• Home
  • Blog Posts
  • Behavioral Science
  • On Demand Webinars
  • Toolbox
  • Archives

Research

Pass The Dopamine, Please

In an article titled “The Joy of Giving,” The Economist reports on brain research that seeks to explain the mental processes involved in making donations. Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke used a standard technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging to map the brain activity that occurred when test subjects were […]

Learn More October 24, 2006

The Philanthropy 400

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has released its annual Philanthropy 400 survey. Get your hands on the full report. But here, from the publicly released summary, are some highlights that impressed The Agitator: Donations to the largest 400 charities grew by 13% in 2005, to $62.7 billion (the second year of double digit growth … 2004 […]

Learn More October 23, 2006

Slipping Down The Ladder Of Life

For years, political prognosticators have pointed to one measure as the best single indicator of how national elections might go … responses to the question: “Overall, do you think the country is headed in the right direction?” If you're an incumbent, and the trend is rising “No's” to this question, watch out! Perhaps a comparable […]

Learn More September 19, 2006

Weekly Quiz #5

We all want to be popular. We want our causes, charities and organizations to be popular. So, how popular is yours … especially compared to your competition? One fascinating measure can be provided by Google, with a tool comparing the frequency of use of any given search term — including the name of an organization […]

Learn More September 9, 2006

Weekly Quiz #4

Once again, the Pew research engine has released a hugely important study on American attitudes. This time on the mix of religion and politics, from the Pew Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. We scarcely know where to begin in commenting on the importance of […]

Learn More September 2, 2006

Polarization

On the one hand … The Pew Research Center just released a report on Americans' attitudes on social issues, in which they conclude: “Despite talk of 'culture wars' and the high visibility of activist groups on both sides of the cultural divide, there has been no polarization of the public into liberal and conservative camps.” […]

Learn More August 10, 2006

2005 Online Giving Up 148% Over 2004 Level

Nicole Wallace in this week’s edition of The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that online gifts to 162 organizations increased by a whopping 148.1% over 2004’s level. That’s $908.4 million in 2005 compared to $366.1 the year before. This year’s Chronicle survey, the paper’s 7th, reveals that the increase is not all due to the southeast […]

Learn More June 16, 2006

Pew Internet Project

No one studies the social profile and impact of Internet usage in the US more thoroughly than the Pew Internet and American Life Project. PIP issues a steady stream of research on who’s using, how, to what end, with what impact.

Learn More June 4, 2006

<< 1 … 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

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 […]

    Read Full Answer

    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 […]

    Read Full Answer

    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 – […]

    Read Full Answer

    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 […]

    Read Full Answer

    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 […]

    Read Full Answer

    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 […]

    Read Full Answer

    The Agitator Tool Box

    Ideas, applications, tools, processes, and case studies of break-through solutions in fundraising, including:



      • © Copyright 2005 - 2025, The Agitator. All Rights Reserved.
      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Sitemap
      • RSS Feed
      • We welcome your feedback!