Overview
Background
Dr Cassandra Chapman has a PhD in the psychology of charitable giving. She is now an Associate Professor and ARC DECRA Fellow at The University of Queensland.
Cassandra came to academia after almost a decade working in nonprofits. Informed by this experience, her research focuses on donor psychology and fundraising. She uses diverse methods to understand when and why people are willing to help one another. These insights have implications for how charities communicate and raise money. Cassandra often works with nonprofits to design and deliver research. She also shares research insights for fundraisers on her website www.donorpsych.org.
Cassandra’s research has won national and international research awards. Notable awards include the AFP Early Career Emerging Scholar Award(AFP, 2023), the Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy (AFP, 2020), and the Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award for an Outstanding Dissertation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research (ARNOVA, 2019). Cassandra has also published over 45 articles in leading international journals.She recently served as Associate Editor of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (2022-2025).
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Chapman is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Psychology of Charitable Giving
Research questions include: - How do people choose which types of charity to support and which to neglect? - What roles do identity and social norms play in determining who gives to charity, how much is given, and which causes are supported? - How important is trust in giving decisions? - How do fundraisers influence donation decisions? - What kinds of help are offered and why? - Do consumers respond to effectiveness information about charities?
-
Charity Scandals and Trust in Nonprofits
Research questions include: - What do people think about nonprofits (vs. commercial organisations)? - How do consumers respond to ethical violations occurring within nonprofits? - Do specific charity scandals affect overall trust in the nonprofit sector? - What sectoral influences may affect the likelihood that scandals emerge?
-
Effective and Ethical Fundraising
Research questions include: - What are key ethical considerations in fundraising? - Which kinds of images can be used in fundraising campaigns to raise the necessary money without reinforcing problematic stereotypes? - Which parties need to be considered in understanding fundraising ethics?
Research impacts
Cassandra's research helps to understand and promote generosity within Australian society. This helps ensure delivery of essential community services and encourages social harmony. Her research insights can help charities and nonprofits to communicate more effectively.
Works
Search Professor Cassandra Chapman’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Book Chapter
The champion effect in peer-to-peer fundraising
Chapman, Cassandra M., Masser, Barbara M. and Louis, Winnifred R. (2023). The champion effect in peer-to-peer fundraising. The Fundraising Reader. (pp. 263-266) London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003145936-56
2023
Journal Article
We usually give like this: social norms describe typical charitable causes supported by group members
Chapman, Cassandra M., Dixon, Lucas, Wallin, Ann, Young, Tarli, Masser, Barbara M. and Louis, Winnifred R. (2023). We usually give like this: social norms describe typical charitable causes supported by group members. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 53 (1), 089976402311604-53. doi: 10.1177/08997640231160467
2023
Journal Article
The psychology of attraction to multi‐level marketing
Dixon, Lucas J., Hornsey, Matthew J., Hartley, Nicole, Chapman, Cassandra M. and Brienza, Justin P. (2023). The psychology of attraction to multi‐level marketing. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 57 (3), 1213-1235. doi: 10.1111/joca.12526
2022
Journal Article
Nonprofit scandals: A systematic review and conceptual framework
Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J., Gillespie, Nicole and Lockey, Steve (2022). Nonprofit scandals: A systematic review and conceptual framework. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 52 (1_suppl), 089976402211295-312S. doi: 10.1177/08997640221129541
2022
Journal Article
A political experiment may have extracted Australia from the climate wars
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M., Fielding, Kelly S., Louis, Winnifred R. and Pearson, Samuel (2022). A political experiment may have extracted Australia from the climate wars. Nature Climate Change, 12 (8), 695-696. doi: 10.1038/s41558-022-01431-4
2022
Journal Article
Climate skepticism decreases when the planet gets hotter and conservative support wanes
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Humphrey, Jacquelyn E. (2022). Climate skepticism decreases when the planet gets hotter and conservative support wanes. Global Environmental Change, 74 102492, 102492. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102492
2022
Journal Article
Protecting the planet or destroying the universe? Understanding reactions to space mining
Hornsey, Matthew J., Fielding, Kelly S., Harris, Emily A., Bain, Paul G., Grice, Tim and Chapman, Cassandra M. (2022). Protecting the planet or destroying the universe? Understanding reactions to space mining. Sustainability, 14 (7) 4119, 4119. doi: 10.3390/su14074119
2021
Journal Article
Comparing the effectiveness of post-scandal apologies from nonprofit and commercial organizations: an extension of the moral disillusionment model
Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J., Mangan, Heidi, Gillespie, Nicole, La Macchia, Stephen and Lockey, Steven (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of post-scandal apologies from nonprofit and commercial organizations: an extension of the moral disillusionment model. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 51 (6), 089976402110626-1280. doi: 10.1177/08997640211062666
2021
Journal Article
Ripple effects: can information about the collective impact of individual actions boost perceived efficacy about climate change?
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Oelrichs, Dexter M. (2021). Ripple effects: can information about the collective impact of individual actions boost perceived efficacy about climate change?. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 97 104217, 104217. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104217
2021
Journal Article
Predictors of mental health in aid workers: meaning, resilience, and psychological flexibility as personal resources for increased wellbeing and reduced distress
Young, Tarli, Pakenham, Kenneth I., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Edwards, Martin R (2021). Predictors of mental health in aid workers: meaning, resilience, and psychological flexibility as personal resources for increased wellbeing and reduced distress. Disasters, 46 (4), 974-1006. doi: 10.1111/disa.12517
2021
Journal Article
To what extent is trust a prerequisite for charitable giving? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Gillespie, Nicole (2021). To what extent is trust a prerequisite for charitable giving? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 50 (6) 08997640211003250, 1274-1303. doi: 10.1177/08997640211003250
2021
Journal Article
Why it is so hard to teach people they can make a difference: climate change efficacy as a non-analytic form of reasoning
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Oelrichs, Dexter M. (2021). Why it is so hard to teach people they can make a difference: climate change efficacy as a non-analytic form of reasoning. Thinking and Reasoning, 28 (3), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/13546783.2021.1893222
2021
Journal Article
To what extent are conspiracy theorists concerned for self versus others? A COVID‐19 test case
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M., Alvarez, Belen, Bentley, Sarah, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Steffens, Niklas K. and Jetten, Jolanda (2021). To what extent are conspiracy theorists concerned for self versus others? A COVID‐19 test case. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51 (2) ejsp.2737, 285-293. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2737
2021
Other Outputs
Generosity in times of crisis: Australian helping behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic
Chapman, Cassandra M., Scaife, Wendy, Masser, Barbara M., Balczun, Marie and Holmes McHugh, Lucy (2021). Generosity in times of crisis: Australian helping behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Generosity in Times of Crisis Indianapolis, IN, United States: Global Generosity Research.
2020
Journal Article
Testing the impact of images in environmental campaigns
Gulliver, Robyn, Chapman, Cassandra M., Solly, Kane N. and Schultz, Tracy (2020). Testing the impact of images in environmental campaigns. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 71 101468, 101468. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101468
2020
Journal Article
The moral disillusionment model of organizational transgressions: ethical transgressions trigger more negative reactions from consumers when committed by nonprofits
Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M., Mangan, Heidi, La Macchia, Stephen and Gillespie, Nicole (2020). The moral disillusionment model of organizational transgressions: ethical transgressions trigger more negative reactions from consumers when committed by nonprofits. Journal of Business Ethics, 172 (4), 653-671. doi: 10.1007/s10551-020-04492-7
2019
Journal Article
Teaching and learning guide for intergroup prosociality
Wibisono, Susilo, Mirnajafi, Zahra, Droogendyk, Lisa, Chapman, Cassandra M., Achia, Tulsi, Thomas, Emma F. and Louis, Winnifred R. (2019). Teaching and learning guide for intergroup prosociality. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13 (7) e12473, e12473. doi: 10.1111/spc3.12473
2019
Other Outputs
Toward a triadic understanding of charitable giving: how donors, beneficiaries, fundraisers, and social contexts influence donation decisions
Chapman, Cassandra Margot (2019). Toward a triadic understanding of charitable giving: how donors, beneficiaries, fundraisers, and social contexts influence donation decisions. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.357
2019
Journal Article
Emerging research on intergroup prosociality: group members' charitable giving, positive contact, allyship, and solidarity with others
Louis, Winnifred R., Thomas, Emma, Chapman, Cassandra M., Achia, Tulsi, Wibisono, Susilo, Mirnajafi, Zahra and Droogendyk, Lisa (2019). Emerging research on intergroup prosociality: group members' charitable giving, positive contact, allyship, and solidarity with others. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13 (3) e12436, e12436. doi: 10.1111/spc3.12436
2018
Journal Article
Religiosity and volunteering over time: religious service attendance is associated with the likelihood of volunteering, and religious importance with time spent volunteering
Petrovic, Katja, Chapman, Cassandra M. and Schofield, Timothy P. (2018). Religiosity and volunteering over time: religious service attendance is associated with the likelihood of volunteering, and religious importance with time spent volunteering. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13 (2), 136-146. doi: 10.1037/rel0000236
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Chapman is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Deconstructing the charitable triad: Raising beneficiary voices to be heard alongside donors and fundraisers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell
-
Doctor Philosophy
UNDERSTANDING THE E-WOM EFFECTS ON NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISING
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Popkowski-Leszczyc
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Head-worn displays in healthcare: Provider, patient, and social perspectives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ben Matthews, Associate Professor Nicole Hartley
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
The Social Impact of Social Impact Evaluation: A Meta-Evaluation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
An Application of Psychological Ownership in Blood Donation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow, Professor Barbara Masser
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Cassandra Chapman's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: