The Speed of Trust: An Experiment Examining the Effect of Trust on Giving among Members of Diverse Racial/Ethnic Groups

Abstract

This is another report in the second phase of the Everyday Donors of Color report series, published in November 2023. It is experimental research exploring the interlink between different levels of donors’ trust (high-trust vs. low-trust) in a charitable organization and their donation behavior, including giving directly to the organization and giving directly to its beneficiaries. This experimental study stands out from existing literature as it examines the effects of participant’s’ race and ethnicity. It builds on the findings from the first phase report, Everyday Donors of Color: Diverse Philanthropy During Times of Change, that a lack of trust may help explain why many donors of color choose not to engage with nonprofit organizations.