(iPoster) Who Are the Givers? The Effect of Poverty Attributions on Charitable Giving

• In Event: Poster Session: Public Opinion in the United States

Abstract

Many charitable organizations rely on financial contributions from businesses and individuals each year in the United States. Both religious and nonreligious charitable organizations generally strive to provide benefits to the public, often including assistance to low-income individuals and families in need. Many factors may influence an individual’s decision to contribute to a charitable organization, from religious beliefs to income. We contribute to this literature on charitable giving by exploring the relationship between religious and charitable giving and Americans’ poverty attributions. Research on stratification beliefs and perceptions of deservingness suggest that individuals are more likely to help those they deem as not responsible for their financial circumstances, in comparison to those perceived as having brought their circumstances on themselves. As such, we argue that individuals who attribute poverty to external factors—beyond an individual’s control—should be more likely to donate to charitable organizations than individuals who attribute poverty to internal factors (within an individual’s control). We then test whether poverty attributions moderate the relationship between income and charitable giving. A better understanding of which individuals contribute to charitable organizations is crucial as many of these organizations often fill gaps in government programs, and how people think about the causes of poverty is likely a key predictor of this important action.

Authors

• Moriah Harman, Texas Tech University

• Stephanie Mathiasen, Texas Tech University