Ethnic Giving Versus Mainstream Giving by Foreign-Born Korean Immigrants in California

Abstract

Based on a large-scale philanthropic survey conducted in California, this paper empirically examines the determinants of ethnic giving versus mainstream giving practices and the interactive relationships between the two observed among foreign-born Korean immigrants. The results of our bivariate probit regression analysis suggest several interesting findings. First, acculturation serves significant functions in immigrants' decisions to give to mainstream organizations, but does not appear to affect ethnic giving decisions as profoundly. Second, U.S. educational experiences and gender are strong predictors of mainstream giving practices, whereas household incomes and religiosity figure significantly in terms of explaining ethnic giving practices. Additionally, citizenship is related weakly to ethnic giving practices. Finally, two distinctive giving practices are negatively interrelated, meaning that immigrants who donate to ethnic organizations are less likely to give to mainstream organizations, and vice versa.