Fundraising? Find a Generous Male Friend and Smile, Says Study

When fundraising for charity, picking a cause close to people's hearts and subjecting yourself to a sufficiently grueling physical ordeal might help, but scientists suggest there could be an even easier way to swell the coffers. Picking a flattering photo and persuading a male friend or relative to make a hefty donation to your fundraising page early was found to significantly boost donations—for women at least.

A study of fundraising pages from the 2014 London Marathon showed that men become competitively generous when they see another man has already given a large sum of money.