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By Cherian Koshy, USA Today bestselling author of Neurogiving

Brain-based fundraising, in 9 minutes a week.

A weekly Lab Note on why donors behave the way they do —
before you try another tactic.

If you want to understand donor behavior before trying to change it, you’re welcome to receive the Lab Notes.

Free. Weekly. Easy to leave anytime.

Fundraising doesn't fail because people don't care. It fails because we misunderstand how generosity actually works.

Fundraising advice usually assumes donors are rational, consistent, and paying attention. They aren't.

Neurogiving Lab Notes explores what actually drives generosity: memory, identity, emotion, trust, and timing. The goal is to help you see donor behavior more clearly before you try to fix it.

No hype. No hacks. No more tactics for the sake of tactics.

What you'll receive


One short weekly Lab Note

One behavioral insight grounded in research

One reframing question to sharpen your thinking

Occasional examples from healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit leadership

A calmer way to understand why donors give, remember, and return

New subscribers also receive the Neurogiving Quickstart Playbook.

Start with one of these Lab Notes


Your Donors Aren't Giving to Help. They're Giving to Be Someone.

Jun 11, 2026

•

15 min read

Your Donors Aren't Giving to Help. They're Giving to Be Someone.

Identity priming outperforms impact messaging in Red Cross field experiments

Cherian Koshy
Cherian Koshy

Written for people who take donor behavior seriously.


Chief Development Officers • Vice Presidents of Advancement • Development Directors • Major & Principal Gift Officers • Planned Giving Officers • Annual Giving & Engagement Leaders • Stewardship & Donor Relations Professionals • Donor Communications Leaders • Foundation & Philanthropy Executives • Nonprofit CEOs/Executive Directors • Fundraising Strategy & Analytics Leaders • Prospect Development Professionals • Consultants and Advisors

This may be for you if...


This may be for you if you want a calmer, more research-backed way to understand why donors give, remember, trust, and return.

This may not be for you if you are looking for quick hacks, daily tips, or a constant stream of tactics.

Research-backed. Practitioner-tested.


USA Today bestselling author of Neurogiving

30 years in fundraising and nonprofit leadership

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)

Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®)

118th Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) — #118 worldwide

Speaker and advisor to nonprofit leaders — keynotes, workshops & strategy

Research-backed insights on donor behavior — generosity, decision-making & neuroscience

Receive the next Lab Note


You'll receive your first Lab Note this week.

Neurogiving Lab Notes

Brain-based fundraising, in nine minutes a week.