What Motivates People to Donate to a Charity?

Many people are driven to donate to charity by a genuine desire to help others and make a positive difference in the world. They feel empathy toward those in need and are motivated to alleviate suffering or provide support. People may also have personal experiences or connections with the cause or issue that a charity addresses, leaving them exceptionally passionate about contributing to their cause.

At All Things Possible Medical Fundraising, we greatly value all our donors and volunteers because we know we can’t do what we do without their support. We know that people donate to charities for a variety of different reasons, and we want to explore those reasons with you as you think through your next charitable donation.

Connections

Charities often share stories and narratives about the individuals or communities they help, which create an emotional connection with potential donors and make the cause more relatable and compelling. Emotional appeals can elicit empathy and motivate people to take action. While multiple organizations may work on the same issue, some donors may be drawn to charities that have a unique mission or approach. They might be interested in supporting innovative solutions, addressing specific aspects of the problem, or helping underrepresented populations. Many former van recipients of All Things Possible continue to engage in our mission and contribute to other families’ vans because they know firsthand the hardship these families are facing on a daily basis.

Trust

Trust also plays a significant role in motivating people to donate to a charity. When individuals believe that a charity is reputable, transparent, and efficiently uses the funds for its intended purpose, they are more likely to contribute. Statistics and data demonstrating the effectiveness of a charity’s work can also motivate people to donate. When donors can see tangible results or evidence of the impact made by the organization, they may feel more confident that their contribution will make a difference.

Like any business, running a nonprofit requires operational costs for everything from salaries, insurance, annual state and federal registrations and continuing education, to creating and maintaining a website, software, advertising, phone service, office supplies, and more. This is why a donor should always find out what percentage of their donation goes toward the mission versus overhead expenses. Some larger nonprofits spend more on salaries, thereby decreasing the funds that go toward the mission and those it serves. It’s wise to reach out and question any nonprofit that uses less than 80% of donations toward the mission. These figures can be found on websites like Charity Navigator, or you can simply contact the organization and ask. All Things Possible is listed on Charity Navigator as All Things Possible Ministries, which was our original name registered with the IRS. Our percentage going toward the mission was 90% in 2022, and we continue to provide transparency and maintain wise stewardship of all the funds we receive.

Reach and Impact

Some individuals may prefer to donate to charities that have a local impact, as they feel a stronger connection to their own community and want to witness the change. Local charities can sometimes offer a personal opportunity to meet those families who are being helped face-to-face. That simply isn’t feasible on a large, national, or global reach. Those larger organizations have several staff members and are aiming to address widespread issues or achieve systemic change.

The number of people helped each year can be a motivating factor for some donors. They may feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment by contributing to a charity that has a significant reach and positively impacts many individuals on a smaller level. Others may feel like the number of people impacted isn’t important so long as the impact on the individuals is significant. All Things Possible’s donors are contributing toward $40,000 wheelchair accessible vans. Most families with disabled loved ones can’t even dream of saving up enough money to change their lives in such a huge way.

All Things Possible Medical Fundraising was founded in 2013 with a mission to fund medical needs and equipment that insurance and Medicaid won’t cover. In the last 5 years we have specifically impacted the disabled by providing reliable mobility equipment including scooters and wheelchair vans benefiting over 30 families within 6 counties surrounding Charlotte, NC. Although the number of vans may seem modest, the reality is that these specialized vehicles are prohibitively expensive for these families, making the impact of All Things Possible truly profound.

The demand for wheelchair vans from across the country has been overwhelming. There are no other nonprofit organizations focusing specifically on gifting used wheelchair vans to families who can’t afford them.  All Things Possible hopes to eventually expand our reach and this aspiration can only be realized through the generosity of caring individuals like you. Together, we can transform lives and make a difference as we work together to believe and achieve that all things are indeed possible.