Cultural Differences Impact on Major Gift Fundraising

Cultural Differences Impact on Major Gift Fundraising

By Tom Wilson Major Gifts Guru

As the United States becomes more multi-culturally diverse and as my weblog readers become more international, I am trying to learn more about cultural differences in giving.

I go to Montreal, Canada shortly to present a couple of sessions at AHP Canada. I realize I am a real neophyte when it comes to many international and cultural issues around major gift fundraising. So, I'm trying to read articles and talk to as many people as I can.

Here are a few things I learned recently from an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy (6/4/09) by Donald Kirkwood “International Fund Raising: Lessons Learned.”

“All giving is local – raising money for a new building on a campus will be infinitely harder than raising scholarship support for students from the prospective donor’s own country”

This is good advice as you look for connections to fundraising in America from donors in other countries. It also reminded me of a good friend and major gift donor in Southern California who is Persia (Iran). He’s been in the United States for more than 30 years, but cares deeply about educational projects in Iran. I would think asking him to set up a scholarship program at a university here for students from Iran or from an Iranian background would be very attractive to him.


“Donors often want to be anonymous – in other cultures donors are more likely to request complete and absolute anonymity. . . . wealthy donors may fear kidnapping or personal harm to themselves or their family members.” For some cultures talking about money and wealth is uncomfortable “if you have the misfortune to be financially successful, it is bad manners to draw attention to the fact.”

I can't relate to the security issues mentioned, but I know from my son's Brazilian girlfriend that wealthy people in Sao Paula have concerns. I am certainly aware of the discomfort around appearing wealthy in the United States. I do a lot of fundraising in smaller communities and rural areas in the Western United States and I see this issue a lot. Many times we have partially overcome this issue by asking donors if they would be willing to be listed in a major donors category on the donor wall at $25,000 or more even though the donor has given $100,000 or $250,000. This seems to work, some visibility is okay but not at the highest levels. This caution about other cultures and gift visibility will be important to remember.


“Board roles are not the same – board membership is an honor, privilege, duty, and service to society, but too frequently it is not a role in which trustees assume responsibility for giving money.”

This is an important issue as we try to diversity our American nonprofit boards by bringing different cultures to our board tables. Their expectations for giving can and will be quite different. I know one of my college clients is bringing three prominent Latino ladies onto their board knowing this will be an issue. Another good reminder for all of us in the U.S. and internationally as we try to build a culture of philanthropy in our organizations and communities.

What issues have you uncovered in the United States and/or globally?

Permanent Link: Cultural Differences Impact on Major Gift Fundraising

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2009/06/cultural-differences-impact-on-major.html