While much of the initial focus of effective altruism was on direct strategies such as health interventions and cash transfers, there has also been interest in more systematic social, economic, and political reform that would facilitate larger long-term poverty reduction.
Kuigi algul keskenduti rohkem otsestele strateegiatele, nagu tervisealastele sekkumistele, rahaülekannetele, mikromaksetele ja mikrolaenudele, siis samuti on huvitutud süstemaatilisematest sotsiaalsetest, majanduslikest ja poliitilistest reformidest, mis aitaksid kaasa pikaajalisele vaesuse vähendamisele.