Ask for *small* donation
Saying things like “even a penny helps” makes small contributions feel legitimate.
Alternative tool name: Low-ball, Legitimation of paltry donations, LPD, LPC
Tool variation:
Category: Choice architecture, size/nature of ask
Sub-category:
Relevant theories: 'Legitimation of paltry donation' (LPD/LPC), Conformity
Type of evidence: Field-exp-charity, Field-exp-charity, Meta-analysis/lit survey
Evidence strength (ad hoc assessment): 7
Main findings
Even a penny helps' (lpd/'low bar') increases contribution incidence (appears strongly replicated) but sometimes reduces conditional contribution ('scale-back'); net effect varies. Mediated by anchors and expectations.
Discussion
Practical relevance
May be easier to legitimate small donations in effective (humanitarian) contexts because of low living costs… Seems a common practice in international giving (“for the price of just a cup of coffee”)
Use cases
Prevalence:
Common
Discussion