How can Bill and Melinda Gates increase other people's donations to fund public goods?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Karlan, Dean; List, John A.
• 署名单位: Northwestern University; National Bureau of Economic Research; University of Chicago
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104296
• 发表日期: 2020
• 关键词: Public goods; Charitable fundraising; asymmetric information; Matching grant

摘要

We conducted a fundraising experiment with an international development nonprofit organization in which a matching grant offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation raisedmore funds than one froman anonymous donor. The effect is strongest for soliciteeswho 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 consistentwith a quality signal mechanism. Alternativemechanisms 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. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.