Meet Kiki and Stefano
Dr. Kiki Koutmeridou
Kiki is DonorVoice’s resident behavioural scientist. She’s spent years applying her expertise directly with clients all around the world with an unparalleled track record of success. Her role covers campaign strategy, leading research projects and application of behavioral principles to fundraising.
With an MSc in Neuroscience, a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and, as former head of two applied behavioral science units, Kiki expertly applies academic understanding to real world fundraising challenges.
Dr. Stefano Di Domenico
Stefano is DonorVoice’s Director of Supporter of Motivation. He brings cutting-edge insights from the science of human motivation and personality into fundraising. His key areas of focus are personalized persuasion and fostering the most volitional and high-quality forms of motivation and engagement among donors.
Stefano is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, where teach courses on neuroscience and personality. You can learn more about Dr. Di Domenico’s research here.
Behavioral Science Q & A
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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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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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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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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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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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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