Homer Simpson for Nonprofits

If you are a fundraiser, you live every day on the razor's edge between norms. Major-donor fundraising operates primarily on social values. Direct-marketing fundraising operates on a weird hybrid. What does a major donor get for her support? A sense of camaraderie with like-minded philanthropists; influence and access to organizational leaders (which makes her feel even more a part of things); and the potent psychological rewards of knowing she has made a difference in making the world a better place. What does a low-dollar donor get? Tote bags. Water bottles. Calendars. Certificates of adoption. It's largely a market exchange.