I recently learned about an organization called Give Directly. They make cash transfers via cell phone to poor families and leave it to the recipients to use the money for whatever is most important to them. This allows for at least 90% of funds raised to be put directly in the hands of the poor. Be honest – did you automatically start wondering how the money gets spent and if it gets wasted? What I learned is that there have been many studies on this question and evidence shows that the poor do not abuse cash as predicted by derogatory stereotypes. In addition, studies show that cash transfers benefit children - particularly by showing positive health effects. Plus recipients often save or invest large proportions of the transfers they receive, generating increases in future income. Recipients report using transfers for a wide variety of purposes including buying food, investing in their homes, paying school fees, buying livestock, buying land, and buying clothing. Give Directly currently operates only in Kenya but is looking to expand to other nations. Food for thought – do you think such a program would ever work in the US? If not, why not?