Yet again: scientists show that giving is good

Giving is good. It just feels good. Scientists will back me up on that. A recent NIH study looked into people's brains with MRIs while they made decisions to give.

(The story is making the rounds in the press. Here's a good article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune: There's a reason you feel better when you give.)

Dr. Jorge Moll, the lead researcher on the study, said what they saw "strongly supports the existence of 'warm glow' at a biological level. It helps convince people that doing good can make them feel good; altruism therefore doesn't need to be ONLY sacrifice."

Here's what the MRIs found:

... giving activated two areas of the brain: the part that is activated by reward reinforcement, which also is activated by sex, drugs and money, and the part that influences social attachments, trust and economic interactions.

You see, when you're raising funds, nature is on your side.

Are you afraid fundraising is in some way harmful to your donors? Don't be. They want to give! Let the good times roll!

(See also Donors know: giving creates ecstasy.)

Thanks to Think Personality for the tip.

Technorati Tags: fundraising, neuromarketing

Comments

[Gary Sweeten]

Well, now. Scripture says the same. "Give and it shall be given unto you..." That which we receive shall not always be financial but perhaps most often is emotional and spiritual and energy to do more.

The greatest resource for doing good are those who have done well. But that resource is most dynamic when we recruit their minds, hearts and talents to enter the world as salt and light to design new and creative communities of change.

The next 40 years will be the real deal for Boomer Time as Retire becomes Refire and the enormous talents of the Boomers are unleashed into serving like which the world has never seen.