Does Price Matter in Charitable Giving? Evidence from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment.

Author(s): 

Dean Karlan, John List

ISPS ID: 
ISPS07-006
Full citation: 
Karlan, Dean, John List (2007) "Does Price Matter in Charitable Giving? Evidence from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment." American Economic Review, 97(5), pp. 1774-1793.
Abstract: 
We conducted a natural field experiment to further our understanding of the economics of charity. Using direct mail solicitations to over 50,000 prior donors of a nonprofit organization, we tested the effectiveness of a matching grant on charitable giving. We find that the match offer increases both the revenue per solicitation and the response rate. Larger match ratios (i.e., $3:$1 and $2:$1) relative to a smaller match ratio ($1:$1) had no additional impact, however. The results provide avenues for future empirical and theoretical work on charitable giving, cost-benefit analysis, and the private provision of public goods.
Location: 
Publication date: 
2007
Publication type: 
Publication name: 
Discipline: 
Area of study: