Comments on: What Motivates Giving?

By: Christopher Scott

Christopher Scott — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:15:09 +0000

Thanks for hosting this months Giving Carnival.

I will be sending over my submission soon. . .

By: J. Erik Potter

J. Erik Potter — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:37:08 +0000

It all comes down to the relationship. Consistent donors may believe in your mission. But to move into the larger gifts, we need to match them up with a program or service that speaks to them. Start a dialogue and ask them what else your organization could be offering. It empowers them to shape not only the gift but the entire way the gift will be used and its expected outcomes. Most people don’t want to just give money. They want to make a difference. Money is just a means to that end. Empower them to make a difference.

One addition to your first time donor list – lets not forget the power of a significant life event. An aunt with a niece recently diagnosed with diabetes could immediately become a new donor for research and support organizations. You never know when these life events are going to occur so its important to keep your message out there on a consistent basis. That’s where the power of social media can put one organization over another one.

By: Know Your Donors: What Motivates Them? | GlobalGiving Blog

Know Your Donors: What Motivates Them? | GlobalGiving Blog — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:05:55 +0000

[...] with your donors: creating an experience and relevancy. Today, A Small Change wrote a post about what motivates donors at all different levels: first-time, renewed and upgrading. When a [...]

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:56:54 +0000

That’s a great analysis of donor motivations. I addressed a similar topic last week on the GlobalGiving blog: http://blog.globalgiving.com/2008/02/07/is-your-relationship-with-your-charity-going-nowhere-fast/

Donor experience is definitely a big motivator in choosing to donote again or increase a donation. A sense of accomplishment accompanies this – if the donor feels like the problem is endless, they’re likely to get discouraged. But since these are people who are willingly choosing to part with their money, it’s important to remain relevant in their lives – and that can be started by creating an experience to which they WANT to return.