1. Values of Philanthropy
13th ISTR Conference
July 12, 2018
René Bekkers
Center for Philanthropic Studies
Department of Sociology
VU Amsterdam

2. Counting philanthropy
In the Netherlands…
In Europe…
…and across the world

3. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

4. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

5. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

6. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

7. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

8. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

9. The Philanthropy Matrix
3 levels:
Antecedents
Behaviors
Consequences
Macro
Meso
Micro

10. Defining philanthropy
voluntary action for the public good
Payton (1988)
non-coerced transfer of resources to a collective enterprise
Bekkers (2018)

11. Defining philanthropy
voluntary action for the public good
non-coerced transfer of resources to a collective enterprise

12. Defining philanthropy
voluntary action for the public good
non-coerced transfer of resources to a collective enterprise
Time, money, body, networks, rights, data

13. Defining philanthropy
voluntary action for the public good
non-coerced transfer of resources to a collective enterprise
…which may be a club good, an advocacy organization, not even an organization, a social enterprise, a social impact bond, foundation, or a traditional ‘charity’

14. Economic value: US and NL

15. Economic value: Europe
…at least

16. Economic value: Europe
Philanthropy ≈ mugs & tea towels

17. Economic value: Netherlands
Philanthropy ≈ sugar & garbage

18. Beyond GDP
The value of philanthropy is not so much in its economic value.
It tells us something about human nature.
Philanthropy relies on capacities that other species are believed not to have: higher level cognitive functions that allow us to think ahead, foresee the consequences of our actions for others, and reason through multiple chains of causes and effects.

19. Antecedents: US mz twins
This twin is 3 steps higher educated than his/her sibling, and giving $7,000 more
Lower educated, but also giving more
Higher educated, giving less
Lower educated, giving less

20. Antecedents: US mz twins
More actively religious = giving more

21. Taxes and giving: US and NL

22. Government and giving: US

23. Government and giving: global
Excluding US:
r = .01

24. Taxes and giving: Europe

25. What makes people give? People give more (often) when
There is a clear need need
They are being asked solicitation
Costs are lower, and benefits are higher costs/benefits
They care about the recipients altruism
They receive social benefits reputation
They receive psychological benefits self-rewards
The cause matches their values values
Donations are perceived to be efficient efficacy

26. Where’s the altruism? People give more (often) when
There is a clear need need
They are being asked solicitation
Costs are lower, and benefits are higher costs/benefits
They care about the recipients altruism
They receive social benefits reputation
They receive psychological benefits self-rewards
The cause matches their values values
Donations are perceived to be efficient efficacy

27. Where’s the altruism? People give more (often) when
There is a clear need need
They are being asked solicitation
Costs are lower, and benefits are higher costs/benefits
They care about the recipients altruism
They receive social benefits reputation
They receive psychological benefits self-rewards
The cause matches their values values
Donations are perceived to be efficient efficacy

28. Where’s the altruism? People give more (often) when
There is a clear need need
They are being asked solicitation
Costs are lower, and benefits are higher costs/benefits
They care about the recipients altruism
They receive social benefits reputation
They receive psychological benefits self-rewards
The cause matches their values values
Donations are perceived to be efficient efficacy

29. CROWDING-OUT EFFECT: EMPIRICS
Experimental studies: -0.64
Non-experimental studies: +0.06
De Wit, A. & Bekkers, R. (2016). Government support and charitable donations: A meta-analysis of the crowding-out hypothesis. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 27(2): ,

31. Fundraising advice You can raise more by…
Clearly describing the need need
Make the ask solicitation
Lower costs, give perks costs/benefits
Appeal to empathy altruism
Make gifts visible to others reputation
Make donors feel good self-rewards
Identify the values in your mission values
Describe gifts as more efficient efficacy

32. Influence of fundraising
You change donor motivation by…
Clearly describing the need need
Make the ask solicitation
Lower costs, give perks costs/benefits
Appeal to empathy altruism
Make gifts visible to others reputation
Make donors feel good self-rewards
Identify the values in your mission values
Describe gifts as more efficient efficacy

33. What virtues could we demonstrate in giving?
Maimonides: Ladder of Charity
Giving out of pity
Giving willingly, but inadequately
Giving after you are asked
Giving before you are asked
Giving publicly to an unknown recipient
Giving anonymously to someone you know
Giving anonymously to an unknown recipient
Giving a gift loan or enter into a business partnership with the poor

34. Virtue: intrinsically motivated action
Maimonides: Ladder of Charity
Giving out of pity
Giving willingly, but inadequately
Giving after you are asked
Giving before you are asked
Giving publicly to an unknown recipient
Giving anonymously to someone you know
Giving anonymously to an unknown recipient
Giving a gift loan or enter into a business partnership with the poor

35. Virtue: respect Maimonides: Ladder of Charity Giving out of pity
Giving willingly, but inadequately
Giving after you are asked
Giving before you are asked
Giving publicly to an unknown recipient
Giving anonymously to someone you know
Giving anonymously to an unknown recipient
Giving a gift loan or enter into a business partnership with the poor

36. Virtue: anonymity Maimonides: Ladder of Charity Giving out of pity
Giving willingly, but inadequately
Giving after you are asked
Giving before you are asked
Giving publicly to an unknown recipient
Giving anonymously to someone you know
Giving anonymously to an unknown recipient
Giving a gift loan or enter into a business partnership with the poor

37. Virtues of Philanthropy

38. How virtuous is your giving?
Chastity, purity: Are we doing enough to prevent abuse?
Temperance, moderation: Are we giving enough?
Diligence, persistence: Are we having a real impact?
Patience: What is a realistic horizon for change?
Kindness: Is our giving motivated by envy?
Humility: Is our pride in giving humble enough?

39. How virtuous is your giving?
Chastity, purity: Are we doing enough to prevent abuse?
Temperance, moderation: Are we giving enough?
Diligence, persistence: Are we having a real impact?
Patience: What is a realistic horizon for change?
Kindness: Is our giving motivated by envy?
Humility: Is our pride in giving humble enough?
Risk: Are we gambling enough?
Trust: Are we trusting enough?

40. Does giving make people happy?
Donors
Intermediary organizations
Recipients

41. Does giving make people happy?
Donors € 
Intermediary organizations
grants
programs
Recipients

42. Happy givers € 

43. Happier keepers € 

44. 

45. An increasingly important question
Donors € 
Intermediary organizations
grants
programs
Recipients

46. Optimism will help us One: for the love of one mankind.
An integrating force, binding people, making society come together.
The common fate we have as a species.
The fate we share as humans with all living creatures on this planet.
Philanthropy is the promise of a better future.
It is up to all of us to deliver that promise.

47. E-mail: r.bekkers@vu.nl @renebekkers www.giving.nl
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