Because that's the level at which you'll have more impact, and at which you can more accurately gauge the impact you're having.
Some international organizations will report impressive results, and it's a reasonable argument to say you should leave the do-gooding to the professionals, take advantage of economies of scale, etc.
No. First of all, Be careful when optimizing something you can easily measureBe careful when optimizing something you can easily measure
It's easy to measure clicks on a website, and reasonbly simple to optimize for clicks. But clicks don't make you money.
It's easy to measure revenue, and not too hard to optimize for it. But that...—is the impact those orgs are claiming truly the thing that needs to change in the world?
Also, Consider side effectsConsider side effects
Here's an example of a side effect: Every place on earth has unsafe levels of plastic in the rainwater.
Seems bad. How do we do less of this?
When considering a change, especially a technolog...—does the presence of those organizations help prop up exploitative leadership that otherwise would have to answer to their citizens? (The Dictator's Handbook is a great read on this topic.)
And what are the externalities associated with a decision to maximize income in order to donate to these causes? What do you do at your job, and what's the impact of it? Might you do more good if you Keep cost of living lowKeep cost of living low
A low cost of living is a way to Increase optionality since you won't urgently need to consume resources as they come your way. It makes it easier to Earn enough to save.
It also requires ..., Optimize for discretionary timeOptimize for discretionary time
Because time is all we have.
, and give more of your energy to the people around you?
Even issues that seem to require global coordination, like climate change, will require actual humans (including you) to figure out how to produce food and survive the elements where you live. What's the plan?
It's true that Every place on earth has unsafe levels of plastic in the rainwaterEvery place on earth has unsafe levels of plastic in the rainwater
See Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). (They're also in fish.)
You can and should Minimize your plastic consumption, e..., but your town has to find a way to provide everyone with clean drinking water. You could probably help with that.
Keep your focus local, most of the time. Vote in national elections every couple years, but organize locally on a weekly basis. Network and commiserate with like-minded people around the world, but apply what you learn from them in your own community.
See also:
- Shop locallyShop locally
It's inexpensive to buy goods shipped here from halfway around the world, because Fossil fuel companies receive more than $5T a year in subsidies.
But we all pay for it in environmental impact... - Grow your own foodGrow your own food
Because it's satisfying, and because it's a way to Keep cost of living low.