little sister's of the poor research project

Little Sisters of the Poor Research Project

Alex Fisher

PRAD 585: Research Methods for the Communication Professional

DePaul University

11 June 2013

Abstract (Executive Summary)

Qualitative and Quantitative research will be conducted in order to help the Little Sisters

of the Poor increase organizational awareness and monetary donations.

Introduction

Little Sisters of the Poor is an international Roman Catholic non-profit 501(c)(3)

organization dedicated to serving the elderly poor. It operates in over 30 countries around the

world and one of those facilities is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

After federal budget cuts the organization will be losing approximately $1.9 million annually that

was allotted to them through them Medicaid program. This amount is half of their operating

budget; the other half is obtained through private donations. The Little Sisters of the Poor’s

current method for obtaining donations is soliciting community members through door-to-door

begging. The organization also faces a general lack of awareness; even in the community

immediately surrounding their Lincoln Park facility. A contributing factor for this lack of

awareness is a vow the clerical employees of Little Sisters of the Poor have taken against self-

promotion.

This research will attempt to obtain several goals. It will measure the level of awareness

of Little Sisters of the Poor has currently and discover the opinions people have when it comes to

the organization. The research will also uncover information about donation and volunteerism

practices. It will also measure the opinion and attitudes people have on care for the elderly poor.

This information can be used by the Little Sisters of the Poor to develop strategies to increase

awareness and donations.

Literature Review

Secondary research provided many valuable insights that are applicable to the Little

Sisters of the Poor’s situation. Research was conducted on many topics including non-profit

marketing strategies, corporate donating practices, and individual donating and volunteering

tendencies. Key takeaways were developed that supported some of the Little Sisters’ practices

and provided guidance for new strategies.

Businesses want to engage in philanthropic endeavors. Society has a favorable opinion

on businesses that give back to the community, and charitable donations are a way companies

can position themselves ahead of their competitors in the minds of consumers. However smaller

businesses are unlikely to donate on their own. They are much more likely to make donations

when approached by charitable organizations.

It is now well accepted that non-profits apply traditional marketing practices that for

profit corporations use. Non-profits should have an organized marketing strategy and a clearly

defined target market. Many non-profits lack employees who lack the training and experience to

fully understand and implement marketing strategies.

Research also provided invaluable information about individuals who could be potential

donors to Little Sisters of the Poor. Word of mouth communication is the way most people get

information about their community. Speaking to someone face to face is by far the most

effective way to convey information relevant to their community.

It was also discovered that America’s aging Baby Boomer population is actively

volunteering now that they’re reaching retirement. This is a huge segment of the population that

simply needs something to do with their time and money.

More research showed that people who spend time doing volunteer work donate

significantly more money to charities than individuals who spend no time volunteering. Also

nearly all volunteers lived within a 50 mile radius of the location where they volunteered.

Individuals who donate money want to know specifically what an organization will accomplish

with the funds they have given.

Qualitative Research

Methods

Four residents of Chicago, between the ages of 22 and 24, were interviewed about their

views on community, volunteerism, poverty, and Little sisters of the Poor. The purpose of these

interviews is to do discover what motivates people to volunteer and donate within their

community. All interviews were one-on-on, took a place in different locations and lasted about

half an hour. All interviews were recorded and then transcribed.

Results

Several main themes were discovered after analyzing all of the group’s interviews.

Everyone interviewed would like to volunteer with children (also some with animals). No one

was interested in volunteering with the elderly.

Everyone acknowledged that the Little Sisters of the Poor were attempting to accomplish an

important mission but the interviewees would rather assist other causes that they had more of a

connection with. The main take away people get from volunteer/donating is that they feel good

about themselves. People prefer volunteering over donating because this allows them to see an

actual accomplishment. They know what they’ve contributed.

• I felt “humbled and also grateful.”• “It gives you a sense of purpose and self-worth.”

Everyone claims a rather high level of connection with their community when in reality

the actual connection is very low. People say they want to know their neighbors but make no

effort to do so.

• “I’d like more of a community. I’d like to know who my neighbors are.”

Quantitative Research

Method

Quantitative research was conducted between May 10, and May 20, 2013. Students in

the PRAD 585 class used convenience sampling to get 396 respondents to complete an online

survey. The survey was hosted on DePaul University’s website. The survey contained 36 close

ended questions and one open ended questions. SPSS was used to analyze the results.

Results

There were many significant discoveries that could be taken away from the quantitative

research. The first is that currently LSOP is suffering from an extreme lack of awareness, only

12% of surveyed Chicago residents have heard of the organization. Also it was discovered that

people put a high importance on taking care of the elderly in the community. If given the choice

people would rather support a local non-profit instead of a national or international one. Having

an emotional connection to an organization makes people more willing to donate. Also knowing

that the funds the give will actually help someone in need makes someone more likely to donate.

The rest of the information can be used to discover Little Sisters of the Poor’s target

market. Females are much more likely to donate or volunteer than males are. 57% of Catholics

currently make donations to a non-profit. The higher someone’s income is the more likely they

are to donate. Also people’s primary source of information about their community is the internet.

Discussion and Recommendations

After analyzing all the research conducted several important suggestions can be made to

the Little Sisters of the Poor. The most important thing they can do to ensure organizational

success is to become visible and active within their immediate community, the Lincoln Park

neighborhood.

Lincoln Park contains a high concentration of the Little Sister’s target market, females

making over $75,000 a year. The Little Sisters of the Poor can apply their current method of

begging to the residential community of Lincoln Park and find financial success. The Sisters can

go door-to-door to residents of the neighborhood and simply tell people of the existence of their

organization and facility and invite their neighbors to come see facility and join them for a meal.

Once potential donors have come to the facility and gotten a tour, seen the high level of care

provided, and tasted the quality of food provided only then will they be solicited for a donation.

This action is supported by the findings that people are more likely to donate when they have an

emotional connection to an organization and they want to know exactly what their donations will

be used for.

This strategy will be incredibly successful because it takes into account the strengths and

weaknesses of the organization and the current environment of the community where they exist.

Many non-profits think social media is the answer to all awareness issues, this simply is not true.

It’s unrealistic to expect all of the Little Sisters’ problems to be answered because they make a

Facebook page. Also, the streets of Lincoln Park are full of well-meaning volunteers harassing

any passerby for donations and the doorsteps are covered with flyers for all sorts of

organizations.

This strategy utilizes the most valuable and effective resource the Little Sisters have, the

sisters themselves. It also allows them to utilize skills they have already mastered and does not

require the dedication of time or funding to any new training or marketing techniques. Finally,

this approach meets the needs to the community. Lincoln Park residents want to feel well

connected in their community but make very little effort to do so. People reported that they think

helping the elderly poor is an important cause but are unaware of any efforts to accomplish this.

To help combat this lack of awareness the Little Sisters of the Poor should also install a sign

outside their facility.

Appendix:

In-Depth Interview Guide

Community:

Where do you live?

What do you like about your area?

Do you go to any local businesses/markets/shops?

Can you describe the “vibe” of your local community

What is the general feeling you have/get from this area?

What is in your area? i.e. stores, restaurants, businesses. Etc

What’s different about your neighborhood in comparison to others in the city?

Do you feel well-connected within your community?

What do you think motivates a person to get involved in their local community?

Volunteering:

What organization/causes are you currently or have you previously volunteered for?

How long? How did you find them?

How did this experience make you feel? Would you do it again and why?

If you don’t volunteer, why not?

Would you if you had the right resources?

If you could volunteer for any cause, what would it be and why?

Donating:

Do you actively donate (time and/or money) to organizations?

How long have you been donating for?

How did you find the cause or organization?

Do you think it’s better to donate time, money, or a combination of the two? What takes priority?

What would you be more willing to donate? What factors play into your decision?

Do you feel more accomplished donating one versus the other?

What do you think non-profit organizations prefer?

What qualifications must an organization meet before you donate time and/or money?

Little Sisters of the Poor:

How pervasive is poverty in your area or in surrounding neighborhoods?

Do you see your community addressing poverty, and can you name an organization that works toward eliminating

poverty?

Who do you think is affected the most by poverty?

Do you know of any efforts geared toward helping the elderly poor?

Have you heard of Little Sisters of the Poor?

How do you feel about a Catholic organization with a primary initiative of caring for and providing a place to live

for the elderly poor in Chicago?

Probe: How do you feel about the state of elderly care in your community? Have you learned anything personally?

Probe: Would you consider becoming involved in an organization like this?

Qualitative Interview Transcripts

Group 2

Interviewer 5

Interviewer 5: We’re going to start off just asking you about the Lincoln Park community. So what do you like about your neighborhood?

Interviewee E: About Lincoln Park? Lincoln Park is a quaint community. It’s nice because it’s present that there are restaurants, a lot of residents in the same area, you also have some businesses. It’s a place that is a neighborhood that you can live in. You don’t really need to go outside of Lincoln Park for the most part to get anything that you need to get.

Interviewer 5: Are there any certain businesses, restaurants, shops, or anything that you frequent more than others”?

Interviewee E: yeah there are just things you pass by every day, like a deli down the street that you go by every day and get lunch at every day for instance. Or the grocery store down the street, just the everyday things that you need to do. Or like going to Walgreens to get essentials like a toothbrush.

Interviewer 5: What makes Lincoln Park different from other Chicago neighborhoods?

Interviewee E: Bluntly, the wealth. There are a lot of tax resources dedicated to Lincoln Park. You have parks, in Lincoln Park. You have access to a lot of parks. I think mostly just that it’s a very residential neighborhood. You really have, like I said before, you really have a firm balanceof a residential neighborhood but you have services available to you in the residential neighborhood. You can go shopping off North Avenue which is debatable where the boarder is but you can also go to grocery stores.

Interviewer 5: do you think people in Lincoln Park are more likely to get involved in their local community than residents of other neighborhoods?

Interviewee E: Probably, I don’t see it with my age group as much. But I’m sure that with families you’d probably see that; particularly with families. There are a lot of schools and churches in Lincoln Park. I’m sure there are a lot of people involved in local organizations.

Interviewer 5: You said you don’t see it as much within your age group, but what about you, do you feel well connected within the local community?

Interviewee E: Yeah, I think relatively. It’s hard because the twenty something age is an age that is, you’re perpetually in transition so it’s always hard. You always move from one apartment to another apartment, within Lincoln Park, so you don’t get to know all your neighbors for instance.Which is different from where I’m from I suppose. So I‘d say not as connected but I guess I havea different scale of connection.

Interviewer 5: Do you think that in the community you have more of an opportunity to be connected than in other parts of the city? Even if you are rather transient at this point in your life.

Interviewee E: Yeah, generally speaking, yeah.

Interviewer 5: We’re going to shift gears a little and talk about some volunteerism. Are there anyorganizations or causes that you are currently involved in or volunteering with?

Interviewee E: Yeah, I run a nonprofit organization called Pangaea educational development so I’m primarily involved with them but I’m also involved with refugee one. Which volunteers here on the north side.

Interviewer 5: Okay, let’s talk about that. How long have you served with refugee one?

Interviewee E: For four years now. Since I was a freshman in college

Interviewer 5: Okay, how did you first find out about this organization?

Interviewee E: I found out about them through the Stain center for community service studies. They have a list of partner organizations. And refugee one was one of them. So I happened to geta lead from them and stuck with them ever since.

Interviewer 5: What about this organization made you stick with them for four years?

Interviewee E: I think the mission of it in general. I think a lot of people get attached to volunteerism causes based on the mission of it but you also circumstantially come across things. So if you happen to know that there is a massive population of refugees in Chicago because you live in the same apartment complex you would know that and nobody else might know that. Right? I had a prior association with the refugee community so I was looking for an opportunity to get engaged with them.

Interviewer 5: So if you were to move to a new area, would you seek out another organization like this. Would you want to stay involved in a cause like this?

Interviewee E: Absolutely, absolutely. One hundred percent that’s something that’s near and dearto my heart. Just like anybody who fundraises for cancer research or finds communities like that every time the move. I would very much so be looking for a refugee community to be involved in.

Interviewer 5: Okay, I think you might have kind of already answered this but if you could volunteer for any cause even if there isn’t already an organization dedicated to it, hypothetically, any cause. What would it be?

Interviewee E: well I supposed I’d really think that sport for social change or community gathering is really important. It doesn’t even have to be sports for poor kids it can just be brining

communities together, creating sports leagues and competitions between neighborhoods would be really cool. Just to build community within Chicago or build community development.

Interviewer 5: That’s really interesting, I like that. So obviously you’re donating a lot of your time do you ever make cash donations to charities or non-profits?

Interviewee E: I do. I would say that refugee one is one I definitely donate towards. Just becauseI see the need and I’m there every day, or once a week. Other than that they’re smaller causes, they’re usually not local.

Interviewer 5: Have you been making cash donations for the past four years that you’ve been volunteering you time?

Interviewee E: yeah, they’re not much; twenty five to fifty dollars a year. Just whenever I’m ableto.

Interviewer 5: Do you think that as a whole, nonprofits would rather have your time or have yourmoney?

Interviewee E: Each helps out in different ways. It depends on what type of programs they run. Refugee one for instance there is always a shortage of tutors. And it’s not like you need to know any subjects. Most of it is just being a cultural liaison with a family, speaking English. Refugee one is a great example of a place that just needs people to dedicate three hours a week for a year, for instance. That would go a long long long way. Money is always needed in the nonprofit sector. But I think time, and in particular skilled time is a bit more effective because somebody who is dedicating their profession time and skills and expertise for let’s say five hours a week or something. It’s more likely that’s going to have a larger impact than having to pay someone to dothe same job.

Interviewer 5: Do you get the same feeling, same reward, when you donate time, opposed to donating time?

Interviewee E: I think that I can speak for myself but my general perception is that you get more out of doing something yourself you see the face to face interaction. A lot of times you see a result. So I think you get more out of that. However, it probably depends like for cancer research, I’m not a scientist. So maybe money would do better. But generally speaking it would be volunteering time.

Interviewer 5: I’m going to assume you’re a college student and don’t have the largest disposableincome. Percentage wise when you get a full time job and start making more money do you think you will raise your donating level to match your income or are you comfortable with the amount you’re giving now?

Interviewee E: yeah, I think that it’s going to match my income. A tithing if you will, I guess. I don’t have a specific percentage necessarily but having more disposable income leads me to be

more likely to donate more. Like I said I donate twenty to fifty dollars now out of only having only a few hundred dollars a month in your bank account. You know it’s a significant amount. I’d probably be more comfortable becoming a recurring donor, somebody who donates monthly; while right now I’m just not able to do that. I run out of money.

Interviewer 5: you talked about how a lot of organization need money but a lot of them need that skilled time, as a whole, what do you think nonprofits prefer. Would they rather have unskilled time, just anybody volunteering or would they rather just have the money to do whatever they want with it?

Interviewee E: Typically probably the money works out better. The issue with having skilled time is consistency. Being able to follow and execute a campaign or a plan, if someone is doing it on the side you don’t have someone who is dedicated to the cause. The money is actually probably better for follow through.

Interviewer 5: Okay, lastly what qualifications must an organization meet before you will donate your time or your money?

Interviewee E: I want to see that they’re a 501c3 organization. Just because you have to jump through a lot of hoops and if you’re not willing to do that it makes me question how legitimate the organization is. And its tax deductible. I think that’s very very very important. The little money that we do donate it’s nice to get a deduction back. Other than that it’s really important generally speaking that most of the organizations I donate to are local. Because I think we put money towards foreign causes, well that could be cancer research too, that doesn’t directly affect me. But more local things.

Interviewer 5: Okay, we’re going to shift gears one more time and bring it all together. How pervasive is poverty in your immediate community, compared to the rest of the city?

Interviewee E: In Lincoln Park it’s not nearly as pervasive as anywhere else in the city. In fact I think, I feel like homeless people are probably persecuted by the cops in Lincoln Park, you just look at benches, and the dividers between seats. It’s just an environment that’s not conducive to allowing poverty or homelessness to be rampant. Taxes, gentrification, so in terms of why it’s such a quaint neighborhood is because people force it to be. Anywhere else in the city, outside of Lincoln Park there are far more rampant issues of poverty.

Interviewer 5: So you’re saying that in Lincoln Park they’re not trying to help the people who areimpoverished, they more just want them to stay out of the neighborhood so nobody has to deal with the problem?

Interviewee E: Absolutely, one hundred percent.

Interviewer 5: For the city as a whole, not just Lincoln Park, can you name any organizations thatdeal with helping eliminate poverty and helping the underprivileged?

Interviewee E: Yeah, there are a good number of them. I think a really great one is Lift; it’s a homeless outreach program. So it helps homeless people come into a center where they can get job training, help with resumes, leads on work, entry level jobs, and halfway housing. They do some really incredible work. There’s another one on the north side I’m failing to remember its name but it’s the same thing, where folks get a house for a three month period but they get trained to be cooks. So they get paid a wage while they’re in that position so they’re building capital and savings but also building experience to get a job.

Interviewer 5: Okay, so you seem pretty knowledgeable in this area. What group of people do you think is affected the most by poverty, race gender, socioeconomic status, just however you want to classify a group of people, who is affected the most?

Interviewee E: I would say… well it’s just underprivileged in general. People are denied privilege in lots of different ways. But typically if your parents didn’t come from a position of privilege you typically didn’t either. Or aren’t in one either. I don’t’ think social mobility is that real. I would say that most poverty comes from the already existing poverty but we just have a growing population so it’s just getting more and more rampant. But, otherwise generally speaking I’m giving you a roundabout answer… generally speaking it’s the newest immigrant population that gets povertized or just has to start over.

Interviewer 5: Are you aware of a larger elderly poor population in the city, and if so is anything being done for them? How is being poor different for an elderly person than any other average poor person?

Interviewee E: I mean it’s important to note that the average age of a homeless person in Chicagois 16. So the vast majority are children. But there is a significant number and there’s subsidized housing and near the Lincoln Park boarder area for poor elderly or just low income elderly folks. It’s probably hard because you just can’t work at some point. If you haven’t’ been saving your entire life I would imagine, especially in the city because there is less of a family connection and support from the community.

Interviewer 5: Are you aware of any organizations that are specifically trying to help the elderly poor?

Interviewee E: Yeah the Lincoln Park Elderly Community Association, I believe it’s called. And they basically are meant to serve the elderly population in Lincoln Park so they go ahead and help you move things you can’t move across your house, they’ll take you to go get groceries if you can’t drive or take the bus. So they’re doing some things but in terms of actually brining in money to those people, probably nothing.

Interviewer 5: So they’re just serving the elderly of the community, not so much if you’re homeless and elderly or extremely poor and elderly are they going to do anything for you?

Interviewee E: No, that would probably fall under a homeless organization, nothing specifically for that group of people.

Interviewer 5: Have you ever heard of the Little Sisters of the Poor?

Interviewee E: I’ve heard of the Daughters of Charity.

Interviewer 5: Well I’ll tell you a little about it. It’s a Catholic organization, run by an order of nuns. And there primary initiative is caring for and providing a place to live for the elderly poor in Chicago. And they are located in the Lincoln Park community. Actually, basically on the DePaul campus. So in four years you’ve never noticed their building or heard of them?

Interviewee E: Is that on Racine and Belden?

Interviewer 5: Yes

Interviewee E: I didn’t know that was a nonprofit organization dedicated to that. But I did know it was an elderly home. I see old people there. I knew they were near Belden Hall because I used to live there.

Interviewer 5: Do you think that the problem of the elderly poor is pervasive enough in Chicago that that needs to be addressed as a specific issue? Or would those resources be better spent elsewhere?

Interviewee E: I think it depends on what aspect of poverty we’re talking about. If we’re talking about homelessness then it should just be a larger emphasis on homeless ness across the board, kids all the way up to elderly. Unfortunately it’s probably easier to focus specifically on an age group. So there probably needs to be a significant increase of focus on it, yeah.

Interviewer 5: Would you consider becoming involved in an organization whose mission was to help the elderly poor?

Interviewee E: No, I wouldn’t. Not because I don’t believe in the cause itself. I think everyone isgiven a different talent, skill set. And for instance I would rather work with homeless youth than I would with elderly homeless. Just because of my gift set.

Interviewer 5: Is there anything else you want to add, any opinions you want to talk about?

Interviewee E: No, you certainly can’t undervalue the importance of being involved in your immediate community. But I think the beauty of charity is that it has to be important to you. So it’s important to make sure people know about your cause. Because If people don’t know about your cause they can’t associate with it so I think that the more that causes can get there name out there more effectively and the more they can get people to know what they do exactly the more likely people will be to get involved in those causes. And those causes are all around us. There are like 2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States but I could probably only name like twenty off the top of my head. That’s all

Interviewer 5: All right, well thank you very much.

Interviewer 6

In Depth Interview

Interviewer 6: We’re going to do this interview. It’s for a client that we’re working on to understand how people think and perceive some issues relevant to their business. It’s all anonymous, you’re names not going to be used or anything, so don’t worry about that. So let’s begin. I was just wondering, first of all, where in the city do you live?

Interviewee F: In the Gold Coast.

Interviewer 6: Gold Coast. What do you like about the Gold Coast? Anything?

Interviewee F: It’s very convenient. If I wanted to go places its really close to transportation. I like that there are… its like close to the beach. Just the location’s very prime.

Interviewer 6: So since you like the location, are there any local business or markets or shops, just local businesses that you frequent when you’re there?

Interviewee F: In terms of… shopping?

Interviewer 6: Yeah, in terms of shopping or any kind of businesses.

Interviewee F: Since it’s been cold lately I haven’t really ventured out of my apartment, but I guess I like Bloomingdale’s. Does that count?

Interviewer 6: I think that would be more considered national. I think we’re talking local in terms of locally owned.

• Interviewee F: Oh I was thinking that’s really close to me, that’s local. It’s just that it’s a retail center; it’s not going to have locally owned. I feel like I have to go out of my way to search for that. It’s just a really heavily retail place.•• Interviewer 6: Is there any kind of vibe or feeling you get towards your community? And how would you describe that?•• Interviewee F: I would exactly say it’s a very commercial community. I don’t really consider it a community because of that fact. •Interviewer 6: Can you expand on that at all?

• Interviewee F: Well I don’t think its very possible to feel like you’re in a community when right next door you live to like a Mercedes-Benz or Rolls Royce dealership kind of deal. Like if I wanted to do something or feel like I had neighbors I’d have to venture far out of my way because virtually everything is a business as further east you go, or north or south. I’d have to go like further west to find like even a residential area, like where I live is not residential whatsoever. And I feel like once I get to a residential area with houses and homes, then I would feel like more of a community.•Interviewer 6: So we touched on it already, but are there just feelings that you get from the area? Like feelings you associate with where you live?

• Interviewee F: I would say very, like I said, people are very oriented to consumerism, I guess. General feelings I get toward the people who go there. Well there’s all sort of people whogo. There’s all sorts of people who like to shop. There are people visiting from out of town who will ask directions, or there’s people from the city who are clearly in a rush to get to wherever they need to go. So I feel like it’s just how the people who don’t really interact with each other besides pass each other on the street.•Interviewer 6: And what do you think that’s a function of?

Interviewee F: I think that when people frequent my neighborhood they probably have a shopping list of what they want. Or they’re done with their shopping and have to make another appointment.

Interviewer 6: Do you ever go out of your way to talk to people, or are you also in the same mindset of just going about your business as a local resident?

Interviewee F: I feel like I do just go about my business, but a lot of times people will stop me and ask for directions and depending on if I—sometimes I’ll just take them to where they need togo, if that makes any sense. It doesn’t really depend on if I’m in a rush, it just depends on whether or not if I can tell that would freak them out or if I think they need help. Like some people you can tell them you need to walk that way a couple blocks and take a right and they seem competent enough to do so and not get lost.

Interviewer 6: Do you enjoy taking people where they need to go?

Interviewee F: Yeah! I wish I could get paid to be a tour guide. That would be fun.

Interviewer 6: What do you think would be fun about that?

Interviewee F: It’s just like I naturally know the neighborhood and I wish if I were in a different place I wish someone would take the time to do that for me. Like that has happened to me when I was in Paris. Parisians are really nice, actually. Like I didn’t even ask. I was just holding up a map trying to figure out which way was north, like orient myself after being in the train, and someone came up to me and guided us to where we were going to. So I think that is a very nice, welcoming feeling to the city, so I would like—it would be cool to do that for someone else and also to get paid to do so.

Interviewer 6: What do you think makes your neighborhood different compared to other neighborhoods in the city?

Interviewee F: In my head when I think of other neighborhoods, especially other neighborhoods I’ve lived in, there’s more like we already touched on more community in which other people at least will, like you don’t know there name but you’re throwing out the trash and you’ll say “hey, hello.” However, in my neighborhood. First off you don’t leave to throw out the trash. There’s always trash shoots or something like that. It’s just so business oriented. Like other neighborhoods have businesses too, but its just much more of an interactive exchange versus barely any interaction if any at all. Like I don’t know who my neighbors are. If I saw someone on the street they could be shopping or they could be my neighbor. I have no idea.

•• Interviewer 6: Well that moves into my next question, I think maybe even answers it, but do you feel well connected in your community?•• Interviewee F: (Laughs) What did I just say?•• Interviewer 6: So yeah, I think we can move on from there. As far as people that are involved in their local community, what do you think motivates a person to get involved in their local community?•• Interviewee F: I think in back, when you know you have—when you appreciate what you have and you are grateful for that and the awareness that other people do not and you just want to provide for them to like spread a sense of well being that you yourself have.•• Interviewer 6: And I just want to pick back up on this, how does living in such a business oriented community, as you described it, how do you feel about that? How does it make you feel?•• Interviewee F: I guess, probably in my tone, I’m slightly resentful of that. I’d like more of a community. I’d like to know who my neighbors on. And while it is such a business orientedcommunity you’d think there would be a lot to do but really all there is to do is to go shopping, which is fun for maybe a weekend, but then you’re over it. So that’s—I guess that makes it goodand bad because it forces me to look elsewhere for some kind of activity or adventure. Which I guess makes me more of an active seeker, like I can’t just walk down the street and see you knowa bowling alley or I don’t know an antique store to explore. Like that would not exist in my neighborhood. So I’m resentful that its not close by and it’s not more of a community but at the same time grateful that it isn’t because then I do have to take an active role in what I do have to surround myself in.•• Interviewer 6: So I’m going to switch gears a little bit and talk about volunteering. Have you volunteered previously?•• Interviewee F: In my life, yes.•• Interviewer 6: Recently?•• Interviewee F: Recently? (Laughing) I figure my job is a whole volunteer thing. •• Interviewer 6: What organizations or causes do you currently or have you recently volunteered for? •• Interviewee F: (pauses) this sounds terrible, but I can’t think of a single orientation. •• Interviewer 6: What’s the most recent volunteer experience you can think of?•

• Interviewee F: I feel like I should say Ronald McDonald House.•• Interviewer 6: Did you volunteer at Ronald McDonald House?•• Interviewee F: I did volunteer to do fundraising to support the place. Did I ever visit the place myself? No. If we’re doing like fundraising, not necessarily volunteer work I could speak towards that. Currently what we’re doing where I work is at a school and we are trying to send our eight graders to Washington D.C. as like a rite of passage that most middle schoolers take in the U.S. Like most of them, the furthest they’ve ever gone is to visit U of I in Urbana-Champaign and they were just amazed by countryside that they’ve never seen before so this would be a great opportunity for them to see our nation’s capital and what we’re doing is fundraising. And there’s been lot’s of—like my roommates are looking up prizes to do a raffle kind of thing. Like I guess asking people that I know for money. Yeah, there’s that. I guess a lotof it was just writing emails and reaching out towards people that I happen to still be in contact with.•• Interviewer 6: Now since you recently graduated, even in college did you do any kind of philanthropy or fundraising or volunteer work in that period?•• Interviewee F: Yeah, that’s what I was talking about when I was talking about Ronald McDonald. We did a Pancake Cook Out sort of deal, where people would pay for all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages and breakfast foods. That was like an annual thing we put on. I think we also did kickball. There was a relay race kind of deal. Something sort of like the Olympics where there were different events going on and in order to join a group you would have to put down a payment of $100 that was all sent to the Ronald McDonald house charity.•• Interviewer 6: So I guess going back to when you did volunteer work, how long did thoseexperiences last? Were they a one-time deal or was it an extended period of time? And also howdid you find these opportunities?•• Interviewee F: Well most of them were things I heard about that I decided that I’d like to join. I would say they were both long term and short term. As in, I know that they happen everyyear and this is going to be a thing that’s continuing, but the time commitment was mostly over a2 week period, but also long term just knowing we are building to whatever fundraising goal we were trying for.•• Interviewer 6: And how do these experiences make you feel?•

• Interviewee F: I guess humbled and also grateful. It’s actually really cool to think that its humbling to have to ask you to assist you in anyway or to seek out actually seek out help from someone that you probably haven’t talked to in a couple of years. So I think that’s very humbling. And also, in terms of money, to ask is just incredibly—its one of those taboo things that it’s very hard to overcome. But people are very open to just listening and assisting and I think that is fantastic. I think when that happens even though it hasn’t been that long, and it could have been a person on the street, how I would rate that person, I guess it gives a great sense of community if you want to tie it back to what we were talking about earlier. It feels really cool to see what you’re working towards—like you can see not like an immediate effect, but you do know that it’s going towards something and it can be quantified. You can visibly see change.•• Interviewer 6: So since you said recently you haven’t done much volunteer work, why is that that you haven’t recently?•• Interviewee F: Because my job is incredibly time consuming. Like I said before, I think that my job is kind of volunteer work. It’s a year of service, technically. I feel it doesn’t count for me to call it volunteer work. Like it’s not of my own volition. I did accept this job of my own volition, but its not of my own volition to do the volunteer work that I do. Like for example, it is expected that I stay after school on Tuesdays to lead some sort of group activity forthe scholars who have earned it—we call students scholars at the school I go to, sorry—to the students who’ve earned it by having less than whatever amount of demerits they need to have so that they’ve shown such great behavior that they can handle after school. And I’m expected to lead that, and in my mind that’s volunteer work to assist them in something I’m not getting paid for, but I feel like its cheating because it’s an expectation even though it’s something I would do regardless. Oh and to answer your question, my job is very time consuming to work for almost 12 hours a day.•• Interviewer 6: So do you feel if you had a less time consuming job you would be a little more active?•• Interviewee F: Yeah, I wanted to actually volunteer in a rehab center, but none of them fitwithin my schedule.•• Interviewer 6: So that sort of moves into the next question, but if you could volunteer for any cause, what would that be and why would you do that?•• Interviewee F: I want to volunteer for everything. I would love to do suicide hotlines. I would love to volunteer with anything that had to do with children, especially in terms of education because that is just something that’s very near and dear to my heart. I just think that every child should have the opportunity to do what they want to do, and they shouldn’t be hindered by a poor education or any poor circumstance that will lead them to a poor education. Iwould like to deal with I guess like ‘going green,’ I don’t know how to phrase that, but I think it’s important to be mindful that we have an effect on the Earth that we live on. I would love to help in third world countries and helping them create a more sustainable economy. I mean I could keep on going, but I’m good for now.

•• Interviewer 6: Why would you like to do work with all these different causes? Why is it so important to you?•• Interviewee F: I think that most of them stem from a very personal interest. I think that ifI had a different background I would be interested in very different things. Like my mother is animmigrant from the Philippines and I’m very attuned to any kind of racial prejudice, any kind of sexist prejudice. I’m also very attuned to like third world countries. Like I don’t know if you know this, but in the Philippines this guy came up with a system of having a light in these tin huts in the philippines and all you had to do was put like bleach or something into a soda bottle and then drill a hole and put it in the ceiling, and that was an innovation. And I don’t know but that’s disgusting to me that that’s an innovation. Like that shouldn’t be an innovation, they should have electricity or they should at least have windows, and I think it’s sustainable and I think its very clever, but for us to be satisfied at that level is disgusting. And I think the only reason that is so important to me is because I am Filipino and I’ve been there and seen it personally and I get a personal connection from it. •• Interviewer 6: Those are great answers. Thank you for sharing. To move on alittle downa different path, talk a little about donating money. Do you ever give money to any organizations? Or at all, to really anything. Not necessarily an organization, but any cause?•• Interviewee F: No I don’t unless I’m going to church in which case I will put in, but I don’t think I should get credit for that because it’s a my mom makes me deal, if I’m being honest.•• Interviewer 6: You don’t think it counts?•• Interviewee F: Since I’m not doing it willingly, no.•• Interviewer 6: Do you think its better to donate time or to donate money or to volunteer, do you think ones any better or worse than the other? Or how do those two concepts relate in your mind?•

• Interviewee F: I don’t think any—I want to say neither of them—I want to say I can’t pick between them because like without funding you can’t have the basis of an organization, but as much as we’d all like to freely volunteer there are monetary costs to doing any kind of group activity towards an established goal. What you’re normally striving for has to do with money because to accomplish anything you need to have supplies and money. So I think in terms of donating, even like a $1 any kind of support should be appreciated. I’m going to be honest and say obviously the bigger donations are really fantastic. I do also think that in my mind if you aresatisfied with just dropping money and you don’t really research what cause you are funding, to be more active about it, like you could be spending thousands of dollars on an organization that you think is helping but instead, and it’s sad to expect this or be weary of this, but some people might be pocketing that and you didn’t take the time to actively diligently research what you are doing and I think it’s kind of mindless, and while its well intentioned, I think you should have taken the 5 seconds to Google what’s going on because it does happen and I think that’s also mind-boggling. I think that volunteer work is way more satisfying and if you even want to say, I could see someone arguing that it is more selfish for that reason, and I could see people doing it just for that satisfaction, but I don’t think that’s necessarily like a bad thing. You could also donating money as just a selfish way to help an organization because you aren’t giving up any of your free time; you’re just giving up whatever money you have. But I still think that can be a sacrifice to some people. Like me personally, I don’t have much money to give. And even if I did I would hope that I would personally, you know, spread it around but I think that for me I think I’m most comfortable volunteering because I feel like that makes a bigger impact.•• Interviewer 6: In a real life scenario, and you came up to a cause you supported and you had to choose between one, what do you think—do you think you would be more willing to donate money or donate your time and volunt—?•• Interviewee F: Time. •• Interviewer 6: Ok, you answered that pretty quickly. I guess that really goes to speak about how much you value volunteering. Are there any qualifications you look for in an organization before you’ll donate or volunteer?•• Interviewee F: I would probably look at their mission statement. For instance where I work right now has a mission statement and—Ok maybe mission statement isn’t the greatest, buttalk to someone I suppose. For instance where I work right now its striving for a better education and you know there are many organizations that strive for better education for under privileged youth or for minorities, but I think that also the way in which they think that they can solve this problem is really interesting to me, and there are basically something’s that I don’t agree with so I think that’s most important to me. Like you may go towards the same cause initially, but how are you going about this. And whether or not I agree with it or not.•• Interviewer 6: Great, so in the neighborhood you live in, how pervasive is poverty?•

• Interviewee F: It’s an interesting dichotomy to watch, because you’ll have like a Rolls Royce set up on the sidewalk and literally like half a block down there’s a person just curled up and asking you if you have any spare change or spare food. Because it’s such a heavily densely populated place. Like it’s right by the Red Line, by the Chicago bus, by Michigan Avenue. It’s just a hub of people passing by. It’s an opportune place to ask for money, but at the same time the reason it is such an opportune place is because it’s a shopping district. So I guess there’s that.I don’t think its—I mean its obviously not a project, its not probably as much poverty as I’d see when I’m actually downtown. Like in the loop versus the Gold Coast but that might also be because I’m walking down side streets and I avoid Michigan Avenue because people are in my way, there.

Interviewer 7Qualitative InterviewSubject: Interviewee G, 24, Lincoln Park

Interviewer 7: Okay, where do you live?

Interviewee G: I live in Lincoln Park.

Interviewer 7: What do you like most about your area?

Interviewee G: The young people. There’s a lot of stuff to do.

Interviewer 7: Do you go to any local business, local markets or shops frequently?

Interviewee G: Yes, I do.

Interviewer 7: And can you name any of them?

Interviewee G: Not of the top of my head—maybe Starbuck’s.

Interviewer 7: All right. Can you describe the vibe of your local community or the feel of it?

Interviewee G: Um…funky, but not too funky. You know, I don’t feel like I’m in Cambridge. Um…you know, people are young 20-somethings, maybe starting a family. Good neighborhood—I feel like I can carry my purse at night. You know, it’s a nice, up-and-coming neighborhood and it’s been like that for 30 years or so.

Interviewer 7: All right, well you already answered my next question, but what is the general feeling you have of this area?

Interviewee G: It’s always been this nice, at least in my memory.

Interviewer 7: Okay, what is in your area? Stores, restaurants, businesses?

Interviewee G: You know, it’s nice. Everything is about three or four blocks away. It’s perfect.Interviewer 7: What’s different about your neighborhood in comparison to other ones?

Interviewee G: Well, it depends – if it’s Wicker Park, I’m going to be seeing a lot less grass, it’s going to be very concrete. You know, it’s more of a hipster vibe. You know, if I’m in West Lakeview you’ve got Belmont with its funkiness, but if I’m in Roscoe Village, I have kids and I have a nice little house. Um…you know if I’m down on the South Side—I don’t know, I’ve never really been to the South Side (laughs).

Interviewer 7: Fair enough. All right, uh, do you feel well connected within your community—just in terms of outreach or the people you know – friends, co-workers?

Interviewee G: I mean, not a lot of my friends live in this area, but in general, the attitudes of Chicagoans is very friendly and warm. It’s a little bit different than other major metropolises.

Interviewer 7: All right, so moving on to the next category, which involves volunteering—which causes or organizations are you currently or have you ever been involved in?

Interviewee G: Um, I did some work with the Response Center. It’s a Jewish organization that does teen outreach. Um, I also did some programs—not in Chicago, but back in New York—called the SAIL program, that was a student alliance in literature where I would help kids with poor grammar skills and in after school programs with their reading.

Interviewer 7: How did you find these causes or organizations?

Interviewee G: Some are through school, some are through the family – my mom’s on the board,so she encouraged it. You know, it was definitely something that I grew up with—making sure that you understood where you came from and how you got there, and what you can do to return the favor.

Interviewer 7: Okay, how did this experience make you feel and, uh, would you do it again and why would you do it?

Interviewee G: Certainly. It gives you a sense of purpose and self-worth, you know, the things that you learned, you’re actually able to—to pass on to another living human being.

Interviewer 7: So I can just skip my next question of if you don’t volunteer why not? (laughs)

Interviewee G: I mean, people frankly just don’t have the time or it’s not their interest, and it doesn’t mean they’re bad people, it just means they have different priorities.

Interviewer 7: Okay, uh, let’s see…so, right now in your life, if you could volunteer for any cause, what would it be and why would you choose it?

Interviewee G: Animal shelters—just because I love animals (laughs). I mean, quite frankly, euthanization I’m torn on just because I feel it’s a necessary evil, but in terms of helping to find more kind, loving families and also getting a chance to socialize these animals.

Interviewer 7: Okay, so in terms of donating to these causes, do you actively donate time or money to organizations, are you currently doing it, or would you have any interest—

Interviewee G: I have a tzedakah box. (laughs) I mean it’s this Jewish thing—it’s this box where you put, you know, your spare change and you fill it up and donate it either to the Salvation Army or any type of organization, you’re at least able to give a little bit.

Interviewer 7: Okay, so continuing on that, how long have you been donating for?

Interviewee G: Since I was about twelve.

Interviewer 7: And how did you find the cause or organization? I mean obviously—

Interviewee G: I mean it’s good, it’s what I was brought up with, you know—like begets like.

Interviewer 7: Do you think it’s better to donate time, money, or do you think there’s a good combination of the two, um—

Interviewee G: Give what you have to give. If you don’t have money, try your time; if you don’t have the time, try your money.

Interviewer 7: Okay, so for you neither would take priority, for you it’s what the person is willingto—

Interviewee G: Has to give.

Interviewer 7: What would you be more willing to donate? Um, what factors play into your decision? So I guess you personally, at this juncture in your life, what would you consider doing more? Time or money?

Interviewee G: I mean, I donate clothes every season (laughs). I go through my closet and everything I haven’t worn in the last year goes to the Salvation Army.

Interviewer 7: All right. Do you feel more accomplished donating time versus money, or what doyou tend to—

Interviewee G: It’s what I have to give at the time. Now, I have a little bit more money, in college, it was my time.

Interviewer 7: Mmhmm…and what do you think a non-profit organization would prefer for people to do? Do you think it’s more time or money?

Interviewee G: I mean, a non-profit’s always going to want money—it’s a non-profit, but at the same time, it’s a non-profit, they need the labor, so I think both are equal parts of the same coin.

Interviewer 7: Okay, so you think it’s an equal ratio in terms of what needs to be donated?

Interviewee G: One can’t exist without the other.

Interviewer 7: What qualifications must an organization meet, before you would consider donating time or money to them?

Interviewee G: They would have to be within my political or religious beliefs, I mean, I’m a pro-choice woman, and I’m fairly moderate in my views, so I wouldn’t be donating to Occupy, but I also wouldn’t be donating to a pro-life organization.

Interviewer 7: Right, okay, so this is kind of moving on…just kind of general questions about poverty – how pervasive is poverty in your surrounding area? What do you see every day?

Interviewee G: I mean, there’s a homeless guy who’s in our alley every night, and I can hear himfrom the trash bin.

Interviewer 7: Uh, do you see your community really addressing this—your immediate community?

Interviewee G: They do their best, but unfortunately, the homeless in general is a combination of people who are mentally ill and were released when all the state hospitals closed in the 70s and 80s, uh, it’s also a lot of war veterans who are no longer supported by the government, and also people who, quite frankly, are street junkies, or who have been kicked out of their homes – especially the young kids who are homosexuals or LGBQ and their families don’t accept them, and those I think are the ones who need the most help, which is why I partake in the Response Center, and I do a lot with that.

Interviewer 7: So can you name an organization that’s working to address that? I mean, I guess, you—Interviewee G: Yeah, I mean, Response Center does a good job, JWF has a couple things—I mean, that’s because I’m in the Jewish community, so I’m more aware of that. I’m sure if I was Catholic or anything else, I’d be more aware of those types of charities and organizations.

Interviewer 8

Community:

Interviewer 8: Where do you live?

Interviewee H: I live in Lincoln Park area in Chicago.

Interviewer 8: What do you like about your area?

Interviewee H: Umm, I like that there is definitely a community. I mean, I don’t know, you knowwhen you meet other people who live in Lincoln Park they are like oh, you live in Lincoln Park, that’s cool, do you know where this is or that is. Um and I like that it is students so there aren’t a lot of old people like in other areas. Like I feel like when you go to Uptown, there’s definitely people who are old, not too old but definitely older and sometimes you just feel a little bit uncomfortable. And I like there’s little shops and places to go and its pretty safe, not all the streets but most of them, like Clark is pretty safe.

Interviewer 8: Do you go to any local businesses/markets/shops?

Interviewee H: Molly’s Cupcakes, is that local.

There’s this Mexican place at Fullerton and Halsted that I like to go to and another Mexican place up on Halsted but I can’t remember what it’s called. Food markets? Mmm, I don’t know about that.

Interviewer 8: Can you describe the “vibe” of your local community?

Interviewee H: The general vibe? I would say, umm, would college student be a vibe? Cos that’s depaul, definitely say there is a undergrad vibe. Its interesting because Chicago is a big city but you go to Lincoln Park and it’s a very condensed college town in Lincoln Park. So I guess that’s the vibe.

Interviewer 8: What is the general feeling you have/get from this area?

Interviewee H: I think it depends what time of the day you go there. But definitely if you go out on a Friday, Saturday afternoon, evening, when I’m biking home from work everyone is out partying kind of and its kind of fun when you are part of it but it’s not so fun when you are biking though it or driving through it.

Interviewer 8: What is in your area? i.e. stores, restaurants, businesses. Etc

Interviewee H: I am not sure about that but I know in the summer there do music festivals in Lincoln Park on the streets and I went to that, and that’s pretty cool. That’s something to do on the a hot summer evening, just walk around listen to music you’ve never heard before and meet aton of people.

Interviewer 8: What’s different about your neighborhood in comparison to others in the city?

Interviewee H: Its different because it is more oriented to younger people I think and in some ways its more general. I mean you meet the intellectuals and the jocks cos you know it’s the college part of the city for the most part and you have your resident hipsters obviously but how its different? Because I feel like if you go to Wicker Park or Logan Square, it’s very much the same, everyone is kind of the same whereas Lincoln Park is more diverse, you meet lots of different kinds of people. Lincoln Park is connected to Old town so I feel like a lot of times they are connected. So if I was to compare Lincoln Park to any other part of the city it would be Old town.

Interviewer 8: Do you feel well-connected within your community?

Interviewee H: On some levels, yes, sometimes I think its, not I think I am quite connected.

Interviewer 8: What do you think motivates a person to get involved in their local community?

Interviewee H: I think just walking around and seeing what’s out there and talking to people. Definitely interesting places to go and see, so like businesses or little shops or stores or bars.

Volunteering:

Interviewer 8: Switching gears a bit, what organization/causes are you currently or have you previously volunteered for?

Interviewee H: Oh ! Well I am about to volunteering for Harmony House for Cats, or something like that, you might want to look that up, I can’t remember exactly remember their name. But I’m about to start volunteering for them next week. What else? I want to work for Mercy for Animals but I haven’t done that yet, but definitely anything involving animals.

Interviewer 8: How long? How did you find them?

Interviewee H: Internet, Google search. I searched nonprofit organizations in Chicago and Mercywas the biggest on that came up. And Harmony came up as a no kill shelter for cats and I really like cats so I looked into it and it’s actually a new organization so I wanted to help them get bigger, get better funding. There’s this website that if you search nonprofits in Chicago it gives you a whole list of nonprofits and I just looked through the list for any type of animal in the name because I really wanted to work with animals so I just clicked on those and looked at website. But Harmony for Cats I’ve actually heard of before, I’ve researched no kill shelters in Chicago, and Harmony always comes up and its specifically just cats and it’s a no cages shelter, so they have no cages, so its definitely an interesting approach to a cat shelter. So that was my search, I was going for anything nonprofit but when I thought about it further, I thought I want towork with animals.

Interviewer 8: If you could volunteer for any cause, what would it be and why?

Interviewee H: Two, there’s two. One of them is to I guess in the general sense, make people aware that animals are just as important as humans so probably try to make the world vegan, would be one of my causes. And then the second one is to, um, basically, I guess you would call in a general sense you would call it gay rights or LGBTT, or whatever its called now, rights in the whole world. So gay marriage, any type of marriage, adopting kids for gay marriages, all that kind of stuff. Because both of these are very important to me, being vegan and caring for animals is a big part of my life and getting bigger every day. And gay rights has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was 15 and realized I might not just like the opposite sex.

Donating:

Interviewer 8: Do you actively donate (time and/or money) to organizations?

Interviewee H: I used to donate a lot of money when I was young, me and my parents would donate a lot of money to child in shelters in Nepal. I adopted my cat so I donated to the shelter that I adopted my cat. Because I am forever grateful that I got her and I think it’s a good shelter, it’s clean. And then time, I definitely want to donate more time and that is why I am going to start working for the cat shelter. And I want to do more because I want to work in nonprofit organizations.

Interviewer 8: How long have you been donating for?

Interviewee H: In high school my family donated for 3 years for a monthly basis.

Interviewer 8: How did you find the cause or organization?

Interviewee H: There was a teacher in my school who started the organization and he set it up so kids from my school could donate to the school of orphans my teacher knew in Nepal. And it would focus on helping with their education because it was pretty clear these kids were not goingto be adopted. So we gave funding for them to go to school and get more education.

Survey Questionnaire

Bulletin boards

Internet

Newspaper

Radio

Television

Other. Please specify:

Default Question Block

Instructions: In this section, we would like to ask several questions about your community.

Which of the following sources do you use the most to learn about your community?

Please select one that you use the most often.

Please indicate the degree to which you agree with the following statements.

Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

I want to take care of my local community.

I care about my neighbors.

I am willing to help the homeless.

It is important to take care of the poor in my community.

It is important to take care of the abandoned animals in my

community.

It is important to take care of the elderly in my community.

When approached for a donation by an unfamiliar organization in your community, how willing are you to

stop and listen to their cause?

Very slightly or not at all Very much

In your opinion, how well is your community’s support system for the poor set up?


In your opinion, how well is your community’s support system for animal shelters set up?


Qualtrics Survey Software https://depaul.qualtrics.com/ControlPanel/Ajax.php?action=GetSurveyPri...

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In your opinion, how well is your community’s support system for the elderly set up?


Instructions: In this section, we would like to ask for your view on nonprofit organizations in

general. Please read and answer the questions carefully.


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

Monetary donation is important to nonprofit organizations.

Volunteer time is important to nonprofit organizations.

Please indicate how important the following issues are to you.

Not at all

Important

Very

Unimportant

Somewhat

Unimportant

Neither

Important

nor

Unimportant

Somewhat

Important

Very

Important

Extremely

Important

Relieving poverty

Caring for the elderly

Youth education

Supporting health-related (cancer,

HIV/aids, etc.) causes

Animal adoption

Caring for the elderly poor

Saving the environment

Prospering my local community


To me, donating (money, goods or time) to :

Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

an organization that benefits the local community is

important.

a nationally known organization is important.

a global organization is important.

an organization that has religious ties is important.

an organization that I am familiar with is important.

an organization that has a mission that benefits the

disadvantaged population is important.


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Yes

No

Less than 1 hour

1-2 hours

3-4 hours

4-5 hours

6 or more hours


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

Transparency within a charitable organization is important to

me.

Mission statement of a charitable organization is important to

me.

Soliciting for donations is okay with me.

Religious organizations should not utilize advertising for

donations.

Advertising asking for volunteers is more acceptable than

asking for donations.

Instructions: In this section, we would like to learn about your involvement with non-profit organizations.

Do you currently volunteer (your time)?

On average, how many hours per week do you volunteer?


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

Having an emotional connection to the organization I am

volunteering is important.

Volunteering for an organization is fulfilling.

I volunteer because it feels good.

I volunteer because I know it will help someone.

I volunteer so organizations stop asking.

Volunteering is a habit.

I volunteer because I know someone that works for the

organization.

I volunteer because it's geographically close.


3 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

No time

No interest

Unaware of volunteering opportunities

No volunteering opportunities appeal to me


Yes

No

$1 - $50

$51 - $100

$101 - $150

$151 - $200

$201 - $250

$251 - $300

$301 or more

What prevents you from volunteering? Please select one that is most applicable.

Do you currently donate money to any nonprofit organization?

On average, how much do you donate per year?


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

Having an emotional connection to the organization I am

donating to is important.

Donating to an organization is fulfilling.

I am willing to donate to an organization when someone comes

to my door.

I am willing to donate to an organization online.

I donate because it feels good.

I donate because I know it will help someone

I donate so organizations stop asking.

Donating is a habit.

I donate because I know someone that works for the

organization.

I donate because the organization is geographically close to me.


4 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

No extra funds

No interest

Unaware of donating opportunities

No donating opportunities appeal to me

Other

50-59 years old

60-69 years old

70-79 years old

80-89 years old

90-99 years old

More than 100 years old

I don't know.

Yes

No

What prevents you from donating? Please select one that is most applicable.


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

It’s important to take care of people who are vulnerable.

When I see someone hurt or in need, I feel a powerful urge to

take care of them.

Taking care of others gives me a warm feeling inside.

I often notice people who need help.

I am a very compassionate person.


Strongly

disagree

1 2 3 4 5 6

Strongly

agree

7

I am concerned about those less fortunate than myself.

I am genuinely concerned about the particular group I am

serving.

I feel compassion toward people in need.

I feel it is important to help others.

I can do something for a cause that is important to me.

To the best of your knowledge, what is the approximate age of your oldest relative?

Do any of your relatives currently reside in a nursing home?


5 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

Read them all.

Read the ones with organizations I recognize and unfamiliar ones only if they have eye-catching graphics.

Read only the ones with organizations I recognize.

Toss them all.


Instructions: In this section, we would like to learn about your preference for gaining information.

In general, which of the following statements would best describe what you do with direct mail

solicitations?


How effective would the following sources be in getting you involved in a new charity that you have not

heard of?

Very

Ineffective Ineffective

Somewhat

Ineffective

Neither

Effective

nor

Ineffective

Somewhat

Effective Effective

Very

Effective

Referral from a friend or family

member that is involved

Hearing directly from someone who

benefits from the charity

Hearing directly from someone who

works for the charity

Hearing about the charity through

your religious institution

Marketing materials with in-depth

information on the charity


For an unfamiliar organization, which approach would you prefer to learn more about it?

Very

Ineffective Ineffective

Somewhat

Ineffective

Neither

Effective nor

Ineffective

Somewhat

Effective Effective

Very

Effective

TV

Radio

Direct mail

Newspaper

Email

Family / friends

Social media

In-person on the street


6 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

Female

Male

Yes

No

Northside

West side

South side

Loop

Other

African American

American Indian or Alaskan Native

Asian American

White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Multiracial

Other

Now we would like to know a little bit about you. Again, this information will be used for statistical

purposes only.

What is your gender?

What is your current age in years?

Do you live in Chicago, Illinois?

What neighborhood do you live in?

How would you classify yourself?

How religious would you consider yourself?

Not religious at all Very much religious


7 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

Agnostic/Atheist

Buddhist

Catholic

Hindu

Jewish

Mormon

Muslim

Protestant

Other

Did not finish high school

High school

Some college

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s/professional degree

Other

No employment

Full time employment

Part time employment

Less than $15,000

$15,000 - $30,000

$30,001 - $45,000

$45,001 - $60,000

$60,001 - $75,000

$75,001- $90,000

$90,001- $105,000

$105,001 or higher

Yes

No

What is your present religion, if any?

What is the last grade or class that you completed in school?

What is your current employment status?

What was your family's household income level before taxes last year?

Have you heard of the Little Sisters of the Poor?


8 of 9 5/21/2013 1:14 PM

Please list three things that come to your mind when you think of the "Little Sisters of the Poor":

1.

2.

3.

Lastly, please write the name of the person who solicited you to take this survey. It is important that you do

not skip this question; the student will receive credit only if this information is provided

References

Daza, J. (2010). Economy of Non-Profit Organizations Charities and Donations. International Research Journal of Finance & Economics, (52), 89-101.

Dolnicar, S., & Lazarevski, K. (2009). Marketing in non-profit organizations : an international perspective. Manuscript submitted for publication, Business Department , University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia . Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1612&context=commpapers

Jansen, J. (2011). The civic and community engagement of religiously active americans. Pew Internet & American Life Project, Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP_The_social_side_of_the_religious_pdf.pdf

Jenkins, J. A. (2012), Enriching Avenues of Philanthropic Engagement for All. Public Administration Review, 73: 107–108. doi: 10.1111/puar.12002

Modi, P., & Mishra, D. (2010). Conceptualizing market orientation in non-profit organizations: definition, performance, and preliminary construction of a scale. Journal of Marketing Management, 26(5-6), 548-569. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02672570903485113?journalCode=rjmm20

Mulyanegara, R. (2011). The relationship between market orientation, brand orientation and perceived benefits in the non-profit sector: a customer-perceived paradigm. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 19(5), 429-441. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0965254X.2011.565880

Pope, J., Isely, E., & Asamoa‐Tutu, F. (2009). Developing a marketing strategy for nonprofit organizations: An exploratory study. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 21(2), 184-201. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10495140802529532

Smith, A. (2010). Neighbors online. Pew Internet & American Life Project, Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2010/PIP-Neighbors-Online.pdf

Varadarajan , P., & Menon, A. (1988). Cause-related marketing: A coalignment of marketing strategy and corporate philanthropy. Journal of Marketing,52(3), 58-74. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1251450

little sister's of the poor research project

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