Rage Giving

Polarized public discourse and the rise of the radical-right have changed the philanthropic landscape where donors are motivated by rage.

After the 2016 election upheaval and polarized public discourse in the United States and rise of radical-right across the globe, a new phenomenon in charitable giving has emerged – donating motivated by rage. This Element defines this phenomenon and discusses its meaning amidst the current body of research on emotions and charitable giving.After the 2016 election upheaval and polarized public discourse in the United States and the rise of radical-right and populist parties across the globe, a new phenomenon in online charitable giving has emerged – donating motivated by rage. This Element defines this phenomenon, discusses its meaning amidst the current body of research and knowledge on emotions and charitable giving, the implications of viral fundraising and increased social media use by both donors and nonprofit organizations, the intersectionality of rage giving and its meaning for practitioners and nonprofit organizations, the understanding of giving as a form of civic engagement, and the exploration of philanthropy as a tool for social movements and social change. Previous research shows contextual variation in charitable giving motivations; however, giving motivated by feelings of anger and rage is an unstudied behavioral shift in online giving.