Remove Altruism and Helping Remove Law Remove Management
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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.

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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. Let’s go back to the first law. In the primal game, giving has an unbreakable law: Giving must be seen by partners who are able and willing to reciprocate. Do these signal a social, helpful-reciprocity relationship?

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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. If there was a seminar at the Law School, we would invite them to that. This process repeatedly signals a helpful reciprocity social relationship. The previous social signals help build relationship.

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Dr. James explains what happens when fundraising metrics go bad

iMarketSmart

4] The field of large sales is called Key or Strategic Account Management. One researcher states bluntly, “The objectives of salespeople are the opposite of the objectives of Strategic Account Managers.”[5]. Senior management resists giving influence or control to customers.”. Strategic Account Management isn’t either.

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

iMarketSmart

For a human rights charity, it increased donations to mention that it “works in countries that have recently passed laws that harshly restrict nonprofit organizations.”[9]. But increasing anger didn’t work if the gift just generally helped people. Does this mean that deadlines help? Indiana Law Review, 36 , 251-334.

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

iMarketSmart

Suppose a friend asks for your help. The manager says, “Things are tight right now. The manager hesitates. It is now,” laughs the manager. Even if you think it’s worth that much, that doesn’t help. Philanthropy can help me decide. This might be helpful. So, let’s consider something much less noble.

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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. 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. Showing that “people like me make gifts like this” helps. It’s complicated.