The Nonprofit Science Podcast

What if the storytelling practices you were trained on are quietly causing harm and you don't even know it? In this episode, host Sheela Mahajan sits down with Diana Farias Heinrich, founder of Habra Marketing and host of the Ethical Nonprofit Summit, to dig into the ethics of nonprofit storytelling. They cover the power dynamics hiding in everyday language, why "donor as hero" is more problematic than it sounds, the difference between false urgency and real urgency in fundraising appeals, and Diana shares her four-step framework for making sure the people whose stories you're sharing actually have a say. If you've ever felt like the storytelling norms you inherited don't quite sit right, this one's for you. LINKS: Ethical Nonprofit Summit If you're tired of icky-feeling, transactional storytelling, the Ethical Nonprofit Summit is where you'll find your community. Join us May 6-7, 2026 (9 AM-1 PM PST each day) to learn from expert speakers and connect with fellow fundraisers and storytellers who are transforming the sector. Head to ethicalnonprofitsummit.com/science to register. Use code SCIENCE15 to save $15 on regular price tickets!

How do you know your program is working? You know it works and you see it every day. But translating that into evidence that satisfies stakeholders? That's where things get complicated. In this episode, we dig into peer-reviewed research to understand why impact measurement is so challenging and what works. We explore the five factors that make measurement credible, why starting with purpose beats starting with methods, and how learning-oriented cultures turn data into real decisions. Plus, we use the SIGNALS framework: a seven-step approach for tackling measurement challenges systematically. Whether you're struggling with funder requirements, drowning in data that doesn't get used, or just looking for a smarter approach, this episode offers research-backed strategies you can apply immediately.

"Collaboration" has become one of the most diluted words in the nonprofit sector. Funders push for it, grant applications require it, and yet most partnerships are coordination at best, administrative burden at worst. Dr. Priyanka Brunese and Pallavi Gupta of Saath Partners have spent years researching why some cross-sector partnerships create genuine value while others stall out. In this episode, they break down the spectrum from cooperation to true partnership, explain why most nonprofit collaborations get stuck in transactional mode, and introduce the concept of collaborative advantage. We dig into real examples, including how one homeless shelter built a network of shared-value partnerships that expanded services without expanding budgets. We also get honest about what goes wrong: operational misalignment, power dynamics, and partnership fatigue. If collaboration has felt like more trouble than it's worth, this episode offers a different path forward.

We talk a lot about best practices in this sector, but what if the better question is: how do we keep getting better? In this episode, I sit down with Leah Kral— author of Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results—to explore how nonprofit organizations can embrace experimentation without big budgets or safety nets. Leah shares her journey from the for-profit world to the Peace Corps in Jamaica to two decades of helping nonprofit teams think more strategically. We dig into the relationship between scientific thinking and an innovation mindset, why running small experiments beats betting big on a single idea, and how to know when something isn't working. We also tackle a provocative question: Is innovation actually an ethical obligation for nonprofits? Leah makes the case that staying curious and questioning our assumptions isn't risky. It's due diligence. In fact, as she says, "every nonprofit is a hypothesis." Whether you're leading an organization or working on the front lines, this conversation will challenge how you think about trying new things.

What does it really mean for a nonprofit to succeed? How do you build trust with funders, and does celebrating wins help as much as we think? In this year-end reflection, I share five research articles that genuinely changed how I think about nonprofit work. We'll explore why impact is only one piece of organizational health, what transparency does for donor relationships (spoiler: it's not what you'd expect), why radical innovation requires totally different conditions than incremental change, what makes AI in fundraising work, and how identity shapes giving in ways our models often miss. Whether you're an executive director, development professional, board member, or just someone who cares about making this sector stronger, these insights offer fresh perspective heading into the new year.

As the year winds down and your finance team fields last-minute reports, board meeting materials, and budget questions, it's worth asking: is your organization's relationship with money working? In this episode, I sit down with Sean Hale, founder of Nonprofit CFOs, to talk about what healthy financial management really looks like. We dig into why year-end is a particularly tough time for nonprofit administrative teams, why sharing bad financial news builds more trust than hiding it, and how visual dashboards can transform a disengaged board into strategic partners. Sean also challenges some conventional wisdom that caught me off guard- like why a fifth-grade math teacher might make a better treasurer than a CPA, and when running a deficit is actually a sign of smart leadership. Whether you're prepping for year-end board meetings or rethinking how your team engages with finances heading into the new year, this conversation is full of practical shifts you can make right now.

You send thank-you letters. Your acknowledgements go out like clockwork. But are those thank-yous actually working? In this episode, we dive deep into the research on donor appreciation- and what we find may surprise you. Thank-you notes are just one tool in your gratitude toolbox, and their effectiveness depends on how you use them. Studies reveal that acknowledgements have the greatest impact on certain donors, that physical letters outperform emails, and that the pathway to repeat giving runs primarily through one pathway. We explore the four dimensions of stewardship, why some donors prefer private recognition over public acknowledgement, and how to segment your appreciation strategies for maximum impact. Plus, practical implementation tips you can put into action tomorrow.

Is Giving Tuesday worth it, or will your appeal just get lost in the noise? It may feel like you're competing against thousands of other organizations for a fixed pool of charitable dollars on Giving Tuesday- there's a reason people refer to it as the "nonprofit hunger games." But what if this assumption is wrong? In this episode, we dive into research that suggests giving days like Giving Tuesday don't simply raise a lot of money- they actually expand the total pool of charitable dollars for all nonprofits. We break down the psychology behind why donors actually give more during crowded giving days, how to leverage the power of coordinated giving to run a successful Giving Tuesday campaign, and what the research means for your year-end strategy.

You know GivingTuesday as this massive global day of generosity. But, alongside leading this movement, GivingTuesday’s research team has been building a powerful data resource for the entire nonprofit sector. On this episode, we are joined by Samir Khan, Director of Research at GivingTuesday. He shares how their Data Commons is making critical fundraising analysis available for nonprofits of all sizes and, perhaps more importantly, how you can think about using this information in your own nonprofit. Learn why community-based campaigns may outperform solo efforts, how social media engagement might be just as valuable as immediate donations, and what the data reveals about the true state of generosity in our communities.

What if your donors' most valuable contributions aren't their checks? Research reveals that nonprofits tracking only financial donations could have a blind spot. Other forms of capital- such as social capital, relational capital, and network effects- might actually predict long-term sustainability more than immediate financial donations do. In this episode, we explore why a donor's social connections might be worth more than their annual gift, how relationship depth drives giving across five distinct tiers, and why organizations investing in social capital are more resilient. You'll discover how to identify and cultivate multiple forms of capital and practical frameworks for measuring the invisible assets that traditional fundraising metrics can’t measure. Whether you're a development director, nonprofit executive, or board member, you'll gain evidence-based strategies for building sustainable funding ecosystems that go far beyond traditional fundraising.

Donor-advised funds represent a $250 billion opportunity that's transforming modern philanthropy- and new research shows how nonprofits can prepare to be perfectly positioned to benefit. Drawing from studies including interviews with 48 DAF users and 46 professional fundraisers, this episode offers fundraisers insight into practical strategies you can implement today. Discover why DAF donors increase their giving during recessions, learn to identify the four types of DAF donors, and explore evidence-based approaches that successful organizations are using to build deeper, more resilient donor relationships.

In this data-packed episode, we dive deep into the psychology of default donations and behavioral nudging, revealing how seemingly tiny changes like a checkbox here or a specific word there can swing your revenue by 30%. Drawing on research from Stanford, University of Chicago, and other leading institutions, we unpack the mathematical models behind optimal ask strings, explore the ethical boundaries of nudging techniques, and share the surprising finding that donors who select default options actually feel more autonomous than those who don't. You'll learn how to space your default menu, how to personalize ask strings for different donor segments, and why low defaults might actually raise more money. Plus, we tackle the elephant in the room: when does nudging become manipulation?

Why do people really donate to nonprofits? It turns out, it's not just about generous donors but about the complex relationships between donors, beneficiaries, and the organizations that connect them. In this episode, Dr. Cassandra Chapman explains her Charitable Triad Theory and shares surprising insights into donor behavior. If you've ever wondered why some appeals work while others flop, or struggled with the tension between effective fundraising and ethical representation, this conversation offers a new framework for understanding donor psychology. Perfect for fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and anyone curious about the hidden forces that drive charitable giving.

Should your year-end appeal lean into heartbreak or hope? Make donors feel guilty or grateful? For decades, nonprofits have debated positive versus negative emotional appeals. But new research reveals we've been asking the wrong questions entirely. Comprehensive studies show the real power lies in sophisticated emotional combinations that mirror how people actually experience feelings. For instance, sadness paired with dignity outperforms pure sympathy appeals. The research reveals surprising patterns: guilt appeals work better when paired with self-benefit messaging. Anger drives donations when channeled toward justice rather than just problem-solving. And the most effective campaigns create "emotional sandwiches"—strategically layering different feelings to guide donors from concern through empathy to empowerment. Learn how to build a science-backed emotional journey for your year-end campaign that respects both donor and beneficiary dignity while maximizing impact.

Every day, nonprofits face an impossible choice: show genuine hardship to motivate giving or preserve dignity and risk raising less. New research reveals this isn't a personal failure- it's built into how our charitable system works. We explore groundbreaking studies showing fundraisers serve "three masters" whose needs fundamentally conflict, why poverty porn actually backfires with donors, and how one organization found a radical alternative. Their "narrative resilience" framework doesn't eliminate these tensions but offers a completely different way to navigate them. You'll discover evidence-based strategies for handling donor preferences that conflict with community needs, redistributing power in your storytelling, and building frameworks that acknowledge rather than hide these ethical tensions. Plus, learn why the emotional toll of "ethical whiplash" contributes to nonprofit burnout and what you can do about it. If you've ever felt trapped between doing what's right and keeping the lights on, this episode offers the science-backed navigation tools you need.

In this episode, we dive deep into the neuroscience and evolutionary biology that makes storytelling your nonprofit's most powerful tool. We explore groundbreaking research showing how stories literally synchronize brain activity across your audience, why our ancestors' campfire tales programmed us to respond to narrative, and how to strategically craft stories that drive action. From understanding the four key character perspectives to mastering narrative transportation techniques, you'll learn the exact framework top nonprofits use to turn everyday program activities into compelling donor communications. Plus, get five immediate actions you can implement today to systematically capture, organize, and deploy stories across your campaigns. Stop wondering if your stories work- understand exactly why and how they do.

Your most heart-wrenching fundraising appeal just flopped. But before you blame donor fatigue or economic uncertainty, consider this: neuroscience reveals that donors' brains process giving decisions in fundamentally different ways. Some donors need to feel your beneficiaries' struggles, while others need to understand their perspective. Some respond to your big-picture vision, while others need concrete details about exactly how their donation helps. In this episode, we dive into groundbreaking research showing how fMRI brain scans are revolutionizing donor segmentation. Forget demographics- age and income tell you almost nothing about why someone gives. Instead, we explore how to identify science-backed donor segments and most importantly, how to craft messages that resonate with each type. You'll learn a practical, step by step testing framework to discover your donors' true motivational triggers and dramatically improve your response rates, retention, and average gift size.

Every year, nonprofits watch more than half their peer-to-peer fundraisers raise exactly zero dollars. Meanwhile, a tiny fraction bring in thousands but the donors they attract rarely stick around. Sound familiar? New research reveals why P2P success has felt so unpredictable. The findings highlights something we've known- people give to people. P2p donors give because they care about their friend running the marathon, not necessarily because they've researched your organization. But understanding the "Champion Effect" is just the beginning. Researchers have decoded the network dynamics that predict success, discovered why mid-level social media users outraise influencers, and identified the four-month window that determines whether peer donors become long-term supporters. P2P fundraising has come a long way, but there is still an element of guesswork involved. Here's what the science says works.

Between 2018 and 2021, the equivalent of 48 million full-time volunteers vanished from the global workforce - not a typo, a crisis most nonprofits are experiencing in real-time. But here's what the research reveals: we're not actually losing volunteers, we're witnessing a fundamental shift from duty-based volunteering to what researchers call "reflexive volunteering." Think of it like the difference between your grandmother who volunteered at the same church for 40 years versus today's professional who juggles three different causes based on personal motivations and schedule flexibility. We unpack why demographics don't predict retention (spoiler: it's about job design, not age), what actually keeps volunteers coming back, and how to build an "engageability ecosystem" that works. Whether you're hemorrhaging volunteers or just starting a program, you'll leave with evidence-based strategies that challenge conventional volunteer management wisdom.

Your nonprofit posts consistently. You've built a decent following. Your content gets engagement. But deep down, you know your social media should be doing more for your mission than generating likes and comments. Here's the problem: for nearly two decades, nonprofits have been treating social media like a digital donation box. But research reveals a stunning truth—multiple studies show no significant relationship between social media use and fundraising success. So what are the organizations that ARE advancing their missions through social media doing differently? Host Sheela Mahajan examines research from a handful of studies to uncover what actually works. You'll discover why your audience consists of two completely different groups requiring totally different strategies, the three levels of social media sophistication (and how to reach Level 3), and how successful nonprofits use "co-creation" to transform followers into active mission partners. We also explore dialogic communication—the approach that separates organizations building genuine communities from those just broadcasting into the void. This isn't about posting more content or joining more platforms. It's about using evidence-based strategies that measurably advance your mission through authentic community engagement.

Every June, nonprofit leaders wait for the Giving USA report, but most miss the real value: understanding what the data reveals about donor behavior and strategic applications. Host Sheela Mahajan talks with Wendy McGrady, President and COO of The Curtis Group and chair of The Giving USA Foundation, about the 2024 findings. They explore why giving grew 6.3%, the continued "dollars up, donors down" trend, and why corporate giving remains low despite economic growth. Key insights include how donors are shifting to foundations and DAFs, why 42.9% donor retention undermines pipelines, which economic indicators predict giving success, and upcoming tax policy changes. This isn't just data analysis—it's a roadmap for evidence-based fundraising decisions.

Today we are joined by Dr. Chao Wu. Dr. Wu is a professor at the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business. His research focuses on enhancing operational efficiency in nonprofits by developing scalable, cost-effective solutions using experimental and quasi-experimental methods. During our conversation, we chat a lot about volunteer engagement, specifically answering the question: if I ask a donor to volunteer, will we lose their monetary gift? Our discussion goes in depth into the relationship between volunteering and donations, prompting the question: do we need to reframe how nonprofits think about volunteers altogether?

Today I am joined by Chris McGown, a planned giving expert with decades of experience in-house and as a consultant in this specific area of fundraising. During our conversation, we dive into what exactly is planned giving, what nonprofits need to know, how to identify donors who would be a good fit for planned giving. Importantly, we discuss research-backed strategies and how to incorporate planned giving into your overall fundraising strategy.

Today we are joined by Dr. Deva Woodly. Dr. Woodly is a Professor at Brown University, and her research covers a variety of topics, from media and communication to political understandings of economics, to race and imagination, and social movements. She is the author of several thought-provoking yet practical books, including Reckoning: Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Necessity of Social Movements . In this conversation, we dive into the role nonprofits play in social movements, we touch on what is and is not working in philanthropy, we consider how history can help nonprofits navigate through uncertainty, and much more.

Today we are joined by Kelli King Jackson. Kelli is the founder of Kelli King-Jackson, LLC, a social impact firm that advises leaders and organizations committed to investing in Black communities in the South. During this wide ranging conversation, we discuss how stereotype threat shows up in real nonprofit leadership and what to do about it, the intersection of race and gender in nonprofit leadership, and racialization in the nonprofit sector. Kelli is well-versed in nonprofit scholarship yet offers a practical perspective that helps us not only understand these issues but figure out how to approach them in real life.

Today we are joined by Dr. William Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor in the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on nonprofit governance, strategy, and organizational effectiveness. During this conversation we consider key questions such as: What is systems change? How can we measure and monitor systems change activities? Is it possible to scale impactful programs? You'll walk away with an understanding of what systems change is and why it's important.

If you’ve ever tried to get your hands on research, you know there are several hoops you have to jump through. Most notably- the high cost of journal subscriptions and the time it takes to read long, complex academic papers. At the Nonprofit Science Institute we don’t believe it should be so difficult to get access to scholarly research that will help you improve your impact. And so, we are excited to announce the launch of our new online magazine coming up on June 1, 2025!

Have you ever had a donor threaten to pull their funding if your nonprofit cannot quantifiably show impact? Or have a donor request data in order to receive their donation? It’s no secret that today’s donors are curious. Many view their donations more like investments and like any savvy investor, they want proof that their investments are paying off. But what that means for fundraisers has never been very clear. On today’s episode, we consider research that offers guidance for fundraisers on how to share data with donors in a way that encourages future giving.

On the second part of this ask me anything-style podcast series, we consider researched-backed strategies to questions about evaluating a nonprofit’s advocacy program, considering whether you should participate in #GivingTuesday, how to effectively lead a team virtually (particularly when there is bad news), signs of dysfunctional nonprofit teams, and how to incorporate research into practice.

The Nonprofit Science Podcast has just reached 50 episodes. To celebrate this huge milestone, email subscribers were asked to submit questions for an Ask Me Anything- style podcast episode. On part one of this podcast series, we tackle how to lead a team that is struggling to get along, introducing AI to team members who are resistant to it, helping a nonprofit with too much data, get a nonprofit ready for strategic planning, and discuss how to improve outcomes for program participants.

March is Women’s History Month- a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women and to shine a light on the barriers we still have to overcome. We have made great strides in terms of advancing women to positions of leadership within nonprofits, but we also need to be aware that it takes a consistent effort to keep these leadership positions. So, this week let's revisit the challenge of how we can get more women into nonprofit leadership and prepare the next generation of women leaders for the uphill battle we have ahead of us.

Today on the podcast I am joined by Dr. Susan Appe. Dr. Appe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy and International Affairs at the University at Albany. She is currently working on research projects related to diaspora philanthropy centered on the transnational nexus of migration, development and philanthropy. During this conversation we talk about who diaspora philanthropists are and how their philanthropic behavior is changing the narrative about migrants, immigrant communities, and philanthropy itself.

Funders want nonprofits to demonstrate their impact, and so we collect as much data as possible. Thought leaders quote studies- relaying the information as if they are indisputable fact. Every day there is more information, more data... and more confusion. In the age of information, it is up to us to sift through the deluge of data coming our way. We must think critically and not accept every piece of data as fact. Finding our way in a noisy world is no easy task, but on this episode I share with you five questions that will help you distinguish fact from fiction.

This week I am joined by Dr. Gregory Wilson. Dr. Wilson is a Provost’s Fellow and an Assistant Professor of Management and Public Affairs and Sociology at The Ohio State University. He is also a faculty affiliate at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research examines how and why the nonprofit sector, itself, is racialized and how this system impacts the work of nonprofits led by people of color, particularly those led by African Americans. On this episode, we discuss what it means to be a Black led organization and what racialization in the nonprofit sector looks like. He provides crucial definitions and structure for us to have conversations about the sector as a whole.

Amidst the uncertainty of the moment, there is one common trend: the government is tightening the purse strings. Many nonprofits may see an increase in the need for services but a steep decline in funding which will inevitably lead to making some tough decisions. If you’re a nonprofit leader, you may be wondering how to navigate this terrain. On this episode, I’m going to share what the research says about how to effectively lead your nonprofit through a funding crisis.

This week on the podcast I am joined by Dr. Ruth Sessler Bernstein. Dr. Bernstein is an Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management at Pepperdine University. Her research interests focus on diversity and inclusive interactions, and nonprofit governance. On this episode, we discuss why DEI strategies have failed nonprofits and have produced unintended consequences and- more importantly- what to do about it. She presents a very tactical framework for embedding inclusion into nonprofit culture.

Today, we are going to talk about a problem you may not even know you have. Does your organization collect survey data? Many nonprofits conduct surveys in one form or another. This could be as complex as a program evaluation, pre- and post participant questionnaire, or it can be a simple satisfaction survey. Regardless of how complex the tool may be, they all serve the same purpose- surveys and evaluations provide valuable feedback for nonprofits. Given the importance of this data, we need to ensure that the surveys you design and how you conduct them facilitates the collection of accurate data. So, the problem we’ll be tackling today is, how can you and your nonprofit design and conduct effective surveys?

Today we are joined by Dr. Sarah-Louise Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell was motivated to become an academic in order to answer some of the burning questions in the nonprofit sector. She ran the marketing for two charities which prompted her to undertake a full-time PhD looking at why people volunteer for one charity brand versus another. Her current research interests include charity collaborations, brand storytelling and how we attract more young people to volunteer. She has co-authored a best-selling book called Charity Marketing: Contemporary Issues, Research, and Practice and has a new book called the Future of Charity Marketing. On this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics from nonprofit branding and communications to an intriguing area of charitable giving called Avenger Philanthropy.

Today we are joined by Dr. Lise Anne Slatten. During our chat we dive deep into the specific problem of employee retention at small nonprofit organizations. We talk about why it’s such a thorny issue and how nonprofit leaders can address turnover moving forward. Dr. Slatten is particularly equipped to talk about this topic because she has not only done extensive research on the topic, but prior to becoming a nonprofit scholar and professor, Dr. Slatten spent twenty years working in the nonprofit sector in small nonprofits herself.

Imposter syndrome is a thorny issue and it undermines our efforts to achieve career goals, to be who we want to be, to make the impact we want to make. In short, it can derail your efforts to achieve the ambitious goals you set for yourself. Since 1978 when this phenomenon was first described, we now know that it’s quite prevalent among people from all walks of life- everyone faces imposter thoughts- but because of the nature of nonprofit work and the limited resources we have to work with, it's possible that nonprofit professionals may be particularly susceptible to imposterism. Why is that the case and what can you do about it? Let’s investigate this problem.

It’s the end of 2024 and I’ve spent the whole year reading tons of papers written by nonprofit scholars. As you know from my interviews with guests on this show, nonprofit scholars spend years investigating the questions and problems those of us in the field face. Whether you’re looking to raise more money, or to create a greater impact, or to lead your team effectively, there is likely research you can find that will help you work through your challenges. That being said, there are a ton of papers out there and you may not know where to start. On this episode, I share five papers I read that were published in 2024 and that address key challenges faced by nonprofit professionals.

It is that time of year- end of year giving is in full swing and while you might still be waiting for gifts to come rolling in, we need to start thinking about how to thank donors who have recently given. This crucial step sets up your nonprofit for success in future fundraising. During this episode, we’re going to revisit the problem of how to thank donors to strengthen the donor-nonprofit bond.

Today we are joined by Dr. Beth Gazley. Professor Gazley specializes in U.S. nonprofit management and civil society policy. She has published more than 85 research articles, books, and commentary addressing intersectoral collaboration, volunteerism, nonprofit governance, public service coproduction, association management, disaster response, and other topics. Dr. Gazley is a wealth of knowledge. During this conversation we discuss her latest research climate change preparedness in the nonprofit sector, collaboration and co-production in the nonprofit space, and much more.

At the time this episode is being released, we just completed Giving Tuesday and are heading into the final year end fundraising sprint. A lot of nonprofit professionals are simply wiped out- maybe you’re one of them. This time of year is fraught with stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm. It’s no surprise, many of us end the calendar year simply burnt out. What can nonprofits do to prevent nonprofit professional burnout? How can you change course if you feel yourself getting burnt out? Find out more on this episode.

Today we are joined by Vinit Tipnis. Vinit is a PhD candidate in the Operations and Decision Technologies department at Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business. His research interests lie at the intersection of nonprofit operations management and behavioral operations management. During this wide ranging conversation, we talk about how nonprofits can best leverage cause marketing as a tool, how nonprofits can strategically schedule volunteers to improve retention, and so much more.

Today we are joined by Dr. Mandi J. Stewart. Dr. Mandi J. Stewart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration in the School of Public and International Affairs at NC State University. As a faculty member, she directs NC State's Master of Public Administration program and coordinates their Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Nonprofit Studies minor. She has extensive experience working as a nonprofit consultant, evaluator, program manager, and advocate. During this conversation we talk about executive transitions, how leadership, career, and pipeline development plays a role in successful transitions, how COVID changed the way employees want to work, and much more.

Today we are joined by Dr. Lise Anne Slatten. During this conversation we discuss what web-based accountability is, why it's so important for nonprofits, and specific areas to target your efforts. Dr. Slatten is the Associate Dean for Administration & Quality in the Moody College of Business Administration and a Professor of Management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL). Her research areas include nonprofit certification and accreditation, nonprofit governance and management, and entrepreneurship. Prior to teaching, Dr. Slatten spent twenty years working in the nonprofit sector.

Do you use a credit card for any purchases or contribute to a retirement account? If so, then you’ve experienced something called an intertemporal choice. An intertemporal choice is one in which the cost and reward occur at different times. For instance, with a credit card, you swipe your card to get the item you want right now, but you don’t actually pay the cost until you pay your credit card bill a month or so from now. With a retirement account, however, the money leaves your account now, but you won’t get to experience the rewards of that cost until way down the road when you retire. In the consumer setting, how intertemporal choices influence behavior is pretty well established, but can we leverage this idea for charitable giving as well? That’s the question we’ll be tackling today.

#GivingTuesday is just around the corner and whether this is a huge campaign for your nonprofit or just one small part of your overall fundraising, it’s important to plan for it. You’ll be dedicating time and resources to the day. That means, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to have as successful a Giving Tuesday as possible. There is a lot of great advice on Giving Tuesday out there and I’m not one to reinvent the wheel, but when I looked into this topic, I found there were five crucial questions we need to consider. That’s what we’ll be tackling on this episode.

Today we are joined by Nina M. Sooter. Nina is a neuroeconomics researcher at the University of Geneva. Her work focuses on moral and pro-social decision-making. During this conversation, we dive deep into her studies on how honesty is impacted by acute stress, whether virtual reality can be used as a fundraising tool, and how the B Corps label impacts consumer choices. She’s a big fan of interdisciplinary research and what’s great for us as practitioners is that Nina is particularly motivated to tackle questions that are relevant outside of academia. This makes her research and her advice very applicable to those of us who work in the nonprofit space.