AN EXAMINATION OF UNDERGRADUATE PHILANTHROPIC MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT: THE DISCOVERY OF THE EIGHT FACES OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PHILANTHROPISTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT With reduced sources of external funding, higher education institutions are taking an increased focus onthe development of their alumni and current student populations with regards to philanthropic giving. One of the goals of leadership and their development team is to build and nurture a culture of philanthropy on campus amongst current students with the desired outcome of these efforts being to build a sense of affinity and responsibility to the institution evident through their engagement. While there is much research available about the motivation for giving and engagement amongst alumni, there is little information available about what motivates current students on campus to participate in philanthropic activity. It must be understood why students choose to engage in their chosen philanthropic activities, whichwould require gaining an understanding of intrinsic motivators for engagement. It is also important for institutions to learn how students want to be engaged to adjust tactics and incorporate methods of engagement which are valued and preferred by students. Learning the ways in which this newer group of students views the concepts of philanthropy, and the ways in which they seek to insert themselves into philanthropic engagement are going to be of the upmost importance to gain support from this cohort. Ultimately, this study examined undergraduate students’ philanthropic behaviors with the purpose ofdetermining if it is possible to find distinct factors which influence philanthropic motivations and engagement based upon student characteristics. A mixed method approach was used for this study. For the quantitative component of the study, 206 students located throughout the United States completed questionnaires, which provided survey questions utilizing a 5-point ordinal Likert scale, with responses indicating the likelihood of the variable influencing selected philanthropic activities. Surveys also captured student demographic variables. Twenty students from the quantitative study participated in a follow up one on one interview interviews for the qualitative component, which provided insight into student motivations via analysis of interview transcripts. Amongst participants of this study, findings indicate that there are significant relationships that exist between certain student demographic variables and factors which influence their decisions to participate in chosen philanthropic activities. These factors can be segmented into distinct categories, allowing for students’ motivations to be understood based upon their intrinsic motivations. Ultimately amongst participants, it appears students are guided by eight factors which influence their philanthropic motivation and/or engagement. With this knowledge, institutional leadership and development staff can gain a better understanding of what motivates current students to select the types of philanthropic activities, causes, and organizations they support, as well as how to tailor ask vehicles designed to appeal to the intrinsic motivators of students.