Give a basic income
Lift one person above extreme poverty for $40 a month.
Give a basic income
Lift one person above extreme poverty for $40 a month.
A basic income guarantees monthly payments for communities to meet their needs.
In 2016, GiveDirectly launched the world’s largest and longest universal basic income study in Kenya. Since then, we’ve expanded to launch 3 basic income programs across 3 more countries in Africa. Separately, we also run guaranteed income programs.
These transfers lift everyone in a village out of (monetary) poverty.
Featured Program
Kenya
12-Year Basic Income Study
Since 2017, GiveDirectly has led the world’s largest and longest term study to date studying the effects of a Universal Basic Income. As part of this $30M project, we have distributed millions of dollars to ~23,000 individuals living across 195 villages, and an additional 100 villages have been surveyed as a control group. Some individuals will receive payments for 12 years, and the full study will last at least that long.
Transfer Sizes
- Long-term UBI: $22.50/month for 12 years
- Short-term UBI: $22.50/month for 2 years
- Large lump-sum: one-off $500 payment (comparison group)
- Control: no transfers
Households Reached
~23,000 individuals living across 195 villages
Research Goals
UBI could plausibly affect a wide range of outcomes and behaviors, from what families eat and how they interact with each other, to broader macroeconomic or cultural dynamics. With this in mind, the research team designed the surveys to cover a wide range of outcomes:
- Economic well-being: consumption, assets, remittances, debt and credit, food security, employment
- Health: psychological well-being, nutrition, cognition
- Social well-being: mental health, intra-household gender relations, aspirations, social integration
- Macroeconomic well-being: price changes, availability of goods & services, community demographics, village infrastructure, political participation, and crime rates
- Financial preferences: willingness to take financial risk, invest, start businesses, and migrate
In the News
People use cash to meet short-term needs and unlock future plans.
Syprosa installed clean water for her family
“I have struggled for years to access clean water because the only water source in our village, a dam, is far from my home. Before receiving financial support from GiveDirectly, I had to trek a long distance to fetch water for my family’s daily needs, such as washing and cooking, as well as for my cattle…I deposited $20 to install a water tap in my compound and have been paying $5 monthly from my transfers to maintain it.”
Dweh built a home for his family of 6
“My wife, Balla, and I have four children. I have been stressed and unhappy with the work that I am doing because it is tedious but the money I earn is insufficient to take care of the family… The new things we’ve invested our transfers into are; three bundles of metal roof sheets at the cost of $233, sticks for the house for $38 and another $38 for transporting the materials from Giabo to here.”
Mary bought sandles for her family
“I have two children (Alfred age 4 and Otis age 1) with my husband Mark. Alfred and Otis were barefoot before so I immediately bought a pair of sandals for each. It is what Alfred is wearing today! We also bought a half bag of rice for $21, seasonings and spices for $4, pepper, salt, and fish for $10.”
Nyema paid for malaria treatment
“I recently became sick with a cold and malaria. I went to the hospital and was able to pay the $47 hospital bills. The GiveDirectly money has been and will still be impactful for my family! We bought a 25kg bag of rice and fish, and have bought materials to build a new metal roof on our home.”
Joseph moved out of his brother’s house
“I have never owned a house before and often rely on my elder brother’s house for accommodation. And since his house is not that spacious, there is always no privacy here. At times when he has guests I have to leave and seek accommodation elsewhere. But with my monthly transfers, I have been working on building my own house.”
A basic income helps people meet immediate needs and make long-term plans.
Research finds:
- Basic income: improves food security and other immediate needs, helping recipients weather unexpected shocks like extreme weather or medical emergencies. If it lasts long enough, people use the funds to make long-term plans and save up for large purchases.
- One-time, large transfers: allow people to make immediate large investments that lead to better economic outcomes than the same amount given over a short-term basic income.
A basic income helps people meet immediate needs and make long-term plans
Research finds:
- A basic income improves food security and other immediate needs, helping recipients weather unexpected shocks like extreme weather or medical emergencies. If it lasts long enough, people use the funds to make long-term plans and save up for large purchases.
- A one-time large transfer allows people to make immediate large investments that lead to better economic outcomes than the same amount given over a short-term basic income. If you want your donations delivered as a large transfer, give here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive my donation?
Donations made through this page will be directed exclusively to basic income programs targeting recipients living in extreme poverty in Africa. Today those programs are running in Kenya and Liberia.
You can support our guaranteed income programs in the U.S. here.
How will my donation be delivered?
Funds are delivered directly to the recipient through mobile money technology for the vast majority of our programs. They receive the funds directly to a SIM card and are able to cash out safely and securely at their local mobile money station/kiosk/store.
How much money will people receive?
The current transfer amount for basic income programs is ~$40 a month. Over time this has increased with inflation and our programs have been designed to account for inflation.
While our efficiency varies from program to program, historically 90% of all GiveDirectly donations go directly to a person living in poverty, with the other 10% covering the cost of getting it there (more here).
What is GiveDirectly?
GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest, no-strings-attached. We have delivered cash aid to 1.5M people across 13 countries, including crises and natural disaster responses.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States – you can give through one of our international partners to receive tax benefits outside the U.S.. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3), and our U.S. federal EIN is 27-1661997.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more information on ways to give.
Where can I learn more about the basic income study in Kenya?
Since 2017, GiveDirectly has led the world’s largest and longest term study to date studying the effects of a Universal Basic Income. As part of this $30M project, we have distributed millions of dollars to 20,000 individuals living across 197 villages, and an additional 100 villages have been surveyed as a control group. Some individuals will receive payments for 12 years, and the full study will last at least that long.
Though the study is ongoing, the most recent results can be found here.