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Putting Charity to the Test

Most nonprofit organizations rely on gifts of time and money to support their operations. However, research by nonprofit scholars on the behavioral mechanisms of charity remains underdeveloped. One methodological tool, the randomized and controlled field experiment, has not been fully embraced by nonprofit scholars publishing in nonprofit journals. This is a missed opportunity. This essay argues that the leading theoretical models on charity can and should be tested by nonprofit scholars using field experiments in partnership with nonprofit organizations. The resultant findings may contribute to the literatures on giving, altruism and collective action. Importantly, field experiments can also provide tangible knowledge for nonprofit managers seeking to improve their operations, a common interest of both scholars and practitioners.