Why People Hesitate to Donate Small Amounts

What $1 Can Do: Real-World Impact Examples

I have been running charities since 1989 when I registered by my first non-profit in Australia, called Hare Krishna Food for Life Hunter Valley. Back then I was a monk and while full of enthusiasm, I had much to learn when it came to donor relations. You can’t just expect people to give without asking them and most people will if you ask them the right way at the right time.

The Real Barrier: Embarrassment About Small Donations

However, something odd has been happening over the last 10 years that has tremendously impacted the non-profit sector—donor fatigue. Interest in supporting poverty, hunger, and animal welfare has significantly declined over the last decade according to Google Trends. This matters because donor fatigue doesn’t only reduce big gifts; it can also make people hesitate to donate even small amounts, especially when they feel overwhelmed by constant appeals. When attention drops across multiple causes at once, potential donors can become unsure where their money will matter most, and that uncertainty often turns into inaction.. Interest in supporting poverty, hunger and animal welfare have significantly declined over the last decade according to Google Trends.

Maybe it’s because there are so many good causes in need these days, and many people find it hard to choose what one is better than the other. Added to this avalanche of good causes you also have an unstable US dollar, an estimated 48 million US citizens on food stamps, an increase in military activity with talk of marshal law, it is no wonder that people are shy to hand over their hard-earned dollars. They have other things on their minds, closer to home.

I can fully empathize with this. With pessimism soaring off the charts and money so scarce, many people are probably wondering what good their small donation will do in the long run. That question is often the moment people hesitate: I mean, $1 is nothing, right? But the real issue isn’t only affordability—it’s perceived impact. When a person assumes a small gift can’t move the needle, the brain treats donating as pointless, and “pointless” quickly turns into procrastination. That’s why explaining what $1 buys (in real outcomes) can be more persuasive than repeating that a cause is important.? “I mean $1 is nothing, right?”

Well, when it comes to countries like Colombia, where the peso is currently around 1/3300 the value of the U.S. dollar and some 30% of the population earn the equivalent of less than $2 a day, even small donations like $1 can do an amazing amount of good. This is one reason it’s so easy to miscalculate impact from the perspective of a donor living in a higher-cost country: the number feels tiny at home, but it can be meaningful elsewhere. If you hesitate because you think your amount is “too small,” exchange rates and local costs can completely change what that gift can accomplish.ll donations, like $1 can do an amazing amount of good.

What I’ve Learned About Why People Hesitate to Give

However, pride is a funny thing and, when it comes to crowdfunding campaigns where donors and their donation amount are prominently advertised on the site, some people feel uncomfortable making a small donation. Instead of giving $1, they hesitate and don’t give at all, sometimes politely declining by saying they can’t afford to give at this time. But honestly, what average person can’t afford to donate $1? The bigger problem is social comparison: when donation amounts are visible, people may worry their gift will look cheap or be judged, so they avoid the moment entirely—even though the cause would still benefit. making such a small donation, and so rather than giving $1, they don’t give at all, but politely decline by saying they can’t afford to give at this time. But honestly, what average person can’t afford to donate $1?

Nearly half the world’s population, 2.8 billion people, survive on less than $2 a day. About 20 percent of the world’s population, 1.2 billion people, live on less than $1 a day. Nearly 1 billion people are illiterate and 1 billion do not have safe water.

In terms of Food for Life Global‘s spending efficiency, a $1 donation could potentially serve 5 to 7 hot vegan meals in India! Yes, on average, most meals served by Food for Life Global’s affiliate, Food for Life Annamrita cost around 13 cents each. That apparently insignificant $1 can do a hell of a lot of good.

My wife’s charity, Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary, located in Colombia, currently has a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of $25,000. The campaign page has been shared over 700 times and articles by Care2.com (over 1,500 shares), EcoRazzi (60 shares), The Dodo (9,883 shares), and two articles (article 1 and article 2) by One Green Planet (totally 4,300 shares), plus numerous Facebook posts reaching thousands of impressions, would indicate that over 100,000 eyeballs have seen the campaign appeal and video. And yet, only 157 people (as of September 21) have decided to donate.

If everyone that has seen the campaign page, or read one of the articles, or liked one of the posts on her Facebook page had donated just $1 each, the campaign could have potentially raised $50,000 dollars, doubling the campaign goal!

So my conclusion is that the reason people don’t donate is not that they don’t care, or even the usual donor fatigue, but simply embarrassment and a gross miscalculation of the value of a $1 donation. I hope by now, however, you understand that this is not true: $1 does a lot of good. So the next time someone approaches you for change, or a charity asks you to contribute something to their campaign, don’t hesitate because the amount feels small. Give that one dollar. If you’re worried about visibility on crowdfunding pages, remember that the cause benefits from participation, not from performance, and many small gifts are often what makes the difference.ation. I hope by now, however, you understand that this is just not true. $1 does a lot of good. So the next time someone approaches you for change, or a charity asks you to contribute something to their campaign, just do it. Give that one dollar and I assure you it will help tremendously.

To support Food for Life Global’s vegan food relief
visit www.ffl.org/donate
To support animal rescue and animal welfare in Colombia, visit www.Julianasfarm.org

FAQ

Q: Why do people hesitate to donate small amounts?

A: Many people hesitate due to embarrassment or a belief that small donations are insignificant. However, even a single dollar can have a substantial impact, especially in regions where the cost of living is low and resources are scarce.

Q: Can a one-dollar donation really make a difference?

A: Yes, in many developing countries, a dollar can go a long way. It can provide meals, support education, or contribute to essential services, demonstrating that even small contributions can create meaningful change.

Q: What is donor fatigue, and how does it affect donations?

A: Donor fatigue occurs when people become overwhelmed by the number of causes seeking support, leading to decreased donations. This can result in fewer resources for important issues like poverty and hunger.

Q: Why do people hesitate to donate small amounts like $1?

A: People often hesitate because they feel a small gift is insignificant, or they worry it will look embarrassing—especially on crowdfunding pages where donation amounts are visible. The post argues that hesitation is less about not caring and more about misjudging impact and feeling social pressure. In reality, small gifts can fund real outcomes in low-cost settings and add up quickly at scale.

Q: Is embarrassment really a common reason people hesitate to donate online?

A: Yes. When crowdfunding platforms publicly display donor names and amounts, some people fear being judged for giving “too little.” That discomfort can lead to avoiding the donation entirely. The post highlights that this pride/social-comparison effect can be stronger than the actual financial constraint, causing people to hesitate even when they could afford a small contribution.

Q: Can a one-dollar donation actually make a meaningful difference?

A: It can, depending on local costs and program efficiency. The post gives examples: in Colombia, exchange rates and lower incomes change what $1 means, and for Food for Life Global’s affiliate in India, meals may cost around 13 cents each—so $1 can potentially provide 5 to 7 hot vegan meals. That’s tangible impact.

Q: What is donor fatigue, and how does it make people hesitate?

A: Donor fatigue is when people feel overwhelmed by constant requests and the sheer number of worthy causes. The post notes declining interest in poverty, hunger, and animal welfare (via Google Trends), suggesting a broad attention drop. When people feel overloaded, they may hesitate, postpone deciding, or disengage—even from small, easy donations.

Q: Why do people think small donations don’t matter?

A: Many donors evaluate impact using their own cost-of-living context: $1 feels trivial in a high-cost country, so they assume it won’t help. The post argues that this is a miscalculation—exchange rates, poverty levels, and operational efficiency can make a small amount meaningful. That mistaken assumption often becomes the main driver of hesitation.

Q: How do small donations add up in crowdfunding?

A: Crowdfunding relies on volume. The post explains that if people who saw or engaged with the campaign had donated just $1, the total could have doubled the goal. When many people each hesitate because they think their contribution is too small, the collective effect is major. Many small gifts can be the difference between success and falling short.

Q: Why do people hesitate more when donation amounts are public?

A: Public donation displays create a social comparison moment: donors may worry their amount signals their financial status or commitment. The post suggests that visibility can push people toward either giving more than they’re comfortable with or giving nothing at all. This is why private giving options or normalizing small gifts can reduce hesitation.

Q: Does the post suggest people don’t care about causes anymore?

A: No. The conclusion is that many people do care, but they hesitate because of embarrassment and undervaluing small amounts. While donor fatigue and economic stress exist, the core argument is that the barrier is often psychological—people misjudge what $1 can do and feel awkward giving a small visible amount.

Q: Why does $1 go further in places like Colombia?

A: The post points to currency value differences and income realities: with the peso around 1/3300 the value of the U.S. dollar and a significant portion of the population earning under $2 per day, a single dollar can represent meaningful purchasing power. That’s why donors may underestimate impact when they judge value only by their local economy.

Q: What can I do if I want to help but feel awkward donating a small amount?

A: The post’s practical advice is: don’t let the amount stop you. If a platform makes you hesitate because donations are visible, focus on the outcome your gift enables (meals served, rescue support) and the collective power of participation. The key is action over perfection—many campaigns depend on lots of small donors.

Q: What kinds of causes does the post connect to small donations?

A: The post connects small donations to poverty and hunger relief (Food for Life Global and its affiliates serving low-cost meals) and to animal welfare (Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary in Colombia). It argues that modest gifts can directly translate into food, care, and rescue efforts, especially where costs are lower and efficiency is high.

Q: What’s the main takeaway about why people hesitate to donate?

A: The main takeaway is that hesitation often comes from embarrassment and misunderstanding impact, not from a lack of compassion. The post emphasizes that $1 can produce real results and that small gifts matter even more when many people participate. It encourages readers to give small amounts without overthinking or self-consciousness.