Remove Altruism and Helping Remove Fundraising Remove Nonprofit Organizations Remove Public and Nonprofit Management
article thumbnail

How transactional donor relationships kill generosity

iMarketSmart

In a scale, it might look like this: Helpful reciprocity Loved one (lover, spouse, close family) Friend Teammate Colleague Neighbor Community member Transactional reciprocity Customer Merchant Stranger Harmful reciprocity Competitor Enemy Relationship signals are reciprocity signals. This is nothing new in fundraising advice.

article thumbnail

How Restricted Gifts Can Actually Be a GOOD Thing — And Why You Should Embrace Them

iMarketSmart

Fundraising is story world. Lab experiments, field experiments, and academic theory agree: Fundraising lives in “story world,” not “commerce world.” When a charity manager gets to issue the instructions, it’s “unrestricted.” A gift restriction can help. Fundraising is story world: The power of un-restrictions.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

3 Big Reasons Why An ‘Ask’ Is Mostly About Your Donor’s Hero Story (Not Your Organization’s)

iMarketSmart

A key part of a fundraising story is the ask. A good fundraising story needs a compelling ask. The fundraising ask matches the inciting incident. In fundraising story, the ask is an inciting incident. Thus, the fundraiser may also face a deadline. So, which works best in fundraising? The inciting incident.

article thumbnail

Dr. James explains why the feeling “People like me make gifts like this” is so powerful in major gifts fundraising

iMarketSmart

Givers benefit from their enhanced public reputation. Givers get no benefit from their public reputation. Some gifts may help reputation, while others won’t. This helps link the challenge to a victory. The gift helps my group. And it helps my standing within the group. It helps the donor move to a “yes.”

article thumbnail

How to be an authentic guiding sage for your donors

iMarketSmart

This role can direct the fundraiser’s work. The fundraiser makes the call to adventure. She helps along each step of the journey. She introduces the hero to friends and allies that help. She provides magical weapons that help. She helps the donor start the hero’s journey. Appearing helpful is easy.

article thumbnail

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

iMarketSmart

The noble dream Small nonprofits have needs. And besides, the struggling nonprofit is doing good things; it deserves a big gift. Suppose a friend asks for your help. The manager says, “Things are tight right now. The manager hesitates. It is now,” laughs the manager. Often, it’s obvious. But it’s fine.

Values 89
article thumbnail

Giving vs. Sharing: The Power of Community in Major Gifts Fundraising

iMarketSmart

Giving helps “those people.” Sharing helps “us.” The gift helps those in another country rebuild after an earthquake. In contrast, reciprocal altruism is stable. This is altruism. This is reciprocal altruism. Meanwhile, the reciprocal altruism players will be sharing with each other. It’s not equal.