors who rely on our research to inform their giving." The jobs page says GiveWell "directed $427 million to cost-effective programs" in 2025 and that this year its grantmaking "is likely to approach or even exceed $1 billion"; a posting adds that it has grown "from directing $1.5 million in 2010". It runs giving funds (an All Grants Fund, a Top Charities Fund and an Unrestricted Fund), and its open roles are mostly senior: researchers on malaria, nutrition, vaccination, water and livelihoods, a Cause Prioritization Lead, a Senior Program Officer, three Senior Communications Officers, a Senior Philanthropy Advisor and a Senior Recruiter.
Where will I work?
The jobs page says "Most of GiveWell’s staff work remotely, and most of our new job openings allow some level of remote work." Eleven of the sixteen postings on 2026-10-16 are listed "United States + International (Remote)" and four "United States (Remote)", and the postings say "This position is eligible to work fully remotely." There are optional offices in Oakland, California, Brooklyn, NYC and London, UK: "You are welcome but not required to work from our offices", with relocation covered for anyone who moves. Remote staff are asked to work "within three hours of the Pacific Time Zone", and international hires must keep "some overlap with American working hours". GiveWell says it holds "two cost-covered visit weeks at our Oakland office each year", dedicates "weekly time for social interaction" and encourages staff to attend quarterly whole-organisation and department retreats.
What is the GiveWell team like?
The research postings describe a culture where "We care deeply and centrally about finding and sharing truth", "We post our mistakes" and a "culture of free-flowing feedback" is prized. The jobs page says it wants people who are "transparent, truth-seeking, and considerate" and who are "invested in our mission of maximizing global well-being", and that it has "previously hired many team members with unconventional backgrounds". Hiring leans on work: "Most applications require an initial work exercise in lieu of letters of recommendation or cover letters", longer exercises carry an honorarium, and the page is blunt that it does not offer individual feedback on applications, bar a few exceptions for finalists. Postings publish pay, set "using a location-based tier system" (the Senior Program Officer role lists $308,000 in NYC or the San Francisco Bay Area and $280,000 elsewhere in the US).
Work-Life Balance
The jobs page lists "20 days per year of paid time off, in addition to 11 paid holidays, 10 days of paid sick leave, and an organization-wide closure during the week of July 4th each year", which is 31 days off before the closure, above the US bar of 30. It adds bereavement leave, time off for unforeseen hardships and optional unpaid leave. Postings say "We support and encourage flexible working, including flexible hours, working remotely, and working from the office when you choose. The majority of our staff, including senior management, work flexibly in one way or another." The research roles carry a stated cost: team members "are sometimes required to attend international site visits and conferences (on average 1-2 per year)". New parents of all types get 16 weeks of paid parental leave, called "fully paid" in the postings.
Perks and Benefits
- 20 days of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, 10 sick days and a week-long July 4th closure
- Fully funded health, vision and dental insurance for staff and their families (the postings say 100% of premiums for you and any dependents in the US)
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents of all types
- Life and short- and long-term disability insurance, FSA benefits and fertility and family-forming benefits through Carrot Fertility
- An automatic employer contribution of 5% of gross salary to a 403(b) retirement plan for US employees
- An annual professional development allowance, a separate books allowance and a wellness stipend
- A home workstation at no cost, co-working memberships for remote staff who want them and phone and internet subsidies
- Access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and visa sponsorship (H-1B, TN and E-3 have been sponsored before)