Do State Characteristics That Would Affect Public Perceptions Matter in Charitable Contributions? An Empirical Analysis of Nursing Homes

Nonprofit organizations rely on private donations as a source of funding. As a result, this paper examines the effects of factors that shape public perceptions about nonprofits, such as nonprofit organizations’ professionalism and performance and their awareness of needs, on charitable giving from private donors. Because giving is likely to depend on particular characteristics of a sector, the analysis was limited to one sector of nonprofit organizations, nursing homes. The empirical results, based on 8-year panel data, suggest nursing home characteristics that affect private donations to this sector. This research is beneficial to scholars and practitioners who are interested in learning more about private giving. Policy implications are also discussed in detail. Subscribe to JNEL