The perfect is the enemy of the good. Many of these charities are technically irrational but realistically people are likely not to get involved at all otherwis

The perfect is the enemy of the good. Many of these charities are technically irrational but realistically people are likely not to get involved at all otherwise. For example, many people donate food to collection bins for food banks, despite the food banks being able to buy food wholesale for a tiny fraction of the price. Being aware of this I smugly refrain from donating overpriced retail food but I haven't yet gotten round to actually sending them some cash yet instead and I suppose not many other have either.