Are the Rich Motivated to Give Differently?
Not as much as you might think.
Yet people tell me all the time how much they’re afraid to ask wealthy people for major gifts. If you share those fears, it’s time for a little “clairification:”
Contrary to what your gut may be telling you, NOT asking is not making would-be donors feel good. Quite the opposite, in fact.
In this article, I’ll let you in on:
>> Three major donor truths. I’ll cover why (1) you must stop short-changing your would-be major donors by not offering them opportunities to be the change they want to see in the world, and (2) you must stop robbing would-be major donors of chances to create social benefit and feel good about themselves.
>> The magical role of a true philanthropy facilitator. I’ll show you how to encourage people — who truly want to give — to act on their passions.
>> The power of emphasizing transformation. The real purpose of monetary donations is not the amount someone can give but the outcome it can create.
>> The connection between philanthropy and self-actualization. You may have heard some folks say philanthropists give out of “enlightened self-interest,” but it’s more than that. Most people give because, on a deep psychological level, it makes them feel they’ve found a reason why they were put on this earth.
>> Six major donor triggers. We’ll explore how you can make donors feel so good they’ll want to say “yes” — and passionately — to your solicitation.
BOTTOM LINE: When you don’t make donors feel good, they’ll go elsewhere.
So, first let’s review what may motivate wealthy people to give.
The Rich Are Just Like You and Me
F. Scott Fitzgerald is famously supposed to have told Ernest Hemingway “the rich are different than you and I.” “Yes, Scott,” Hemingway supposedly retorted. “They have more money.”
It’s good to remember major donors are, first and foremost, just people.
They may have more money, yet many of them actually don’t even feel “wealthy” (just as many so-called seniors don’t feel “old.”) In fact, a survey of 4,000 investors by UBS found 70% of people with investible assets of $1 million or more do NOT consider themselves “wealthy.”
What most donors have in common (no matter their net worth) is
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