In Jewish tradition, it’s widespread observe to make presents of cash or charitable donations in multiples of 18. The symbolism behind giving in multiples of 18 is that in Jewish tradition, 18 is the numerical worth of the Hebrew phrase “Chai,” which implies life; subsequently, you’re giving the recipient the reward of “life” or luck.

A latest New York Occasions article particulars how one start-up, Daffy, lately got here throughout that revelation and was capable of elevate their donations to sure charities by 80%. It began innocently when one donor inquired whether or not the minimal allowable reward might be dropped to $18 from $20. Fortunately, somebody at Daffy, which is a contemporary monetary platform for creating donor-advised funds, was capable of acknowledge the importance of this request. Along with honoring the request, the corporate took the initiative to immediate a donor giving to a Jewish charity to “bump presents up by some associated quantity.” What they noticed was a soar in median presents to those charities from $100 to $180 within the span of a yr.

A majority of these numerical presents are additionally widespread even to charities or foundations that aren’t associated to the Jewish religion. In response to Alexandra Pia Brovey, senior director of reward planning at Northwell Well being Basis in New Hyde Park, N.Y., “Northwell does have donors who make memorial presents of $18 and multiples of $18 based mostly on their Jewish religion.”

This prompts the query, can the same method to giving work to extend donations made to different sorts of charities and foundations? Whereas it’s commonplace for Jewish charities to supply such an choice, can others be taught from this and provide their very own so-called fortunate or “magic quantity”?

Although the New York Occasions article doesn’t discover this technique in relation to ultra-high-net-worth giving, it does counsel methods charities can “nudge” donors to bump up their donations. For instance, it is urged {that a} scholar donating to their alma mater might be prompted so as to add on a sum equal to the yr they graduated, resembling $20.03 for the category of 2003. It will be fascinating to see if this method may work on a bigger scale as properly.

Typically even small bumps in donations can add up in the long term. Most of us have been requested earlier than when trying out at a retailer whether or not we need to spherical up our buy to the closest greenback to profit a charity. Research present that when the quantity is so financially insignificant to most people (lower than a greenback), they have an inclination to agree to take action extra probably than not. That psychology applies similarly to those who donate in an quantity they discover symbolic, such because the aforementioned $18.

By digging deeper and higher understanding their very own donors, different charities can be taught a factor or two from Daffy about encouraging extra giving. One risk is to create a marketing campaign that asks for donors to make a donation within the quantity of a significant quantity that’s related to the inspiration or charity, whether or not it’s $18, $20.03 or another magical sum. Along with growing the variety of smaller donations, you by no means know when these donations could be a gateway for a future a lot bigger donation from these that may afford to present extra.