How Can Bill and Melinda Gates Increase Other People's Donations to Fund Public Goods? / Dean Karlan, John A. List.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Karlan, Dean.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

List, John A.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w17954.

NBER working paper series no. w17954

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2012.

Summary:

We conducted a fundraising experiment with an international development nonprofit organization in which a matching grant offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation raised more funds than one from an anonymous donor. The effect is strongest for solicitees who previously gave to other BMGF-supported, poverty charities. With supporting evidence from two other fundraising experiments as well as a survey experiment, we argue this is consistent with a quality signal mechanism. Alternative mechanisms are discussed, and not ruled out. The results help inform theories about charitable giving decision-making, and provide guidance to organizations and large donors on how to overcome information asymmetries hindering fundraising.

Notes:

Print version record

March 2012.