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Standing out in crowdfunded microfinance: A topic modeling approach examining campaign distinctiveness and prosocial performance

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  • Williamson, Amanda J.
  • Short, Jeremy C.
  • Wolfe, Marcus T.

Abstract

We outline the promise of topic modeling as a tool to build knowledge in social entrepreneurship surrounding the role gender plays in prosocial crowdfunding. By leveraging a sample of 340,956 prosocial microfinance campaigns drawn from Kiva, we examine how distinctiveness from the prototypical narrative in men's and women's campaigns relates to crowdfunding performance. We find that distinctiveness in men's campaigns is associated with faster funding. Conversely, when women's campaigns are distinctive from other women, funding times vary depending on their sector. Our findings suggest that in prosocial microlending, deviating from the normal narrative of one's gender is advantageous for campaigns led by men, but that among women, it can often hinder prosocial microlending efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Williamson, Amanda J. & Short, Jeremy C. & Wolfe, Marcus T., 2021. "Standing out in crowdfunded microfinance: A topic modeling approach examining campaign distinctiveness and prosocial performance," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobuve:v:16:y:2021:i:c:s2352673421000391
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2021.e00261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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