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Here’s What Supporters “Buy” When They Donate to Charity
I think buying and donating are the same. Here’s why. When I give money to a charity, I am buying:
- A chance to be moved by someone’s story in an emotional way
- An opportunity to feel I’m not powerless in the face of need and can help (this is especially true during disasters)
- Empowerment to feel that I’m changing someone’s life
- A sense of closeness to a community or group (like my son’s athletic team)
- A possible tax deduction
- A way to memorialize someone (who is struggling or died of a disease… for example, I bought that for my mom and for my dad after I lost them)
- A way to continue my family tradition since I was raised to give to charity
- A chance to be “hip” by supporting a charity (i.e., wearing a yellow wrist band) when it’s in-style to do so
- A way to feel connected to other people… to build my social network (i.e., my friend is running in a 10k soon and I want to support her)
- A chance to be the “hero” (and to have a good image for myself/my company)
- An opportunity to leave a legacy that perpetuates me, my ideals or my cause
- An opportunity to give something back to others
- A way to follow my religion because I believe that God wants me to share what I have
- And finally, I want to be seen as a leader/role model
What do you think supporters buy when they donate to charity? Sound off below.
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Immortality, in a sense. When one establishes a lifestyle of giving, and especially when one leaves a significant legacy gift in his will, his generosity is memorialized for generations to come.
Meaning beyond simply what I can personally consume.
Love that! Nice~
[…] it was against that backdrop that I read MarketSmart’s Halloween blog post, Here’s What Supporters “Buy” When They Donate to Charity, by Greg […]
I always believe that it’s better to give than to receive. It’s an awesome and great feelings when helping someone or many by giving. Nice post Greg!
Indeed Ryan! Agreed!!
An opportunity to be part of something larger than oneself. Purpose. Meaning. Self-actualization. Agree. Fundraising is sales, and there’s nothing wrong with this. As author Daniel Pink wrote: To Sell is Human.”