What Makes Association Members Donate More? Factors Influencing Members’ Donation Amount in Membership-Based Professional Associations

Abstract

As charitable donations account for a significant amount of the revenue of professional associations, such associations can benefit greatly from a better understanding of the factors that influence the amount of money that members donate. Using data collected from six professional associations, this study examines the factors affecting association members’ donation amounts. A survey of 2156 members was conducted to investigate the potential factors. The results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that after controlling for sociodemographic factors, face-to-face solicitation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, membership length, and recommendation intention significantly influence the donation amount among members. This study offers more comprehensive explanations for the factors that influence members’ donation amounts and provides potential strategies to maximize donations from members.