Remove Altruism and Helping Remove Law Remove Universities
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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.

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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?

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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. 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.

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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? University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. [4]

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Dr. James explains what happens when fundraising metrics go bad

iMarketSmart

But they aren’t helpful as a short-term metric to guide behavior. Metrics can help, but only a little. When metrics reflect a top-down distrust of fundraisers, they don’t help.[16] Short-term, transactional behavior signals the absence of a mutual sharing or helping relationship. That would be silly. I’m a data guy.

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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. 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.

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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. 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.