Mixed Motives

Mark Kramer

Any donor's giving has multiple motivations. In this piece, Kramer argues that there are three primary motivational categories: obligatory giving that is based on ones ties to the communities to which one belongs, social giving that is based on one's relationship with the person asking, and Strategic giving that goes to those issues that matter most to the donor. Simply by establishing budgets for each type and consciously considering one's motivations for giving, donors can improve their impact. Published in The American Benefactor, Winter 1998.

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