We conduct a field experiment in conjunction with a direct mail fundraising campaign to test the effect of different forms of subsidies – rebates or matching subsidies – on charitable donations. Previous studies cannot distinguish whether donors are aware of the offer of a subsidy: here...

Although evidence indicates that religious persons are more generous on average than nonreligious persons, little work has been done to determine if this greater generosity is a general pattern or is, rather, specific to church-based institutions. Limited research addresses if, or how, religious...

Many Americans hold erroneous beliefs regarding the level of inequality in the United States and the efforts the federal government makes to alleviate poverty. In general, they overestimate the extent of poverty relief undertaken by government. Given that poverty relief programs are a public...

A rebate subsidy of rate sr is functionally equivalent to a matching subsidy of rate sm=sr/(1−sr). Other things equal, an individual should respond identically to the two subsidies. We test the effect on charitable giving of the framing of a subsidy as a rebate or as a match. Subjects make a...