Dr. Ruth K. Hansen, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Dr. Ruth K. Hansen
Assistant Professor, Nonprofit Management
Director, Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies
College of Business and Economics
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

In an enlightening article “Amid ‘checkout charity’ boom, some Americans are more likely to be impulse givers than others,” co-authored by Dr. Lauren Dula (Binghamton University) and Dr. Ruth K. Hansen, NACC Board Member and Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the phenomenon of impulse giving at retail checkouts is explored in depth. Published on The Conversation, the article delves into the growing trend of checkout charity in the United States, where consumers are frequently asked to contribute to various causes such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, or relief efforts in Ukraine. The study highlights the significant impact of these campaigns, noting that in 2022, 77 businesses raised over $1 million each, totaling $749 million.

Dr. Hansen and Dr. Dula’s research, soon to be published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, involved a national survey of 1,383 American adults to understand the profile of an impulse giver – someone who donates on the spur of the moment during a retail transaction. Their findings revealed that more than half of the respondents had engaged in checkout charity, typically rounding up their purchase total. These impulse givers, predominantly under 50 years of age and from middle-class backgrounds, contribute about $50 annually through such acts of charity. Interestingly, the study found that women are more likely than men to participate in checkout charity, and Black respondents were found to give more on average than white respondents. However, despite this trend of generosity, the article raises concerns about potential donor fatigue, suggesting that the increasing frequency of checkout charity requests could lead to a decrease in impulse giving as customers grow more accustomed and possibly less responsive to these appeals.

Ruth K. Hansen, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics, and director of the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies. She teaches classes in nonprofit organizations, fundraising, organizational behavior, and research methods. Her research focuses on the theory and practice of fundraising, and equity and inclusion in resource mobilization. Dr. Hansen has more than 20 years’ professional experience as a fundraiser, and is a former board member of AFP-Chicago. Recent publications include “Applying a stakeholder management approach to ethics in charitable fundraising,” published in the Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing and “Gary Neighborhood House: Managing mission and uncertainty in the Civil Rights era,” in the edited volume Hoosier Philanthropy. She contributed the chapter “Theory in Fundraising,” to the new edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, which was featured on Bill Stanczykiewicz’s First Day Podcast from The Fundraising School. Her research with Dr. Lauren Dula on fundraising appeal letters, supported by the AFP Foundation, is the subject of a recent article in Advancing Philanthropy.

Dr. Nathan Dietz and Dr. Robert T. Grimm Jr., Do Good Institute

Nathan Dietz
Associate Research Professor
Research Director, Do Good Institute
Director, Do Good Lab
School of Public Policy
University of Maryland

Robert T. Grimm, Jr.
Professor of the Practice
Levenson Family Chair in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
Director, Do Good Institute
School of Public Policy
University of Maryland

In the recent research report “Understanding Generosity: A Look at What Influences Volunteering and Giving in the United States,” authored by Nathan Dietz and Robert T. Grimm Jr. from the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland, the decline in volunteering and charitable giving in the United States is meticulously analyzed. Funded by the Generosity Commission, this study is particularly insightful for nonprofit professionals as it examines both micro- and macro-level factors contributing to this downward trend. The report reveals a significant decrease in formal volunteer rates and charitable donations, a pattern that emerged before the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued since. The decline, which began in the early 2000s for donations and early 2010s for volunteering, is linked to various individual, family, and state-level characteristics.

Key micro-level factors identified include educational attainment, age, parenthood, gender, marital status, employment status, and living area. For instance, college graduates are more likely to volunteer, and giving rates increase with age. Surprisingly, those who are unemployed are more likely to volunteer than full-time workers, while rural residents are more likely to volunteer than their urban or suburban counterparts. The report emphasizes the role of nonprofits in understanding these trends to better target potential donors and volunteers. Macro-level factors, such as state poverty rates and the prevalence of nonprofits, also influence these behaviors, albeit to a lesser extent. For example, states with widespread poverty see higher rates of volunteering and giving. The findings challenge assumptions about the link between the prevalence of nonprofits and individual generosity, underscoring the need for more effective engagement strategies by these organizations. This research offers valuable insights into the dynamics of philanthropic behavior, crucial for shaping strategies to revitalize volunteerism and giving in the US.

Nathan Dietz, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor and the Research Director at the Do Good Institute, as well as the Director of the Do Good Lab at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. Joining in March 2017, Dietz brings over two decades of research experience in government, the nonprofit sector, and academia. His work primarily revolves around social capital, volunteering, charitable contributions, civic engagement, and social entrepreneurship. Dietz has authored numerous Institute research publications and peer-reviewed articles in notable journals. He also teaches State, Local and Nonprofit Financial Management and chairs the Faculty Diversity Committee at the School of Public Policy.

Before his current role, Dietz was a senior research associate at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, leading various research and evaluation projects. His previous experience includes serving as a senior program manager at the Partnership for Public Service and as an associate director for research and evaluation at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Dietz’s academic journey includes appointments at American University and degrees from the University of Rochester and Northwestern University, where he earned his PhD in political science and a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in political science and mathematical methods in social sciences, respectively.

Robert T. Grimm Jr., PhD, is a Professor of the Practice and holds the Levenson Family Chair in Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. As the founding Director of the Do Good Institute, he leads efforts to inspire and empower individuals to make a positive impact. Under his leadership, the Institute has expanded significantly, offering numerous programs and courses that engage thousands of students annually in social change initiatives. The Do Good Institute’s impact was recognized with the 2021 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence in Public Service by the University of Maryland Board of Regents and the inaugural Voinovich Public Innovation Prize by NASPAA. Notably, Grimm’s involvement facilitated the growth of the Food Recovery Network and the launch of successful companies like Hungry Harvest and Imperfect Foods.

Dr. Grimm’s extensive experience in public service includes his roles at AmeriCorps as Senior Counselor to the CEO and Director of Research & Policy Development. He played a key role in the creation of President Obama’s Social Innovation Fund and significantly expanded AmeriCorps’s research funding. A recognized expert in philanthropy and civic engagement, Grimm’s research has been featured in prominent media outlets and academic journals. He also testified at the first hearing of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service. An Iowa native, Grimm received his PhD from Indiana University, which honored him with its 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Beth Breeze, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent

Dr. Beth Breeze
Director, Global Challenges Doctoral Centre
Director, Centre for Philanthropy
University of Kent

Disciplining Generosity
Stanford Social Innovation Review (2023)

In “Disciplining Generosity,” an excerpt from “Advising Philanthropists: Principles and Practice” by Beth Breeze, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, and her colleague Emma Beeston (Philanthropy Advisor), the role of philanthropy advisors in fostering effective and sustainable social innovation is explored. This article, particularly relevant to nonprofit researchers and practitioners, highlights the growing significance of these advisors in shaping philanthropic giving. The authors emphasize how philanthropy advisors, like those from the Bridgespan Group who guided MacKenzie Scott’s significant contributions, play a critical role in enhancing the impact of philanthropy. Through their 48 combined years of experience in fundraising, grant-making, and philanthropy advising, Beeston and Breeze draw on interviews with 40 advisors across 15 countries to shed light on the profession. Their work reveals how these advisors are integral in encouraging more and better philanthropic giving, which is essential for addressing social and environmental challenges.

The article delves into the complexities of the advisory role, discussing how advisors navigate ethical dilemmas and influence donors to make strategic and impactful contributions. Advisors not only guide donors in choosing effective organizations and projects but also challenge them to think critically about their giving practices. This includes addressing donors’ preconceptions, encouraging strategic collaboration, and promoting equitable and just philanthropic practices. By doing so, advisors play a pivotal role in mitigating social problems and enhancing the overall efficacy of philanthropic efforts. The article underscores the importance of this profession in the broader philanthropic ecosystem, stressing the need for advisors to balance client service with a commitment to broader societal good. It suggests that the future of effective philanthropy may well hinge on the skill and insight of these crucial advisors.

Beth Breeze is Director of the Centre for Philanthropy, which she co-founded in 2008. Beth began her career as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity and spent a decade working in a variety of fundraising, research, and charity management roles, including as deputy director at the Institute for Philanthropy. Motivated by the lack of substantive research underpinning practice, Beth completed a PhD on contemporary philanthropy at Kent in 2011 and has remained at the University ever since.