September 17, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
Last month scientists from the Yerkes Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta said they had discovered that capuchin monkeys show concern for others’ welfare and enjoy giving to their peers.
Jeff Brooks, creative director for a fund-raising company, wonders what the discovery means for the human condition.
“Monkey generosity supports human generosity? If monkeys can do it, surely we can too? Philanthropy lives deep in our psyche, at some pre-human level that we don’t understand?” he asks on his Donor Power Blog.
Or, he muses, does the news have more practical implications for fund raisers.
“Can we rent lists of these generous monkeys’ names? Seems worth a test.”
What do you think? Would simian donors bring in big bucks or would it all be, well, monkey business?
