Agents of Nonprofit

Designing for Generosity with Cherian Koshy

Alexander Lapa Season 1 Episode 187

In this episode of Agents of Nonprofit, I sit down with fundraising strategist and behavioral science expert Cherian Koshy to uncover the psychology and neuroscience behind why people give—and why they sometimes don’t. From reducing friction in donation forms to designing moments of joy and trust, this episode offers a masterclass in building deeper, more intentional donor relationships rooted in empathy and understanding.

Topics We Cover:

  • Cherian’s “origin story” in fundraising and what inspired his exploration into donor psychology
  • An introduction to Neurogiving and how neuroscience can ethically shape fundraising strategy
  • Why generosity is innate—and how to remove the barriers that suppress it
  • Reducing friction in the giving experience: from donation forms to mobile optimization
  • Turning donations into delightful experiences that celebrate generosity
  • Applying behavioral science to attention, emotion, and decision-making in donors
  • The power and pitfalls of gamification and visual psychology in donor engagement
  • How AI and intentional design can enhance donor relationships without losing the human touch

To Learn More and Connect with Cherian:

The New Book: Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy

CherianKoshy.com

Cherian Koshy on Instagram

Cherian Koshy on LinkedIn


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