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. This world can become universally altruistic. Reciprocal altruism is stable.

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.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

How fundraisers can help their cause resonate with donors

iMarketSmart

4] Giving doesn’t help the donor. But it can help the donor’s genes. Giving is genetically helpful when, My Cost < (Their Benefit X Our Similarity). If a donor identifies with the factor, emphasizing it will help. Sharing similarities can help. It can help specific people. Natural origins In 1964, W.

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. Princeton University Press. Utrecht University. It makes it harder to see the obvious.

Values 89
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

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. In the game, expressing desire for a social, helpful-reciprocity relationship is meaningful.

article thumbnail

Dr. James Explains How Asking Permission Sets the Stage for “The Ask”

iMarketSmart

More time can help. More time can help. People tend to predict they will help. This prediction is higher than the actual help they would have given if asked immediately. Getting people to first predict their actions increases helping. It helps explain the power of feasibility studies. This is no surprise.