Donor Giving Increases With Incentives That Appeal to Sense of Social Status

Generally, the study's simulations found that charities already relying heavily on private benefits to attract donors would see much lower giving levels if these benefits were eliminated. Further, organizations not currently employing such benefits for fundraising might actually realize a slight increase in the number of donors and overall contribution levels if "competing" charities that use private benefits were to eliminate them. In addition, the nearly 8 percent of individuals in the data sample who supported multiple charities would decline significantly if high-value private benefits were eliminated.