Why Do We Give To Charity?
Many would say that they give to charity simply because it “feels good” to help those less fortunate, which may be true at times. But why do we give more to some than others? For instance, the number of donations that relief agencies are receiving to help flood relief in Pakistan is lagging when compared to the Haitian earthquake relief efforts. The answer, according to researchers, is that giving to charity is heavily dependent on personal return and perception.
Personal Returns Improve Likelihood That we Give to Charity
According to a 2009 study by Yale economist Dean Karlan, people are more likely to give to charity when they will gain personally from the donation. For instance, alumni solicited by letters were more likely to donate when they knew they would be recognized publicly for their charitable act. An earlier study by University of Chicago economist John List, found that door-to-door fundraising was more successful if lottery tickets were sold with a portion of the ticket going to charity. The same study also showed that if the solicitor was an attractive female, donations actually improved past the lottery incentive. This was especially true if the donor was male.
Moving personal gain to one side, research at the University of Oregon has shown that donations were more likely to occur if a personal story was attached to the request. In one study, donations to Save the Children were more likely to occur when a picture and personal story was provided with the requests. With this in mind, perhaps the pictures of flooding in Pakistan have not been as telling as the pictures of Haiti after the earthquake.
Such personal stories can be found throughout Microgiving. Each of our recipients has a personal story to tell, and you are encouraged to search our site and familiarize yourselves with all recipients. We’re know you want to make the world a better place, so we’ve developed an innovative new platform designed to allow you to give to charity as you choose. Start donating today, and let the wave of positivity spread.
Tags: charitable giving, give online, giving online, MicroGiving, recipients
7. September 2010 at 12:02 am :
I am not sure why more funds are given if the fund raiser were female and attractive but I certainly do not doubt the research. I believe that more females are likely to give to causes for children and animals.
I agree that a photo makes a tremendous difference. However, I am not likely to donate to an organized charity even if they present me with someones story and photo because I really don’t know if that person is getting the help.
During the holiday season we see things like adopt a child or adopt a senior. I like these programs as you can read a little about the person and can purchase something for that person. I’m never sure though if my purchase actually goes to that person so I tend to give less than I could give because I worry that something I give isn’t going to the person I wanted it to go. That also leads me back online where I can purchase items from an online shopping wish list and have the items delivered directly to the person I intended the item for.
Why do I give to Charity? I have been helped in life in one way or another and I believe in paying forward. I tend to give to others who have a history of giving and are more likely to pay forward so I guess my donation is more of an investment in the chain of love. Check out this video it pretty much explains it. It’s a music video called Chain of Love by Clay Walker: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/wm-A10302B0000062755H/clay_walker_the_chain_of_love_official_music_video/
I really didn’t give to charity until MicroGiving. With other charities you are giving in hope that your funds will help a person, you probably have he type of person in mind that you wan to help or you have seen a photo of a person on the charity site or in the charity publications….but you never know if you helped the person you were thinking of.
I have the choice with MicroGiving, I can give to the charity and know the charity will only give to a fully verified member who is posted on the site and some will probably be used for operational costs which is expected. I can also choose to give to a certain recipient and offer a little to the charity to use for operations. Finally I can choose to just give to a recipient and not help the charity at all.