Giving in Chicago

Overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago matches children from age seven through high school graduation with screened volunteer mentors, with staff monitoring each match. It served 1,935 young people in 2025 after growing 37%, and holds events to take children off its waitlist for a mentor. This in-depth review prices the organization’s whole cost per match against long-run earnings from a tax-record follow-up of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ randomized trial in eight other cities.

Cost-effectiveness

We estimate $100K per DALY.^[1] Nonprofit yearly budget is $5.3M.^[2]

Why investigate

The 1991–93 randomized trial of about 1,100 youth found behavior improvements while matched; linked tax records show treatment youth were significantly more likely to attend college.

Main reservation

Our working estimate is about $100K per DALY; all of it is income, and the randomized trial’s own earnings estimate is imprecise.

Organization and research

Overview

Saga Education (legally Saga Innovations) places trained tutors in public high schools to teach ninth and tenth graders math in pairs, as a daily class during the school day. Its Direct program served 3,083 students in 29 schools in Chicago, New York City and Baltimore in 2024–25; a separate Widespread program trains district tutors elsewhere. This in-depth review prices the organization’s whole annual cost per Direct student against adult earnings inferred from math gains in two Chicago randomized trials.

Cost-effectiveness

We estimate $102K per DALY.^[1] Nonprofit yearly budget is $27.4M.^[2]

Why investigate

Two randomized trials with about 5,300 Chicago students found math gains of 0.16 and 0.37 standard deviations, math grades up by about 0.4 to 0.6 points and math course failures roughly halved.

Main reservation

Our working estimate is about $102K per DALY; all of it is adult income inferred from test scores, which is the weakest link in the chain.

Organization and research

Overview

Chicago Recovery Alliance provides low-barrier harm-reduction services in Chicago, Cicero and Harvey. Its outreach supplies naloxone and practical training so people can respond promptly to an opioid overdose. It also offers sterile equipment, drug checking, testing and referrals; this estimate focuses on its overdose-response pathway.

Cost-effectiveness

We estimate $264K per DALY.^[1] Nonprofit yearly budget is $3.9M.^[2]

Why investigate

Timely overdose response can prevent death and preserve years of health for people facing substantial risks.

Main reservation

Current unique at-risk reach, additional timely rescues and the response to another donation are not directly measured.

Organization and research

Overview

Tri City provides free medical, dental and prescription assistance for eligible people who live or work in Central Kane County. Its volunteer clinicians and hospital referrals support chronic, acute and preventive care. The annual illustration assesses medical health and signed household resources, not a retail service value or priced marginal donation.

Cost-effectiveness

We estimate $330K per DALY.^[1] Nonprofit yearly budget is $1.4M.^[2]

Initial review.

Why investigate

Original annual unique medical patients avoid visit-based double counting.

Main reservation

Utility, net cash and residence shares remain judgments.

Organization and research