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Article 1
May the Economic Downturn Affect Corporate Philanthropy? Exploring the Contribution Trends in Spanish and U. S. Companies. 
Urriolaagoitia, L., Vernis, A. (2012) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 41: 759-785.

Discussion Questions

• How is corporate philanthropy linked to a firm’s overall strategy and strategic positioning? Why is this?
• Why do corporations engage in philanthropy?
• How did the economic downturn impact corporate philanthropy?
• Discuss how nonprofit organizations can increase corporate giving during the current economic times.

 

Article 2 
Persuasion in Fundraising Letters: An Interdisciplinary Study. 
Goering, E., Connor, U., Nagelhout, E., Steinberg, R. (2011) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 40: 228-246.

Discussion Questions

• What are some of the more common techniques of persuasion utilized in direct-mail solicitation? How effective are they?
• Describe some of the visual treatments utilized in direct-mail solicitation and discuss whether or not they are effective.
• How important are statements designed to induce empathy in a direct-mail piece? Give an example of one of those types of statements.
• Are enclosures in a direct-mail piece effective? Why or why not?

 

Article 3 
Tainted Money and Charity: Do 501(c)(3)s Have a Right to Refuse a Gift? 
Morris, D. (2008) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 37: 743-755.

Discussion Questions

• Summarize the Jack Abramoff incidents that led to his conviction and how that may have impacted nonprofit organizations.
• Do nonprofit organizations have a moral right to refuse an unrestricted cash gift because of its source? Why or why not?
• Do nonprofit organizations have a moral right to accept an unrestricted cash gift regardless of its source? Why or why not?
• How do the fundraising restrictions of Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBIT) impact the issue of accepting questionable donations?

 

Article 4 
With Strings Attached: Nonprofits and the Adoption of Donor Choice. 
Barman, E. (2008) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 37: 39-56.

Discussion Questions

• Define “unrestricted gift” and discuss what that means to a nonprofit organization.
• Define “restricted gift” and give an example. Discuss the difference between it and an unrestricted gift.
• Using the United Way as an example, discuss how that organization managed donor choice.
• What types of individual donors most often request donor choice? Why?
• Does a nonprofit organization benefit from donor choice? Why or why not?

 

Article 5 
Increasing Fundraising Efficiency Through Evaluation: Applying Communication Theory to the Nonprofit Organization–Donor Relationship. 
Waters, R. (2011) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 40: 458-475.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to cultivate annual giving donors? How can that impact the long-term sustainability of a nonprofit organization?
• Discuss the process involved in nurturing the nonprofit–donor relationship and how that can impact future donations from individuals.
• Occasionally, a nonprofit organization’s behavior can damage relationships with stakeholders. Discuss how that might happen and what the nonprofit might to do restore those relationships.
• Discuss some methods a nonprofit might use to increase donor trust and satisfaction.

 

Article 6 
Identity, Storytelling, and the Philanthropic Journey 
Maclean, M., Harvey, C., Gordon, J., Shaw, E. (2015) 
Human Relations, 68(10): 1623–1642.

Discussion Questions

• How do the authors define and characterize entrepreneurial philanthropy?
• Why do the authors deem storytelling to be a powerful fundraising tool?
• What are the authors’ phases of the storytelling tool? Explain.
• How do the authors describe the relationship between storytelling and action?

 

Article 7 
The Relationship Between Philanthropic Foundation Funding and State-Level Policy in the Era of Welfare Reform 
Mosley, J., Galaskiewicz, J. (2015) 
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 44(6): 1225–1254.

Discussion Questions

• Historically, what has been the relationship between foundations and governments?
• What role do philanthropic foundations play in public policy debates?
• How did the authors study the relationship between welfare reform and philanthropy?