PHILANTHROPIC PLEDGES

11 June 2019

In episode 51, we explore philanthropic pledges: what are they, do they work and how have they been used to drive more and better giving? Including:
    

• Mackenzie Bezos’ recent decision to join the Giving Pledge has been widely reported. But how successful has this initiative been overall?
• Who are the notable signatories and the notable absences from the Giving Pledge? Why have some people not signed?
• Has the Giving Pledge shifted the level of giving by the ultra wealthy? Has it had any impact on overall levels of giving?
• What can we learn from the pledge letters of GP signatories?
• Does the GP lack the tools to hold signatories to their pledges? Should it?
• Is the GP’s scope less radical than it might have been, and why?
• What of other pledge initiatives like the Founders Pledge?
• Does a pledge represent an expectation that a certain level of wealth comes with responsibilities to give, or is it entirely voluntary?
• What does academic research tell us about the economics and psychology of pledges?
• Why are the concepts of 'warm glow', 'pain of payment' and 'psychological distance' important in understanding how to design effective pledges?
• How does crowdfunding relate to philanthropic pledges?
• Could the future be about 'conditional donations', where conditions are set and then donations automatically executed if they are met?