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75900-01 - Colloquium: Social Preferences and Fundraising: A Behavioral Economics Perspective With a Global Focus (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Dominik Meier (dominik.meier@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | In this course, students will learn how experimental approaches from behavioral economics provide insights into social preferences such as altruism, fairness, trust, and reciprocity. These insights serve as a foundation for developing innovative fundraising strategies. The course begins by covering core theoretical concepts and empirical studies on social preferences and their measurement. It then explores how these findings can be applied to the field of fundraising, such as designing effective donation appeals or fostering long-term donor relationships. A key emphasis will be placed on including studies with both WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) and non-WEIRD samples to ensure a global perspective. This approach highlights cultural and contextual variations in social preferences, enriching the applicability of the findings. Through the discussion of case studies, experimental evidence, and current research, students will gain a deep understanding of how psychological mechanisms underlying donation behavior can be leveraged to promote sustainable philanthropy worldwide. |
| Learning objectives | - Knowledge and Understanding - Grasp key theories related to social preferences (e.g., fairness, altruism, reciprocity, trust). - Understand experimental methods for measuring social preferences. - Learn fundamental concepts and strategies for effective fundraising informed by behavioral economics. - Analytical Skills - Apply experimental approaches to assess and design fundraising interventions. - Critically analyze research findings on the effectiveness of various fundraising techniques. - Practical and Interpersonal Skills - Reflect on personal and societal social preferences in decision-making. - Collaborate with peers to develop creative solutions for fundraising challenges. By the end of the course, students will be able to design evidence-based fundraising strategies and critically evaluate their effectiveness using behavioral insights. |
| Bibliography | Drouvelis, M. (2021). Social preferences: an introduction to behavioural economics and experimental research. Agenda Publishing. Further literature will be announced during the course. |
| Course application | The number of participants is limited to 30 per course. Interested students should email Dominik Meier (dominik.meier(at)unibas.ch) before February 09, 2026. Please include: your name, study major, number of completed semesters, and matriculation number, We will select and confirm 30 participants on February 13, 2026. After receiving the confirmation email, you can enroll through the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the application deadline and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html. After successful application, you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 12.15-14.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S14 HG.32 |
Dates
| Modules |
Module: Business Field: Marketing (Master's Studies: Business and Technology) Module: Specific Electives in Finance, Controlling, Banking (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in Marketing and Strategic Management (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | - Participation and Engagement (20%): Active involvement in class discussions and group activities. - Class Presentation (40%): Each student will present one key empirical study that aligns with the topic being discussed that week. The presentation should include a summary of the study’s research question, methodology, key findings, and implications for behavioral economics and fundraising. Students are also expected to critically evaluate the study, discussing its strengths, limitations, and relevance to both WEIRD and non-WEIRD contexts. - Group Project (40%): In groups of two, students will design and present an innovative fundraising campaign for a nonprofit organization, applying concepts and insights from the course. The campaign should leverage behavioral economic principles and social preferences to address a specific fundraising challenge. The project includes: - A clear rationale linking course concepts to the campaign design. - A detailed description of the campaign, including its goals, target audience, and innovative elements. - A brief plan for evaluating the campaign’s effectiveness. Groups will deliver a short presentation and submit a summary outlining their strategy. Evaluation will focus on originality, application of course concepts, and clarity of the presentation and summary. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |