The survey results for our 2nd poll are in, and they reveal some very interesting data that correlates directly with a main problem of donor intentions not aligning with the way donor contributions are used. Our Donor Intentions Survey sought to find out exactly why people give money to type 1 diabetes foundations, and this is what we gathered:
Survey 2: Donor Intentions Results
o Q1: Do you donate to one of the four charities (ADA, DRIF, JDRF, Joslin)?
§ 72% Yes
§ 12% No
§ 16% Other
Of the people who do donate
§ Q2: Please specify the type of diabetes you support:
· 86% Type 1
· 1% Type 2
· 13% Both
§ Q3: How many organizations do you donate to?
· 45% donate to 1 charity
· 28% donate to 2 charities
· 26% donate to more than 2 charities
§ Q4: If you donate, what is the reason?
· 67% said for a cure
· 12% said for another reason (prevention, education, management, etc.)
· 21% said for both a cure and another reason
§ Q5: When you donate for that reason, do you restrict or target your donations for that specific reason?
· 31% said yes
· 66% said no
· 3% said both yes and no
§ Q6: Do you expect that the charity will appropriately allocate your donation to accurately reflect your reason for giving?
· 75% said yes
· 24% said no
· 1% said yes and no
The results are very revealing and show the main problem at work here. As we know, most people who donate towards type 1 diabetes charity to do so for a cure. However, the majority, or 66%, do not specify their intentions when they give their money, yet at the same time, 75% believe the money will be used in the way that they want it to be used.
This is what allows the foundations to continue raising money for a cure while using very little of it for that actual purpose. We do not believe that treatment, management, prevention, etc. should be funded with money raised for the purpose of cure research.
People expect their money to be used toward what they donate for, but that will not happen unless we start demanding that every donation for a type 1 cure goes into the research labs and is invested into a focused and guided approach. We need to make goals, we need to set definitions and fight for a type 1 cure within our lifetime . Clearly, simply giving money and trusting that it will be used properly will not be enough.
Our Donor Action Letter is the perfect way to make sure the foundations are aware of your stipulation – the more letters they receive, the more they will become aware of the will of the donor community. When the majority speaks, they will have to respond.
– Stoyan
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