Capital Gazette Column
January 28, 2026
What Type of Giver Are You?
Giving back is fundamental to who we are. However, everyone may have different motivations for their giving. Many of us support causes that are close to home, while others prefer to give to communities far away. In these acts of generosity, one donor may prefer to meet an immediate need, while another creates a source of funding that will last in perpetuity.
Figuring out what kind of donor you are, or want to become, and what really inspires you can make it much easier to bring your philanthropic goals to life. Once you know what motivates you, all the tools and options of charitable planning can fall into place. To help guide this process, we encourage donors to create a mission statement for their individual or family’s philanthropy. So where do you begin?
First, ask yourself what you and your family are passionate about — what are your values and your hopes for the future? Are there causes that resonate with those values and hopes? Are there causes that touch you personally? What are your interests? Do you love to hike, create art, mentor youth, learn new things? Where do you find the most happiness? The answers to these questions can help lead you to a cause or to the work of a specific organization, and from there, you can begin to explore giving options.
Perhaps you would like to solve one big challenge facing our community, reflecting a visionary outlook. Visionary donors often look to make large, transformational impacts. They see themselves being part of a significant movement and are aligned with the nonprofit’s mission and goals, focusing on the future. Their gifts can transform the organization. Depending on the size of their gift, they can also be classified as catalyst donors and may prefer anonymity. They may even give to endowments because they want to be a part of a lasting impact that ensures long-term financial stability. Visionary or transformational donors don’t wait for change, they create it.
Maybe you’re a person who responds to an urgent need or crisis like a flood or a wildfire. If so, you may be a responsive donor, motivated by a desire for a personal connection to the immediate impact of what’s happening now. Responsive donors are driven by empathy and urgency and step up in times of crisis to make an immediate mark.
Closely related are campaign donors who respond to annual campaigns or capital needs. As a campaign donor, you may give in response to a goal-driven campaign such as construction of a new building or a capacity-building program initiative, often to help a matching gift go further and increase its impact.
Faith-driven donors are guided by spiritual or religious values and a connection to a religious organization or community. As a faith-driven donor, you may view yourself as a steward of your faith and your giving aligns with your beliefs. Faith-driven donors are consistent or monthly donors and often look at philanthropy as a way to express their gratitude.
Grassroots or community-based donors can encompass all of these types of givers, but the bottom line is that they seek to be a part of a movement or something bigger than themselves. They may participate in a giving circle, where many smaller gifts combine for greater impact. For example, a $100 donation to a giving circle can help generate a $25,000 grant for a nonprofit. These donors are usually community minded and make financial contributions to local causes.
Legacy donors establish charitable gifts during their lifetime that are fulfilled through their estates using wills or trusts after they have passed. These gifts are often larger and more impactful than regular donations and can include a combination of assets such as stock, real estate, life insurance, and cash. Like visionary donors, they want their philanthropic impact to live on and may give to endowment funds to ensure lasting support. Planned gifts allow donors to use their life’s assets to make a significant difference in their community by aligning their charitable and estate planning goals. They can even offer tax advantages such as income tax deductions, reduced estate tax and avoiding capital gains taxes on appreciated assets.
No matter what type of donor you are, your local community foundation can help support this process and guide you in a meaningful direction with the help of philanthropic advisors who live and work here in Anne Arundel County.
This article originally appeared in The Capital Gazette on January 28, 2026.