Understanding Why People Give

My career in philanthropy began with a position at the University of Louisville. That position was followed by stints at Florida International University, University of Charleston and Butler University. The main reason I worked at these universities was to constantly learn about my profession. I was fortunate to have access to a variety of materials, but my total joy was listening to fresh research on aspects of philanthropy presented in a lecture context.

I was blessed to attend the recent 12^th Annual Thomas H. Lake Lecture titled "The Generosity Equation: Donors, Faith, and Avenues to Giving," presented by Christian Smith, Ph.D., a William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology plus director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame.

The Thomas H. Lake Lecture was sponsored by the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. The Lake Institute was created by the legacy gift of Tom and Marjorie Lake, their daughter Karen Lake Buttrey, and the Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis. The institute specifically provides the community with the opportunity to understand how faith inspires and informs giving through research, education and training.

Statistically, more than one-third of all charitable dollars given annually in the United States is directed to religion, and research indicates that faith practitioners are the country's most generous donors. The Lake Institute helps clergy and lay leaders, for example, discern the religious dimensions of their giving. It is an important component of the nationally known Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of philanthropy.

The director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving is David P. King, Ph.D., an ordained minister who believes in the concept of blending theory and practice for complete understanding of philanthropy in society. King introduced Smith and led a panel discussion at the end of the lecture.

In Smith's lecture, he looked at religious factors that increased generosity, examined the personal benefits of giving and explored how charitable support can be increased.

Some of his research findings, as noted in an Indy Star article and restated in his lecture, included the following:

• 38 percent of people surveyed who gave away 10 percent of their income reported being very happy compared to 28 percent who did not give;
• 35 percent of people who volunteer reported being very happy as compared with 28 percent of people who did not volunteer;
• 44 percent of people surveyed who strongly agree with the statement "it is very important to me to be a generous person" say they are very happy, while of those who disagree, 21 percent rate themselves as very happy.

This research was provided by the book "The Paradox of Generosity." Smith and his co-author found through research that generous people who give feel they receive much gratification in return and have a greater sense of purpose. The research also showed that individuals who feel they are living with abundance give more.

In the Indy Star article, author Maureen C. Gilmer quotes King as saying, "The lecture results makes it clear that it's good to give. I hope those attending (the lecture) will leave with an understanding that nonprofit leaders, fundraisers and faith communities don't need to apologize for asking for support. Instead, they are inviting people to give their time and money in ways that may lead to healthier individuals, relationships and communities."

The wonderful by-product of the lecture was the post-lecture reception. You could obtain a signed book by Smith, meet with Lilly School of Philanthropy administration, visit with international Ph.D. scholars in the field of philanthropy, visit with fundraising professional peers and meet major community donors. They were all there to promote the art and science of philanthropy. I must say I am blessed to reside in a city that is known for the promotion of philanthropy across the world.

I can't wait to attend my next Lilly School of Philanthropy lecture, as I constantly need to understand why people give. I am certain this knowledge will help improve my future fundraising results. If you intend to make a career in this profession, I suggest you do the same.