Читать книгу Achieving Excellence in Fundraising - Группа авторов - Страница 99

Giving time and money not only affects givers' happiness, it runs more deeply into fulfilling feelings of meaning and purpose in life. In fact, giving increases people's perceptions of a life well lived with meaning and purpose (i.e., eudaimonic well‐being) more than their simple feelings of happiness (i.e., hedonic well‐being).

The psychological benefits of giving extend into mental health symptoms; givers experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, which, if untreated, could become full blown psychological disorders.

Fundraisers need not worry that they might erase these benefits of giving by sharing the news with potential donors. Even when people are aware of the potential happiness effects of giving, this does not diminish the psychological rewards. Indeed, one study found that people gave more when they learned of the potential happiness‐building effects of giving.

Simply recalling, observing, or counting one's own kind acts also increases happiness as much as actually doing them. Even more incredible is that these happiness boosts seem to be noticeable by outside observers. The joy of giving is written on our faces.