# Unconventional Impacts

> A guide to small, overlooked charitable projects where a donation can go far. We show efficiency data and let you decide. It is a guide, not a donation processor: donations go through Every.org (or the charity's own page) straight to each project and Unconventional Impacts never takes a cut. All projects currently listed are fictional EXAMPLE DATA, not real charities or real statistics.

## Key pages
- [Home](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/): how far does your dollar go
- [Categories](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/): 8 areas of giving
- [Projects](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/): all example projects, sorted by efficiency rating
- [Calculator](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/calculator/): enter any amount and see what it funds at every project in concrete units (example data)
- [Values quiz](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/quiz/): 5-minute or 15-minute quiz that finds your top giving values and matches them to categories and projects; runs in the browser, nothing stored or sent
- [Giving portfolio](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/portfolio/): split one gift across several projects, see the impact of each and share a receipt; runs in the browser, nothing stored or sent (example data)
- [Submit a project](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/submit-project/): placeholder form, nothing is sent yet
- [Methodology](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/methodology/): how efficiency ratings work and their limits
- [About](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/about/)
- [Support](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/support/): fund the guide itself

## Grades
Letter grades from efficiency: A >= 90, B >= 80, C >= 70, D >= 60, F >= 0. Grades summarize expense ratios, not impact.

## Categories
- [Longevity Research](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/longevity-research/): Understanding and slowing the biology of aging. (2 example projects; neglectedness 6/10 (example))
- [Environment & Land Preservation](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/environment-land-preservation/): Protecting land, water and habitat at the local scale. (3 example projects; neglectedness 4/10 (example))
- [Animal Welfare](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/animal-welfare/): Care, rescue and humane practice for animals. (3 example projects; neglectedness 4/10 (example))
- [Crypto & Open Finance](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/crypto-open-finance/): Open, auditable financial tools. (2 example projects; neglectedness 7/10 (example))
- [Technological Innovation](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/technological-innovation/): Early-stage tools and ideas with broad benefit. (2 example projects; neglectedness 5/10 (example))
- [Geothermal & Clean Energy Research](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/geothermal-clean-energy-research/): Heat from the earth and other clean power. (2 example projects; neglectedness 7/10 (example))
- [Open Science & Archaeology](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/open-science-archaeology/): Open data, from LiDAR maps to field digs. (1 example projects; neglectedness 8/10 (example))
- [Second Chances & Community](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/categories/second-chances-community/): Helping people rebuild and neighbors support one another. (2 example projects; neglectedness 8/10 (example))

## Example projects (fictional, highest efficiency first)
- [Example: Prairie Parcel Preservation Project](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/prairie-parcel-preservation/): Buys and protects small tallgrass prairie parcels. Why it matters: Tallgrass prairie is one of the most endangered habitats, and small protected parcels keep it alive. Efficiency: 96 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $260,000 of $400,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 protects 0.2 acres. Neglectedness 4/10 (example). 31 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 protects less than 0.1 acres; $100 protects less than 0.1 acres; $250 protects 0.1 acres.
- [Example: LiDAR Lost Landscapes Survey](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/lidar-lost-landscapes-survey/): Airborne LiDAR mapping of forested areas, with open data. Why it matters: LiDAR can reveal ancient settlements hidden under forest, and open data lets everyone study them. Efficiency: 95 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $330,000 of $600,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 maps 0.4 sq km. Neglectedness 8/10 (example). 20 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 maps less than 0.1 sq km; $100 maps less than 0.1 sq km; $250 maps 0.2 sq km.
- [Example: Aging Biomarker Open Lab](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/aging-biomarker-open-lab/): A small lab publishing open datasets on markers of biological aging. Why it matters: Open aging data lets many researchers build on the same evidence instead of repeating work in private. Efficiency: 94 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $210,000 of $500,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 analyzes 1.9 sample panels. Neglectedness 6/10 (example). 18 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 analyzes less than 0.1 sample panels; $100 analyzes 0.4 sample panels; $250 analyzes 0.9 sample panels.
- [Example: Community Geothermal Pilot](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/community-geothermal-pilot/): A small pilot testing shallow geothermal heating for a village. Why it matters: Heat from the ground can warm homes with very little pollution, and small pilots show whether it works. Efficiency: 93 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $150,000 of $1,000,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 monitors less than 0.1 test wells. Neglectedness 7/10 (example). 24 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 monitors less than 0.1 test wells; $100 monitors less than 0.1 test wells; $250 monitors less than 0.1 test wells.
- [Example: Senior Shelter Dog Rescue](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/senior-shelter-dog-rescue/): Places older dogs that larger shelters often overlook. Why it matters: Older dogs are often passed over, and a good home late in life is a gift worth giving. Efficiency: 92 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $40,000 of $80,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 places 0.6 senior dogs. Neglectedness 5/10 (example). 27 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 places less than 0.1 senior dogs; $100 places 0.1 senior dogs; $250 places 0.3 senior dogs.
- [Example: Barn Cat Colony Caretakers](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/barn-cat-colony-caretakers/): Volunteers who feed, vaccinate and shelter managed barn cat colonies. Why it matters: Managed colonies keep barn cats healthy and humanely controlled instead of leaving them to suffer. Efficiency: 91 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Ongoing project: 140 monthly donors as of 2026-10 (example). $25/month feeds 1.9 colony cats. Neglectedness 4/10 (example). 33 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $20/month feeds 1.5 colony cats; $50/month feeds 3.8 colony cats; $100/month feeds 7.6 colony cats.
- [Example: Headwaters Restoration Crew](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/headwaters-restoration-crew/): A volunteer-led crew restoring stream banks and wetlands. Why it matters: Healthy stream banks and wetlands near the source keep water cleaner for everyone downstream. Efficiency: 91 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $126,000 of $120,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 restores 11 meters of stream. Neglectedness 5/10 (example). 14 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 restores 0.6 meters of stream; $100 restores 2.3 meters of stream; $250 restores 5.7 meters of stream.
- [Example: Open Hardware Water Sensors](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/open-hardware-water-sensors/): Low-cost, open-design sensors for community water testing. Why it matters: Cheap, open-design sensors let communities test their own water instead of waiting for someone else to. Efficiency: 90 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $111,000 of $150,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 builds 6 water sensor kits. Neglectedness 5/10 (example). 22 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 builds 0.3 water sensor kits; $100 builds 1.2 water sensor kits; $250 builds 3 water sensor kits.
- [Example: Recovery & Reentry Bridge Housing](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/recovery-reentry-bridge-housing/): Transitional housing for people leaving treatment or incarceration while they find work. Why it matters: A safe address for the first few weeks makes it far more likely that someone can keep a job and stay in recovery. Efficiency: 90 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade A). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $63,000 of $180,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 provides 1.3 weeks of transitional housing. Neglectedness 9/10 (example). 14 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 provides less than 0.1 weeks of transitional housing; $100 provides 0.3 weeks of transitional housing; $250 provides 0.6 weeks of transitional housing.
- [Example: Healthspan Replication Fund](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/healthspan-replication-fund/): Re-runs promising aging studies to check whether results hold up. Why it matters: Checking that promising results hold up keeps hope in aging research from outrunning the evidence. Efficiency: 89 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade B). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $45,000 of $250,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 runs less than 0.1 study replications. Neglectedness 7/10 (example). 9 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 runs less than 0.1 study replications; $100 runs less than 0.1 study replications; $250 runs less than 0.1 study replications.
- [Example: Youth Restorative Circles](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/youth-restorative-circles/): Mentors and community circles that give young people an alternative to court after a first offense. Why it matters: A mentor and a chance to repair harm can keep a young person out of the justice system and on track. Efficiency: 88 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade B). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Ongoing project: 41 monthly donors as of 2026-10 (example). $50/month mentors 0.4 young people. Neglectedness 9/10 (example). 17 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $20/month mentors 0.1 young people; $50/month mentors 0.4 young people; $100/month mentors 0.7 young people.
- [Example: Open Ledger Audit Collective](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/open-ledger-audit-collective/): Publishes free public audits of open financial software. Why it matters: Free public audits help people trust open financial software before they put their money in it. Efficiency: 87 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade B). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $115,500 of $350,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 publishes less than 0.1 public audits. Neglectedness 7/10 (example). 8 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 publishes less than 0.1 public audits; $100 publishes less than 0.1 public audits; $250 publishes less than 0.1 public audits.
- [Example: Rural Vet Access Program](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/rural-vet-access-program/): Mobile spay, neuter and vaccination clinics for remote areas. Why it matters: Mobile clinics bring basic veterinary care to places where the nearest vet is hours away. Efficiency: 85 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade B). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $21,000 of $300,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 runs 0.1 clinic days. Neglectedness 6/10 (example). 12 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 runs less than 0.1 clinic days; $100 runs less than 0.1 clinic days; $250 runs less than 0.1 clinic days.
- [Example: Repairable Tech Library](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/repairable-tech-library/): A shared library of repair guides and spare-part designs. Why it matters: Shared repair guides keep devices working longer, which saves money and cuts electronic waste. Efficiency: 82 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade B). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $10,800 of $90,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 documents 2.7 repair guides. Neglectedness 5/10 (example). 16 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 documents 0.1 repair guides; $100 documents 0.5 repair guides; $250 documents 1.4 repair guides.
- [Example: Community Microfinance Commons](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/community-microfinance-commons/): Transparent, open-source tooling for community savings groups. Why it matters: Open, transparent tools help community savings groups manage money fairly without costly intermediaries. Efficiency: 78 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade C). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Goal project: $50,000 of $200,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). $500 onboards 0.8 community groups. Neglectedness 7/10 (example). 6 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $25 onboards less than 0.1 community groups; $100 onboards 0.2 community groups; $250 onboards 0.4 community groups.
- [Example: Creekside Water Monitors](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/creekside-water-monitors/): Citizen scientists sampling small streams every month. Why it matters: Regular local sampling spots pollution early and builds a record that agencies can rely on. Efficiency: 64 cents of each $1 reaches the work (grade D). Source: Example data - not sourced, as of 2026-10. Ongoing project: 35 monthly donors as of 2026-10 (example). $50/month monitors 1.1 stream sites. Neglectedness 4/10 (example). 11 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16). Giving levels: $20/month monitors 0.4 stream sites; $50/month monitors 1.1 stream sites; $100/month monitors 2.1 stream sites.
- [Example: Village Solar Kiln Collective](https://unconventionalimpacts.org/projects/village-solar-kiln-collective/): Builds shared solar kilns for village craft and food drying. Why it matters: Shared solar kilns give villages a clean way to dry food and fire crafts without burning wood. Not yet rated. Goal project: $9,000 of $60,000 raised as of 2026-10 (example). Not yet rated: no estimate. Neglectedness 6/10 (example). 5 gave this week (example, as of 2026-10-16).