Apply Now | Application Deadline: 29 Mar | Runs Apr - Jun 2026

A 12-week structured program by Effective Altruism South Africa

Based on the book “How to Launch a High Impact Nonprofit” by Charity Entrepreneurship

This program is run independently by EA South Africa.

The Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program has successfully incubated over 50 charities. Their applications are open until 22 March.

💡 What if you could save a life every day?

Many successful charity founders do exactly that—making a difference that normally seems reserved for superhero movies. Learn the reality-tested frameworks behind their impact.

🎯 At a Glance

💭 What is this program?

Few people get the chance to save someone's life. But what about building a career where you help people every single day?

Just as the richest people on the planet are often entrepreneurs in the for-profit world, many of the most impactful people are entrepreneurs in the nonprofit world. Charity founders like Rob Mather, Elie Hassenfeld, and Esther Duflo have saved a life for every day they've lived—yet they remain far less known than their for-profit counterparts.

This 12-week program is based on the book "How to Launch a High Impact Nonprofit" by Charity Entrepreneurship. Whether you're considering launching a charitable organisation or currently running an early-stage nonprofit, this program provides structured learning, peer support, and practical frameworks to maximise your impact.

With strong research and good decision-making tools, starting a high-impact nonprofit is achievable.

🛤️ Choose Your Track

💡 You can transition from Track 1 to Track 2 at any time.

🚀 Why do this program?

• Master frameworks behind extraordinary impact. Learn decision-making tools, cost-effectiveness analysis, and operational best practices that help charity entrepreneurs save lives daily.
• Turn ideas into reality. Gain practical frameworks for choosing your charity idea, finding co-founders, and building sustainable operations.
• Connect with like-minded changemakers. Build a cohort of nonprofit leaders who can support each other beyond the program.
• Get structured accountability. Weekly check-ins, optional co-reading sessions, and facilitated discussions.

🧠 What you'll learn

The book features insights from past charity founders who share their experiences and advice.

📖 12-Week Curriculum

Weekly Discussions (1.5 hours):

Discussion sessions take place weekly and consist of a recap presentation, discussion and peer networking opportunities.

Weekly Themes:

✅ Requirements

• English language skills for group discussions
• Reliable internet for active participation in online discussions

🎓 Certificates

Requirements for both certificates:

• ≥80% attendance (at least 10 of 12 discussion sessions)
• Baseline and completion surveys

⭐ The Impact of Charity Entrepreneurs

Since 2018, Charity Entrepreneurship (now Ambitious Impact) has incubated 50+ high-impact charities.

Here is their impact so far:

Charity Entrepreneurs can have extraordinary impact. One estimate by Peter Wildeford suggests that founding a GiveWell top charity could be equivalent in impact to donating $400,000 per year. Charity Entrepreneurship's own analysis of its incubated charities estimates an expected value equivalent to donating approximately $190,000 per year to the world's most effective organizations. To put this in concrete terms: at GiveWell's benchmark cost-effectiveness figures, a single new charity could save roughly 38–50 lives — or the equivalent — every year it operates.

Examples of high-impact charities:

• Suvita (2019): Reduces neonatal deaths in India
• LEEP (2020): Lead paint reformulation protecting millions of children
• Healthier Hens (2021): Corporate cage-free commitments for millions of animals

You can read more about the impact of AIM and their incubated charities here.

These charities show what's possible with the frameworks you'll learn in this program.

💬 What People Are Saying About the Book

"Clear, thoughtful, engaging. Excellent advice for nonprofit entrepreneurs." — Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University

"Very comprehensive for new charity starters... covers pretty much everything you'll need in the first couple of years." — Sofia, Amazon Review

"Covers meta-level issues like decision-making to practical matters like financial management. Written in an engaging and accessible way." — Keyon, Amazon Review

ℹ️ About the Book

Originally created for the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program, and written by Joey Savoie, Patrick Stadler, and Antonia Shann, this handbook combines practical lean start-up know-how with effective altruist thinking. It's been refined over multiple cohorts based on successful charity founders' experiences.

The book is freely available online to all participants. Download it here.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to be a nonprofit founder to apply? No, this is open to anyone curious about the topic - whether you’re considering founding an organisation, becoming a stronger candidate for impact-focused roles, or just interested in learning more.
• Is this only for people interested in founding a nonprofit? No, many of the chapters are relevant to other impact work, such as strong decision making, managing a team, and developing a good online presence.
• Can I join if I have already read the book? We think this program is most valuable for people who have not read the book. However, if you have read it, you are welcome to join, and we recommend the discussion-only track (Track 2) as a way to refresh your knowledge and think more about applying learnings to your current and future work.

☀️ About Effective Altruism South Africa

• We support people to maximise the impact of their resources and careers.
• We run capacity-building programs, provide career advising, and support the growth of a community of people dedicated to doing the most good they can.
• Since 2024, we’ve had more than 160 program completions, and supported community members accept ~24 high-impact roles and launch ~5 high-impact initiatives.

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Mailing List

Email: hello@effectivealtruism.co.za

✍️ How to Apply

Apply Now

Deadline: Sunday, 29 March 2026

We’ll email you for the next steps.

Not sure if this is right for you? Apply anyway! We're happy to help you determine if this program is a good fit.

💡 Helping this many people might seem like a task reserved for superhero movies. Yet it is achievable with ambitious, strategic action.