Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: Lessons from Charity Fails and Successes

It’s a comforting thought: as long as we care, we can help. But what if our good intentions sometimes lead to wasted resources—or even harm? In Doing Good Better, Will MacAskill pulls back the curtain on the charity world, exposing the hidden risks of feel-good philanthropy and revealing how measurement and evidence must guide our efforts.

Take the PlayPump, for example. It was hailed as a genius solution—a water pump powered by children’s play, installed in dozens of African villages. The world cheered, celebrities endorsed it, and donors gave millions. But the reality was sobering: kids quickly tired of pushing the heavy wheel, and women ended up doing the hard labor. Worse, the pumps often broke, leaving communities without water. The PlayPump story is a cautionary tale: good intentions are not enough.



Contrast this with the success of deworming programs in Kenya. Instead of relying on feel-good narratives, researchers ran controlled trials. The results? Deworming schoolchildren led to dramatic improvements in attendance, health, and future earnings. For just a few dollars, donors could change a child’s life trajectory. This is the power of evidence-based giving.

Why do so many well-meaning projects fail? Often, it’s because donors focus on emotional stories rather than asking tough questions: Is there proof this works? What’s the long-term effect? Are there unintended consequences? MacAskill argues for a new approach—one that combines compassion with rigorous analysis.



Of course, not all failures are as dramatic as the PlayPump. Sometimes, charities simply don’t achieve much. That’s why it’s vital to measure outcomes, compare options, and support organizations that welcome scrutiny and adapt based on results.

In the end, the lesson is clear: the best way to help is to care enough to ask what really works. By learning from both failures and successes, we can ensure our efforts create positive, lasting change.

So next time you’re inspired to give, remember: real impact comes from both the heart and the head.