It depends on your skillset, but something like Givewell would be interesting to look at.
Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
11–20 of 201 posts
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#12Anyone in the medical device, medical tech, or bio tech spaces.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#13Right now I work for Aledade [1] where we're focused on improving outcomes while lowering cost of care for Medicare patients. The amount of good we do in the world is directly aligned with how we make money, so there's never conflict between doing the right thing and doing the thing that will make us the most money. We have a Python backend and Vue frontend, a lot of unit tests, and a lot of really great people.
Previously I worked at findhelp [2]. I loved the mission, helping people locate community resources, but leadership was really focused on chasing money rather than focusing on user experience. Occasionally customers asked us to do things that would actively hamper the ability of people in marginalized groups to find programs aimed at helping them, and we usually obliged. I know a few people that have moved over to their chief competitor Unite Us [3] and they seem happier there.
[1] https://jobs.lever.co/aledade?lever-via=4Oe9-BZLKF
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#14You could start by looking at companies that comprise ESG ETFs. Granted many of the companies included in there could be semineutral or debatable as to actual benefit.
> You could start by looking at companies that comprise ESG ETFs.
You could, if you believe that oil companies deserve a better score than Tesla.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#15There are a handful of people in the Elm Slack that work for companies that fit this description. I've seen everything from education to green energy and more. Might be a good place to ask. I know each of those companies needs back end devs, and likely had some non-Elm code as well.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#16For focusing on the world's most important problems in effective ways, please look into 80,000 Hours (an organization named after the approximate number of hours of work in a typical life-long career).
https://80000hours.org/ & https://80000hours.org/job-board/
They are aligned with Effective Altruism which is focusing on effective ways to do the most good - https://www.effectivealtruism.org/
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#17My advice is to join a company that is not making a negative impact on the world that pays well.
Many times companies that are trying to make a positive impact on the world can be miserable places to work. Many times there is this unsaid assumption that workers needs are secondary to the larger goal of helping the world (instead of increasing your salary, we could use that money to save even more babies). Also, people who think they are doing good for the world, will excuse bad behavior in themselves, since the good that they have done, so far outweighs the bad).
So I would recommend, going to a job that pays well and doesn't harm the world. Learn skills, make money, and do your own positive impact for the world on your own terms.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#18Thorn - https://www.thorn.org/
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#19Work in the healthcare / life sciences world.
I choose to work mainly with oncology related life science companies and it is a great feeling know that I am helping patients live longer and help with the treatment of cancer.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend employers with positive social impact
#20Regardless of where you end up working, consider donating some non-trivial part of your income to cost-effective charities (ones that use research-proven methods to help as many individuals as possible "biggest bang for the buck").
Finding such organizations is easier now than ever, since GiveWell has been working on this problem for over a decade: https://www.givewell.org/
And 10% seems like a good amount to give to charity - join the thousands of others already doing it: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/
The amount of good money can do is tremendous. For example, $3 donated to AMF (Against Malaria Foundation) results in a distribution of an anti-mosquito bednet protecting about 2 people from malaria for 3-4 years (evidence shows: prevents transmission, decreases malaria incidence in the area; kids don't miss school, parents avoid loss of income due to sickness; prevents death, and other good things).