| The utilization of humor as an effective fundraising methodology has not been researched. The effectiveness and efficiencies as well as the application and utilization of humor in fields such as medicine, business management, and other professional fields has been researched and measured. Examples of such studies are utilized within this research as a comparative model to that of humor utilized during philanthropy. This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory model with a focus group data collection method. There were two focus groups consisting of a total of nine participants representing 21% of the Greater Austin Area Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals who also hold the Certificated Fundraising Executive credential. These participants were asked a series of questions relative to the research topic. The findings and results, which are in essence the collected raw data derived from the focus group participants' verbal answers and their body language, were coded and grouped into concepts. The coded answers and the concepts as well as the literature reviewed point to grounds for the theory that humor can be an effective fundraising methodology if conducted properly, ethically, and at the right time.;Keywords: humor, philanthropy, fundraising, special events. |
