Chapter 1 Why People Respond to Fundraising Letters - CASE

18 How to Write Successful Fundraising Lettersor brighten their lives. There is also a secular belief, widely shared in theUnited States, that as citizens in a democracy, we have an obligation to helpmake things better for our fellow citizens. Those who benefit from militarytraining may acquire a heightened sense of duty.Not every nonprofit organization can appeal explicitly to donors ’ senseof duty (though many charities can do so). But duty may nonetheless play arole in inspiring the gifts any nonprofit receives, for duty by its very natureis self - activating.23. People send money because they believeit ’ s a blessing to do soThe Christian belief that “ it is more blessed to give than to receive ” isdeeply ingrained in Western civilization and far from limited to practicingChristians. In the Jewish concept of mitzvah, for example, many Americansfind justification for believing that doing good is its own reward. Clearly —at least in our idealized vision of ourselves — we Americans celebrate thenotion of charity. Our self - image as “ nice people ” derives in no small partfrom our generous response to charitable appeals.24. People send money because they want to“ give something back ”Despite the growing gap between rich and poor in America — or moreproperly, because of it — the U.S. economy has spawned millions of millionaires,not to mention tens of millions of individuals who earn annualsix - figure salaries. Huge amounts of cash slosh around in the melting potthat is American society. Although most of that money buys ever - largerhomes and cars and increasingly contrived luxury goods, more each year isfinding its way into the coffers of the nation ’ s one million nonprofit organizations.Why? Because many of those well - to - do people are motivated toshare their good fortune with their communities or society at large. “ Givingsomething back ” is frequently cited by major donors as a principal reasonfor their gifts, and unquestionably it helps account for the generosity oftens of millions of less - prosperous donors.• • •Now that we ’ ve got a handle on two dozen of the reasons donors mightrespond to that fundraising letter you ’ re writing, let ’ s take a look at thedynamics at work when they find your letter in their mailbox.