5 (proven) tips to kick off the donation stream

Now that you've signed up for the walk, it's time to start raising money. Here are 5 fundraising pointers to start you off on the right foot.

5. Utilize contagious generosity

There was a study done that found a couple of things. First, people gave more when they observed others' generous donations than when they observed others' donate less. Second, respondents were more likely to feel empathy for themselves and to give more money to a homeless shelter in response to emotional scenarios that elicited an empathic group response.

In a 2012 study, participants who watched videos that inspired awe-inspiring feelings reported being more willing to volunteer their time to help others, among a host of other positive effects.

Making donors feel something has the added benefit of making them dig deeper into their pockets.

4. Insure they’re making an impact

People want proof that their charitable contributions are having an effect when it comes to giving. This fact, as well as the mechanisms that might enable people to perceive the effects of their giving in some contexts more strongly than others, are highlighted by some studies.

The research for giving more money to a charity increased participants' happiness, but only when they were informed that their gift would be used to specifically purchase a bed net for a child in Africa (and how that bed net would improve that child's life), rather than when they were informed that their gift would be used to support the charity's general fund.

Accordingly, emphasizing the positive effects that a gift or donation has on the recipient may heighten the emotional benefits of generosity and encourage more giving.

When I worked for a nonprofit that assisted children in obtaining an education, I frequently used this. When I could mention a particular child, let's say Nathen, I discovered that I received more donations. Giving the child a name increased donations more than simply telling canvassers that their money would help the cause as a whole.

3. The Martyrdom Effect

The Martyrdom Effect is as follows:

According to the martyrdom hypothesis, when people have to endure pain and exert effort for a cause (e.g., helping a sick friend or a charity), their contributions seem more meaningful, unless they are made explicitly aware of a painless alternative, which then trivializes their (potential) efforts.

When people knew they would have to suffer to raise the money, they were more willing to donate to a charity. Despite generally preferring to attend the picnic, they donated more money when they took part in a charity race than at a picnic.

Other research in this study found that people perceived charitable giving to causes involving human suffering as more meaningful and that this effect was strongest when charitable giving required pain and effort.

2. Thank them now, pay later

According to one study, giving people some time between the time you ask them to donate and the time they give you their money may help persuade them to say "yes." According to this study, giving participants the option to donate to a cause while also giving them the option to send the money immediately or later increased the number of people who ultimately decided to do so. The researchers hypothesize that this was caused by the donors receiving the immediate positive reward of choosing to support the charity, but delaying and thus discounting the pain of actually paying the money.

1. Make them feel appreciated

This should go without saying. Making people feel good should be something we should do regularly. There is a close relationship—and frequently a feedback loop—between generosity and feeling when it comes to charitable giving.

In a study, participants who remembered a time when they had spent money on someone else felt happier than those who remembered doing the same for themselves. The more content the participants felt after recalling the memory, the more likely it was that they would choose to spend money on someone else in the lab experiment that followed. This suggests that generosity and happiness are linked in a feedback loop.

So, now that you have registered for our 2023 event, keep these tips in mind when reaching out to your niche circle for donations.