article thumbnail

What’s in a Name? The Ethics of Building Naming Gifts

Stanford Social Innovation Review

This theory relates to what American economist James Andreoni calls impure altruism , the inherent tension between philanthropy and self-interest. Consider the $10 million lead gift in 2019 from writer and artist Carolyn Campagna Kleefield to California State University, Long Beach’s contemporary art museum that now bears her name.

Ethics 122
article thumbnail

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

iMarketSmart

The game has an unbreakable law. Without this, reciprocal altruism fails. In that case, giving would break the first law. Again, giving would break the first law. Giving would break the first law. Without this shared future, reciprocal helping disappears. Two unrelated players both face these same payoffs.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

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. The first law of sustainable giving in nature is this: Giving must be seen by partners who are able and willing to reciprocate. Philanthropy can help me decide. This might be helpful. Princeton University Press.

Values 89
article thumbnail

The importance of expressing impact and gratitude in fundraising

iMarketSmart

The universal hero story (monomyth) progresses through four steps: The compelling donation experience includes these same steps. Biologists model reciprocal altruism with a game.[1] But it helps the other player more than it costs. Let’s go back to the first law. Do these signal a social, helpful-reciprocity relationship?

article thumbnail

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

iMarketSmart

Some gifts may help reputation, while others won’t. It also matches the universal hero story (monomyth).[4] This helps link the challenge to a victory. The gift helps my group. And it helps my standing within the group. Both of these help link the victory to an enhanced identity. It’s complicated.

article thumbnail

Dr. James explains the power of giving: why leading with a gift always wins

iMarketSmart

1] This primal-giving game models reciprocal altruism.[2] A good gift signals a “helpful reciprocity” relationship. 9] The point isn’t that these are universal solutions for fundraising.[10] How about a big prestigious university? The next goal was to then involve them in some aspect of the university.

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. The first law of sustainable giving in nature is this: Giving must be seen by partners who are able and willing to reciprocate. Philanthropy can help me decide. This might be helpful. Princeton University Press.

Values 52