Researchers look into why we give
Howard Lake | 26 February 2010 | News
Researchers at the University of Essex want to know more about what motivates people to make a donation or support a cause, and they are hoping that local charities in Essex will help them in this research.
Economist, Dr David Reinstein, has already carried out research in this area. He is asking charitable groups and other organisations in Essex who may be planning a fundraising campaign in the near future to take part in an experiment that would help his research.
“In the UK,” he said, “we give millions of pounds to a wide range of international, national, regional and local charities and organisations every year, but we don’t have a very good understanding about the ‘science’ behind it.
“The findings from this research could be of interest not just to economists like me, but to charities and fundraising bodies everywhere.”
Dr Reinstein is hoping to work with a group, charity or other organisation that is in the process of planning a fundraising campaign. He would then help them set up an experiment to tie in with their campaign so that the results are as realistic as possible.
Contact Dr Reinstein at dr***@es***.uk.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.