The Heterogeneity of Competitive Forces: The Impact of Competition for Resources on United Way Fundraising
基于21年面板数据，研究发现资源竞争对联合劝募分会筹款绩效的影响是非线性的，取决于生态位重叠程度；重叠最大的竞争有负面影响，而重叠较小的竞争在特定捐赠水平下有益，但多数社区未达到该水平。
How does competition for resources affect the fundraising performance of local United Way (UW) affiliates? Drawing upon population ecology, we hypothesize a nonlinear relationship between competition and organizational performance. Using a 21-year panel data set that includes UW campaign data, contributions to specialized fundraising organizations, and contributions to the general population of nonprofit organizations, we estimate a fixed effects regression model. We find that the effect of competition differs depending upon the degree of niche overlap. Contributions to organizations with greatest niche overlap have a negative effect on contributions to local UWs. Consistent with population ecology, other types of fundraising organizations that have less niche overlap show beneficial relationships at certain levels of giving. However, few communities reach the philanthropic level at which benefits of competition occur.