Intuitive Donating: Testing One-Line Solicitations for $1 Donations in a Large Online Experiment

Dean Karlan and Samantha Horn

No 12714, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We partnered with a large online auction website to test differing messages’ effects on the decision to donate to charity at checkout. Our setting, where impulsive decisions are likely to be driving donations, allows us to evaluate intuitive responses to messages prompting a donation. We find that shorter messages, matching grants, and descriptions of a charity’s mission increase both the likelihood that a user donates, as well as the average amount donated. Conversely, displaying the impact of the donated amount, the popularity of the charity, and that a charity uses scientific evidence do not improve donation rates. These results contribute to our understanding of how framing requests drives the decision to donate and are practically relevant to the many retail sites which promote giving at point of sale.

Keywords: Charitable; giving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D64 H4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Working Paper: Intuitive Donating: Testing One-Line Solicitations for $1 Donations in a Large Online Experiment (2018)
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