The science of
saving the world.
At Theoria Center, we research and advocate with partners in the field of Development Economics — changing the way the world's problems are approached, more like a scientific textbook.
Pilot project · Live idea
WikiDonate
A central collaborative hub to pool donations for greater effect. No cause is an island.
#WikiDonate — help them all at once
About us
Research and advocacy,
with partners in the field.
At Theoria Center, we research and advocate with partners in the field of Development Economics. We bring scientific rigour to philanthropy: test, measure, compare, coordinate — then fund what works.
Evidence-first
Decisions grounded in data and field research, not anecdote or prestige.
Partner-powered
We work with NGOs, academics and local groups — never above them.
Neutral ground
A fair arena where ideas and organisations compete on merit.
Systems change
Fix the way we fight for causes — not just one cause at a time.
The problem we solve
"You care about the cause. You care less about another NGO that uses up the same limited resources to repeat the same administrative costs."
Theoria Center thesis
Development Economics in action
Mission
Changing the way the world's problems are approached — to be more of a scientific textbook.
Our ideal: every intervention stated as a hypothesis, tested in the field, debated openly, and funded by evidence.
Hypothesize
State the theory of change clearly. What will work, for whom, and why?
Test
Run field research with partners. Measure outcomes, not outputs.
Debate
Open, neutral review of who the best expertise for each issue is.
Scale
Pool funding behind what proves most effective — across all causes.
Projects · Pilot
WikiDonate
Our pilot project in partnership with NGOs — for wikidonate.org: a central collaborative website to pool donations for greater effect.
Fund the cause, not the logo
Donate to the cause itself and let the NGOs compete in a neutral area to prove that they are the best use of money. Now, they will be incentivized to coordinate with each other to become more efficient.
End duplicated overhead
No cause is an island. With a central hub, different causes collaborate — instead of burning the same limited resources to repeat the same administrative costs.
Lift up local heroes
Efficient local groups without the big marketing budget can get their due support — judged on impact, not ad spend.
Neutral, not dynastic
Unlike big foundations where families who happen to be rich determine policy on whims, this is neutral ground where users debate the best expertise for each issue.
Your foundation, without being rich
Hold your own collection of causes you care about — and others can contribute to it in your name. Pediatric cancer, hunger, education: help them all at once.
How it works
- 1 Pick a cause — or build your own collection.
- 2 NGOs propose; evidence & debate rank them.
- 3 Pooled funds flow to proven impact.
Coordination > competition
Shared services, shared learning, shared infrastructure — NGOs rewarded for working together.
Evidence over marketing
Rankings driven by measured outcomes and open debate, not brand size.
Many causes, one hub
Give once to a collection — or target precisely. Either way, money moves efficiently.
| Dimension | Big foundations | WikiDonate |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides? | A wealthy family, by whim | Open community + debated expertise |
| Incentives | Compete for grants, duplicate admin | Coordinate to prove efficiency |
| Small groups | Overlooked without marketing | Surfaced on merit and evidence |
| Your role | Passive donor | Curate your own foundation; others give in your name |
No. It's neutral infrastructure — a hub where causes collaborate and NGOs prove effectiveness. Funds go to the causes and the most effective implementers.
Through open debate on the best expertise per issue, plus measured outcomes. Efficiency and coordination are rewarded; duplicated overhead is penalized.
Yes. Build a personal collection — pediatric cancer, hunger, education — and others can contribute to it in your name. #WikiDonate
In the Charter section below — the living document from which WikiDonate would run.
Imagine
What neutral funding unlocks
Independent media
Media that can run independently of those they are supposed to hold to account.
Free science
Scientists not having to work for pharmaceutical companies — free to discover drugs that may not be profitable and sell them for free.
Open research
Research done and shared without the constraints of journals' financial interests.
"You could fight pediatric cancer, hunger, or for education — but what if you could help them all at once by changing the way we fight for causes?"
#WikiDonate
Governance
The document WikiDonate would run from
Below is the living charter — the operating principles for a neutral, collaborative funding hub.
WikiDonate Charter (draft)
- Cause primacy. Donations attach to causes, not brands. Implementers earn funds by demonstrating best use of money.
- Neutral ground. No donor, family, or firm sets policy by whim. Expertise is debated openly; decisions are recorded publicly.
- Coordinate by default. Shared admin, shared data, shared learning. Duplication must be justified — collaboration is rewarded.
- Merit over marketing. Small, efficient, local groups compete on equal footing with large NGOs.
- Open knowledge. Research, media, and methods funded here are shared freely — no paywalls, no capture.
- Personal foundations for all. Anyone may curate a collection of causes; others may contribute in their name.
This is a working draft stewarded by Theoria Center with NGO partners. Have expertise? Help refine it — contact us.
Get involved
Help rewrite the textbook.
Researchers, NGOs, funders, builders — if you believe saving the world should be a science, we want to hear from you.
The pilot hub — explore and share with #WikiDonate
Partnerships, research, press
Our field — rigor, fieldwork, open debate
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