Wealth and philanthropy
Aug. 17th, 2006 10:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidI got a survey from Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy investigating the giving habits of wealthy people, because nearly half of charitable contributions come from the richest 7% of households (I am not in the richest 7%, nor anywhere close). Apparently, I live in a ZIP code with lots of "high net worth households," which surprised me a bit, since I think of Brattle Street and near Radcliffe being the tony areas of town. On the other hand, Boston in general is pricey (but then, I'd think of Newton and Weston before Cambridge, just because the lower extremes of income are likely higher there).
The survey is anonymous, a fact that is repeated twice in the introductory letter, three times in the survey itself, and there's an extra insert reassuring responders of privacy. If three repetitions of something makes it sound true, do six repetitions make it gospel?
It's a long survey, with lots of detailed questions, mostly on a five-point scale. I totally do not feel like the target audience: the request for estimates given to different types of charities last year had eight digits available. So out of my league...
The link above is to a PDF of the whole survey. An overview of the sections:
It feels like I'm being given a glimpse into the world of the truly rich. I wonder how many of them will complete the survey (on paper, online, or by phone).
The survey is anonymous, a fact that is repeated twice in the introductory letter, three times in the survey itself, and there's an extra insert reassuring responders of privacy. If three repetitions of something makes it sound true, do six repetitions make it gospel?
It's a long survey, with lots of detailed questions, mostly on a five-point scale. I totally do not feel like the target audience: the request for estimates given to different types of charities last year had eight digits available. So out of my league...
The link above is to a PDF of the whole survey. An overview of the sections:
- questions about which sorts of charities I gave to last year, along with estimates, plus change in giving over time, and whether I'm pleased with the impact of my donations (A question I can't answer, not having given huge chunks of money that could be traced. I mean, I give if I want to support what the nonprofit does, so I'm satisfied if they continue doing as they did before.)
- who I rely on to advise me in my charitable giving (er, yeah)
- motivations for giving. I found this part interesting, because I haven't thought about reasons this specific before. Also, it was interesting to see one negative motivator, wanting to limit the funds left to heirs. That's just asking for plot right there.
- factors that might increase donations to charity, both financial (tax reasons or more income) and social/intellectual (knowing more about them, volunteering as well as giving, the chance to be anonymous).
- questions about teaching the next generation(s) about giving (would that I could....)
- how donations are made (cash, in kind, bequests, beneficiaries, etc)
- a lot of questions about me personally, starting with gender, marital status, and race, continuing to religion (and intensity of practice in the form of going to services), children, business owning, gross income last year (the lowest category being "less than $200,00"!), net worth (the lowest category being "less than $1,000,000"...) and change in net worth in the last five years.
- have I volunteered in the last three years (interestingly, this is the only question involving three years, rather than one or five)
It feels like I'm being given a glimpse into the world of the truly rich. I wonder how many of them will complete the survey (on paper, online, or by phone).