New research: The selfish gene and the generosity contagion

Notre Dame’s Science of Generosity initiative, which in addition to its own work is funding 13 research studies into generosity, just reported some early findings.

We’ll have to wait till next year for the full report, but here’s what they have discovered thus far:

  * A genetic idiosyncrasy in young children that is associated with a low proclivity toward generosity; (more on that selfish gene is here)
  * Members of social networks are influenced by fellow group members’ contribution behavior in future interactions with others who were not involved in the initial interaction; (sounds like the gratitude contagion I blogged this week)
  * Charities have long known that asking for contributions dramatically increases the generosity in donors, and it now appears that the “power of asking” comes from its heightening empathy between donors and recipients;
  * “Crowding out,” or decreased donations as a result of government grants is an issue dealt with by many charities. But government grants to charities don’t decrease donations because donors consider themselves to have given indirectly as taxpayers; instead, they decrease because of the reduced fundraising that follows government grants.

Great insights for fundraisers!

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