Working Paper: NBER ID: w13728
Authors: Daniel Rondeau; John A. List
Abstract: This study designs a natural field experiment linked to a controlled laboratory experiment to examine the effectiveness of matching gifts and challenge gifts, two popular strategies used to secure a portion of the $200 billion annually given to charities. We find evidence that challenge gifts positively influence contributions in the field, but matching gifts do not. Methodologically, we find important similarities and dissimilarities between behavior in the lab and the field. Overall, our results have clear implications for fundraisers and provide avenues for future empirical and theoretical work on charitable giving.
Keywords: Charitable Giving; Field Experiments; Laboratory Experiments; Fundraising Strategies
JEL Codes: C9; C93; H4
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Challenge Gifts (D64) | Contributions (D64) |
| Matching Gifts (D64) | Contributions (D64) |
| Threshold Level (C24) | Contributions (D64) |