Philanthropic Psychology & Donor Motivation Flashcards
6 cards from real CAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Philanthropic Psychology & Donor Motivation flashcards as text
According to the CAP curriculum's treatment of donor motivation, which factor most consistently drives transformational charitable gifts?
Answer: Values alignment between the donor's core beliefs and the organization's mission
Research consistently shows that values alignment—the degree to which a donor's personal values match the organization's mission—is the most reliable predictor of major and planned giving.
Paul Schervish's hyperagency concept describes:
Answer: The ability of high-net-worth individuals to direct large-scale social change through their philanthropic choices
Schervish's hyperagency theory describes the unique capacity of the very wealthy to directly shape social outcomes through philanthropy—their resources allow them to act as agents who create the social world rather than simply responding to it.
Family philanthropy discussions often surface tensions between generations. Which approach does the CAP curriculum recommend for navigating intergenerational differences in philanthropic priorities?
Answer: Facilitate structured family conversations that identify shared values while accommodating diverse interests through multiple giving vehicles
The CAP approach recommends structured family philanthropy conversations that identify shared values and use flexible vehicles such as family foundations and DAFs to honor both unity and individual autonomy.
The warm glow theory in behavioral economics, as applied to charitable giving, suggests that:
Answer: Donors derive personal utility from the act of giving itself, independent of the impact of the gift
Warm glow theory posits that donors gain intrinsic utility—personal satisfaction—from the act of giving itself, not just from the public good produced, explaining why people give even when they could free-ride.
When advising a client on philanthropic legacy planning, which element is most essential to address according to CAP curriculum?
Answer: Articulating the donor's philanthropic identity, values, and vision for impact beyond their lifetime
CAP curriculum prioritizes the articulation of philanthropic identity—who the donor is, what they care about, and what legacy they want to create—as the foundation for all technical planning decisions.
Research on high-net-worth giving patterns consistently finds that wealthy donors are most likely to stop giving to an organization because:
Answer: The organization failed to communicate how gifts were used and what impact was achieved
The top reason wealthy donors disengage is inadequate stewardship—specifically, failure to show how gifts were used and what results they achieved—not financial factors or gift size.