ABSTRACT
One of the pillars of democratic societies is the network of relations between the state, with all of its institutions, and the private lives of individuals. This is the space of the “civil society.” An important element in this space are non-governmental organizations. In this chapter we consider the sources of these organizations’ success in funding their activities. We also deliberate whether knowledge generated by the field of social influence psychology can help in boosting the effectiveness of these groups’ fundraising efforts. The chapter contains several recommendations to non-governmental organizations on how they can be more efficient in generating income, particularly in public fundraising drives. In addition, we also consider the ethical issues associated with the application of social influence techniques to the activity of an organization whose aims include the development of civil society as one of the foundations of democracy.
