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What works to increase charitable donations? A meta-review with meta-meta-analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Saeri, Alexander K.
  • Slattery, Peter
  • Lee, Joannie
  • Houlden, Thomas
  • Farr, Neil
  • Gelber, Romy L.
  • Stone, Jake
  • Huuskes, Lee
  • Timmons, Shane
  • Windle, Kai
  • Spajic, Luke
  • Freeman, Luke
  • Moss, David
  • Behar, Jon
  • Schubert, Stefan
  • Grundy, Emily A.C.
  • Zorker, Michael

Abstract

Many charities rely on donations to support their work addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems. We conducted a meta-review to determine what interventions work to increase charitable donations. We found 21 systematic reviews incorporating 1339 primary studies and over 2,139,938 participants. Our meta-meta-analysis estimated the average effect of an intervention on charitable donation size and incidence: r = 0.08 (95% CI [0.03, 0.12]). Due to limitations in the included systematic reviews, we are not certain this estimate reflects the true overall effect size. The most robust evidence found suggests charities could increase donations by (1) emphasising individual beneficiaries, (2) increasing the visibility of donations, (3) describing the impact of the donation, and (4) enacting or promoting tax-deductibility of the charity. We make recommendations for improving primary research and reviews about charitable donations, and how to apply the meta-review findings to increase charitable donations.

Suggested Citation

  • Saeri, Alexander K. & Slattery, Peter & Lee, Joannie & Houlden, Thomas & Farr, Neil & Gelber, Romy L. & Stone, Jake & Huuskes, Lee & Timmons, Shane & Windle, Kai & Spajic, Luke & Freeman, Luke & Moss,, 2022. "What works to increase charitable donations? A meta-review with meta-meta-analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115157, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:115157
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/115157/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenni, Karen E & Loewenstein, George, 1997. "Explaining the "Identifiable Victim Effect."," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 235-257, May-June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Park, Gain & Park, YounJung & Lee, Seyoung, 2024. "Compliance-gaining in metaverse: A moderated parallel mediation model testing the interaction between legitimization of paltry favors technique and victim identification," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    behaviour change; charity; meta-meta-analysis; meta-review; overview of reviews; philanthropy; prosocial behaviour;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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