article thumbnail

Dr. James explains why identifying with others is so powerful in a donor’s hero story

iMarketSmart

Natural origins of giving: I am like them Altruism means I give away something valuable to help another. Most altruism in animals matches this model. How could natural selection lead to altruism? It helps you, but it costs me. Altruism is still costly. This opens the possibility for reciprocal altruism.

article thumbnail

Dr. James explains why sustainable giving starts by answering, “Do we have a shared future?”

iMarketSmart

Without this, reciprocal altruism fails. Capacity for reciprocity in nature: Strangers vs. neighbors In nature, reciprocal altruism starts with the same question: Do we have a shared future? (In Without this shared future, reciprocal helping disappears. Reciprocal altruism starts with this question: Do we have a shared future?

article thumbnail

The importance of expressing impact and gratitude in fundraising

iMarketSmart

Biologists model reciprocal altruism with a game.[1] But it helps the other player more than it costs. In the game, expressing desire for a social, helpful-reciprocity relationship is meaningful. Do these signal a social, helpful-reciprocity relationship? The university had a chance to help, and it didn’t.

article thumbnail

Why you must deliver value in fundraising, not just take the money and run

iMarketSmart

Suppose a friend asks for your help. Even if you think it’s worth that much, that doesn’t help. Philanthropy can help me decide. This might be helpful. If he benefits, he’ll probably help our shared group. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 33, 273- 280; Caporael, L. But he’s struggling.

Values 89
article thumbnail

Why you must deliver value in fundraising, not just take the money and run

iMarketSmart

Suppose a friend asks for your help. Even if you think it’s worth that much, that doesn’t help. Philanthropy can help me decide. This might be helpful. If he benefits, he’ll probably help our shared group. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 33, 273- 280; Caporael, L. But he’s struggling.

Values 52