Representation at the Crossroads: How Passive and Active Representation Shape Public Support for Philanthropic Organizations

This study examines the impact of representation in nonprofits on pro-social behaviors, such as donating and volunteering, across different generations. Using a survey experiment conducted with US residents via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), the research targets two age groups: 18-44 and 61+. Participants are assigned to one of four experimental groups and presented with a hypothetical nonprofit's fundraising campaign and the racial composition of its board. They are then asked about their willingness to support the nonprofit.