A field experiment on directed giving at a public university Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2016 Elsevier Inc. The use of directed giving allowing donors to target their gifts to specific organizations or functions is pervasive in fundraising, yet little is known about its effectiveness. We conduct a field experiment at a public university in which prospective donors are presented with either an opportunity to donate to the unrestricted Annual Fund, or an opportunity of donating to the Annual Fund and directing some or all of their donation towards the academic college from which they graduated. While there is no effect on the probability of giving, donations are significantly larger when there is the option of directing. However, the value of the option does not come directly from use, as very few donors choose to direct their gift.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS

altmetric score

  • 1

author list (cited authors)

  • Eckel, C. C., Herberich, D. H., & Meer, J.

citation count

  • 34

complete list of authors

  • Eckel, Catherine C||Herberich, David H||Meer, Jonathan

publication date

  • February 2017