Behavioral Science Posts

How Do Donors (Not) Open The Mail?

Like everyone, I’ve got a habitual, auto-pilot process for managing the physical mail. And since I, like many a reader, am on a million and one seed lists and donate to charities I receive a #$@% ton of charity mail. Plus, my family has what seems a daily supply of last-mile delivery from online, consumer […]

Learn More October 30, 2023

It Takes A (Personality) Village

The goal of diversity is better ___________. There are lots of ways to fill in that blank; one option is business success. And there are lots of ways to define diversity, one of which is how we see the world, our innate traits. This first bar chart shows companies broken out by number of […]

Learn More October 27, 2023

Give Your Supporters A Break

Breaks are necessary for our sanity and productivity. Not exactly a breakthrough statement. Yet, we rarely follow that advice. How many back-to-back calls did you have this week? Can you remember how you felt after the last one? In a recent study, Microsoft examined the effects of back-to-back video calls on stress, and engagement. They […]

Learn More September 29, 2023

People Are Different But In Predictable Ways

People are different in their motivation and interests and yet the sea of sameness of one-size-fits-all fundraising dominates. The Control ad and a Test ad both going to a single audience; the unspoken assumption is that everyone’s the same. But what if the test failed because it did well with some people but poorly with […]

Learn More June 5, 2023

We Are What We Choose

Are you more outgoing and social or introverted? Are you described by others as being warm, friendly and often helping others? Might people describe you as hard-working, dependable and a planner? You almost certainly had answers for all 3 questions that came naturally and quickly. These are typical descriptors for people and well, you know […]

Learn More June 2, 2023

Are You About To Lose Out On The Best Fundraising Season Of The Year?

With 211 shopping days left until Christmas of course there’s plenty of time to get ready for the year-end giving bonanza. Right? The problem is that the much-touted—almost sacred– belief that the year-end giving season is the best giving season is at, best, an incomplete belief, and perhaps a full-blown myth. Summer season may in […]

Learn More May 27, 2023

Mind The Gap

Intended behavior vs. actual behavior. That they don’t match up perfectly seems to invite the misleading adage that ‘people don’t do what they say’. In fact, the intention to do something is a great predictor of actually doing it. This means the primary focal point should be on what influences my intention, secondarily, the gap. […]

Learn More April 28, 2023

“Because It Works, That’s Why.”

Perhaps it’s time to rethink the ‘because it works’ claim so often trotted out in defense of dubious, deceptive fundraising tactics; enter the political email season. Between April 1st and 19th of 2019 the presidential candidates (at the time) sent a combined 1,730 messages, more than 19 a day, to supporters. In defense or explanation […]

Learn More April 10, 2023

My High Openness Got In the Way of Your Social Proof Nudge

One (tiny) facet of behavioral science is nudges or the tendencies of humans to be influenced by certain types of information or presentation. This is where Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion fit in. Authority: People are more likely to be swayed by those perceived as expert or authorities on a subject. Consensus (and it’s Social […]

Learn More January 11, 2023

Why Do Liberals Drink Lattes?

Are you a liberal? Did you find yourself buying more from brands that took a political stand, especially during the Trump presidency? You’re not alone. Compensatory consumption theory says people buy as a way to compensate for psychological needs or deficits. In other words, if we feel like we’re lacking control or meaning in our […]

Learn More January 9, 2023

Ask A Behavioral Scientist

Behavioral Science Q & A

Q: As a designer who works with non-profits on fundraising strategy, I see the language like the following: “Our supporters help empower every girl, ensuring she has the resources she needs.” I do not think the word “help” is useful–I think “Our supporters empower every girl, ensuring she has the resources she needs. ” is much more engaging. Thoughts?

Whether “help” is more engaging or not really depends on the framing and context. The word help can sometimes weaken the perceived agency of the supporter, making their role feel secondary rather than central (your point). On the other hand, help can also signal collaboration rather than implying full ownership of the outcome, which might […]

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Q: We started offering a donor cover option last april 1. The data to date suggests this may be dampening giving.eg. those who say yes to donor cover have a lower average gift (based on analysis of 6000+ gifts). I’m wondering if those who give lower gifts feel more guilt and therefore say yes to donor cover or if the presence of donor cover is making people adjust (lower) their gift size to accommodate the extra 3%. Would love any insights you have.

Great question! Here’s how behavioral science can help unpack what might be happening: Pain of Paying: Even a small extra charge can make giving feel more transactional than emotional, potentially reducing generosity. Fairness Concerns: Some donors might perceive donor cover as a surcharge rather than a contribution to the cause. If they feel the charity […]

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Q: When writing an appeal, I waffle back and forth between writing “Your gift CAN…” or “Your gift WILL…” Any studies of which of these two words is best for an appeal?

The choice between “Your gift CAN…” and “Your gift WILL…” taps into the psychological framing of certainty vs. possibility. Currently, there is no academic research directly comparing these two framings in charitable appeals. However, I suspect no framing is universally better—the outcome likely depends on your target audience and the campaign’s goal. Here are some thoughts: Certainty Framing – […]

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Q: Do you have any insight on whether integrating an individual giving appeal with other comms from the charity in both appearance and messaging can uplift results? Or does the actual appeal become ‘lost’ for lack of stand-out?

Integrating an individual giving appeal with other communications from a charity can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome largely depends on how it’s executed. Advantages of Integration Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent appearance and messaging across all communications can reinforce the org’s brand identity and strengthen brand recognition and trust among your […]

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Q: Is there any research on response rate impact in direct mail when referring to a sustainer gift as ongoing or recurring (catching all frequencies) v. monthly or annual?

I’m not aware of any in-market tests specifically comparing recurring vs. gift frequency language. I suspect the answer might not be the same with all gift frequencies, nor with all people. It sounds like a great opportunity for you to test and find out what works for your audience. Based on the literature, here’s a couple […]

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Q: A major conservation nonprofit sends me lots of mail, many of which have on the envelope “time to renew” or “2nd notice.” I find this practice deceptive, especially as I haven’t given to said organization since 1997. It must be effective or they wouldn’t do it. But is it ethical?

Based on what we know from existing data, those renewal notices can actually be pretty effective in getting people to donate. They tap into our psychology – creating a sense of urgency, reminding us of past support, and using personalization to make the message hit home. They’re playing on our natural tendencies to feel obligated […]

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