The Nonprofit Science Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sheela N. Mahajan
Welcome to the Nonprofit Science Podcast! Nonprofit science is the application of scientific thinking to the advancement of nonprofit missions. On this show, host Sheela N. Mahajan interviews researchers and pulls information from the latest published research to empower nonprofit leaders to grow their impact through science.
What counts as a volunteer? Research into fifty years of Australian volunteering data shows the answer has been rewritten again and again, and that what gets counted tends to lag well behind what the sector says it values.Think about the person who spent three hours organizing your storage closet. Or the community member who drove two hours to get discounted instruments for your program. Or the handful of people who share every post you publish. Most volunteer databases don't have a box to track any of them.In this episode we trace how a definition gets built and what happens in our own organizations when what we say we value and what we actually count drift apart.
Your executive director comes back from a conference convinced the nonprofit should run more like a business. You roll your eyes and think “we’ve been down this road before.” We know the argument. Yes, nonprofits are technically businesses, but our bottom line is impact not profit. The current conversation pits these two standpoints against each other.But, new research says the business-versus-mission framing is the wrong one. Nonprofits don’t run on two competing values, they run on several at once, from mission to money to professional standards to faith. It turns out, the organizations that thrive aren’t the ones that pick a winner. They’re the ones that integrate.In this episode we dive into a study of six nonprofits, three that combined their competing values productively and three that didn’t. We discuss the four elements that separated them and what to do with all of this information in your own nonprofit.
Most board packets are full of numbers boards don't act on.New research looked at a decade of financial data from the largest nonprofits in the country and asked a simple question: which financial signals do boards respond to? It turns out, many of the indicators we build our reporting around, including revenue, expenses, profit margin, and savings margin, show no measurable effect on board action.There's one measure boards do respond to, but by the time it moves, the financial decline has usually been underway for years. Boards catch the problem late enough that fixing it means cutting programs instead of adjusting course.In this episode we get into what board capture is, why it happens without anyone acting in bad faith, and what to do with all of it depending on which chair you're sitting in.
Is your organization as ethical on the inside as it is on the outside? Most nonprofit leaders answer yes without hesitating, and they're usually thinking about the mission. But a workplace isn't ethical just because the organization does good in the world. It's built or lost in the small moments like who gets interrupted, who gets the benefit of the doubt and how conflict gets handled.In this episode, we dig into research that asked 74 nonprofit employees to describe a real moment when ethical values were at stake in their workplace. The patterns across those stories produced a framework built from four relationships.You'll learn the four pillars of an ethical workplace climate, how to figure out where your own climate is thin, and what to do when you're the one living inside a workplace climate that isn't working.
Two nonprofits start out nearly identical. Both survive the 2008 crash, both pivot through the pandemic, both make it through every shock for twenty years. So why is one thriving in 2026 while the other is winding down? We've been calling all of it resilience — but new research redefines what that word should mean for nonprofits.
In this episode, we dig into a framework for proactive resilience. It is what you build deliberately in the quiet years, not what you scramble for in a crisis. You’ll learn the four attributes that make an organization durable, the three kinds of slack you can start building now, and why surviving every crisis might be the very thing quietly wearing your team out.
Sitting in a budget meeting defending your numbers can be brutal, especially when the honest answer to "how did you land on these?" is "last year's budget, adjusted by feel." You run a lean operation, but the same pattern shows up every year: too much of one thing, not enough of another.For-profit companies solved this with a tool called demand forecasting. The catch was always cost and expertise, which kept it out of reach for nonprofits. Until now. In this episode, we dig into new research on forecasting for nonprofits, and a surprising finding about which method actually works.You'll learn how to predict what your programs need using data you already have, what to do when that data is a mess, and how the same approach strengthens grant budgets, in-kind asks, and the case you make at budget time.
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 SummitIf 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.
We often hear that leaders need to be resilient and need to build resilient nonprofits. But the way we typically approach organizational resilience is in hindsight. We can identify a resilient organization only after they have experienced a set back and we see how they responded. There hasn’t been a framework that leaders could use to intentionally build organizational resilience.
On this episode, we identify six characteristics that leaders can cultivate to build a resilient nonprofit in anticipation of disruption.
There is one major problem with the way we’ve been talking about evaluations. Through the evaluative process, we objectify the experiences of our participants, but what’s lacking from the current discussion is inclusion of participants as the subject of the program.
What has been their experience with your program? How can you improve it from their perspective?
On this episode, we discuss research that takes a critical view of satisfaction surveys and discuss how we can use evaluations as a tool to facilitate a process in which nonprofits and communities come together to achieve a common goal.
Online fundraising is one of the fastest growing revenue streams for nonprofits. But when it comes to crafting a winning fundraising message, or framing the ask, there is a lot of conflicting advice out there.
On this episode, we'll discuss research that guides us on how to craft social media messages that help us raise more money from both current and new donors.
Since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, almost every nonprofit organization has had to implement some sort of virtual work option. Even though many of the benefits and challenges of virtual work have been well documented, relatively little has been published about how virtual work has affected managerial behavior.
On this episode, we'll discuss research into how managerial behavior has evolved with the switch to virtual work, and how organizations can overcome some of the challenges of virtual work to bring the best out of managers and teams.
Sometimes it seems like the people who would most benefit from a change are the most resistant to it. Think of anti-feminist women or students with loans who oppose canceling student debt. There are many examples of groups who exhibit this paradoxical behavior.
Whether it’s in advocacy or at the individual level working with participants, nonprofits face this opposition regularly.
This presents a unique challenge for nonprofits- how can you advance your mission if the very people who would benefit from your work, resist it?
On this episode we discuss research that offers insight into why people resist change and support a status quo that does not serve them, and how nonprofits can use this information to further their missions.
For as much as nonprofits utilize crowdfunding and rely on it as a source of revenue, avenues for retention of donors that are acquired through these sites is lacking. In fact, nonprofits only retain about 25% of the donors acquired through crowdfunding sites.
On this episode, we discuss research into what factors influence donor donation and attrition behavior and how we can leverage this information to retain donors acquired through crowdfunding sites.
Nonprofits have been experiencing an increased demand for services, but that increased demand has not necessarily been matched with an increase in resources. How can nonprofit leaders achieve more with less? Research suggests the answer lies in developing the biggest resource you do have- your team.
On this episode, we’ll discuss a case study that demonstrates how nonprofit leaders can strategically use flexible leadership to develop their workforce and increase the organization’s capacity.
Love them or hate them, many nonprofits use surveys in one form or another- whether it’s for something as simple as a satisfaction survey or as complex as an evaluation. While we, understandably, spend a lot of time thinking about the content of surveys- the questions we want to ask- how we administer a survey gets less attention. However, it’s possible that how we administer a survey could affect the data that we collect.
On this episode, we’ll discuss the differences between the various survey administration modes, as well as how these differences could inadvertently affect survey outcomes.
One tool that fundraisers often use on appeals is setting suggested donation amounts or default values. Recent research indicates that the values we set on these menus may have a big influence on a donor's decision give.
On this episode, we’ll discuss whether default donation values are a good idea and how they influence a donor’s decision to give.
If it ever feels like the head and the heart of leadership are at odds with each other, you may not be wrong. New research merging the study of leadership with neuroscience indicates that different leadership roles activate opposing parts of the brain. This research gives us insight into how the most effective leaders balance the head and the heart of leadership.
Nonprofits are often tasked with drafting logic models to describe their programs, but increasingly logic models are also used for evaluation. For many programs, this is perfectly suitable. But for more complex interventions, such as advocacy, logic models are a poor evaluation tool for several reasons.
On this episode, we’ll discuss the pitfalls of using logic models to evaluate advocacy and how you can better capture your advocacy programs achievements.
Buy now, pay later is perhaps the best thing to happen to consumerism, but can nonprofits leverage this idea to our benefit? Research into intertemporal choices and charitable giving suggests that nonprofits can (and do) take advantage of this model.
On this episode, we discuss what intertemporal choices are, how they influence charitable giving, and how nonprofits can implement a commit now, pay later model to raise more money.
Whether your nonprofit was formed decades ago or in the last year, the value system upon which the organization was founded may no longer align with the community the organization serves. This values mismatch can mean that, while there is still a need for the nonprofit to exist, the community is not being served.
On part two of this two-part episode we discuss how leaders can identify leverage points and facilitate actions that take the organization from theoretical change to improved outcomes.
Whether your nonprofit was formed decades ago or in the last year, the value system upon which the organization was founded may no longer align with the community the organization serves. This values mismatch can mean that, while there is still a need for the nonprofit to exist, the community is not being served.
On part one of this two-part episode, we explore how organizations can use a systems change framework to respond and adapt to the changing views of those they serve.
Many nonprofits send out regularly scheduled direct or email appeals throughout the year, as well as participate in “day of giving” fundraisers such as #GivingTuesday. We know that these campaigns differ in the content that gets created and how that information is delivered. But, as it turns out, donors may respond differently to these campaigns because of how asks are structured.
On this episode, we’ll discuss research that indicates how nonprofits can leverage two fundraising mechanisms- coordinated and independent- to raise more money.
Most leadership advice and even leadership studies for that matter focus on the top level of leadership, but there has been considerably less focus on frontline managers. The team of staff that is managed by a frontline manager would be the staff members who are directly interacting with those the nonprofit serves.
Because frontline managers are in a unique position, it’s important to understand how this group of leaders view innovation and what they believe is their role in the innovation process. On this episode, we’ll discuss three approaches to leadership innovation by frontline managers.
It seems like there are best practices for almost every aspect of running a nonprofit. One area that has been tough to nail down best practices for, though, has been programs. By design, programs are often very different between nonprofits so it’s difficult to have a general list of best practices that all nonprofits can refer to.
On this episode, we’ll discuss research that investigates best practices for programs and lays the groundwork for future studies into this area. We also discuss how to quantify qualitative data, and how your approach to program participants can affect program outcomes.
Rage donating is a fundraising phenomenon that was catapulted to the mainstream during Donald Trump’s election and presidency. We’ve witnessed organizations like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and Black Lives Matter raise millions of dollars for their important work and maybe you’re wondering if your nonprofit could mobilize such support as well.
On this episode, you’ll discover what drives rage donations and why some organizations are better suited to mobilize this support than others.
The idea of nonprofit leadership succession planning can be a little touchy but unfortunately, we’ve got to do it. The disruption caused by the sudden departure of the chief executive could mean that the community served by the organization, isn’t served as well. Even though nonprofits know that succession planning is important, why is it that so few actually lay down plans?
On this episode, we discuss what barriers nonprofits face when it comes to succession planning and offer a new perspective on what it means to undertake succession planning.
Intervention mapping is a six-step framework for designing programs. It takes the daunting task of creating programs that advance your mission and breaks it down into easy to follow phases.
On this episode, you’ll learn what intervention mapping is and how to use this approach to design programs at your nonprofit.
The similarity effect describes how people are more susceptible to influence by other people who are similar to them. If you’ve ever had particular board members call donors because they’re alumni from the same university or both belong to the same church- you’ve utilized a form of this principle. And, if you’ve ever leveraged peer to peer fundraising, you’ve utilized this idea.
It seems like a simple enough strategy but as you’ll discover on this episode, it can be quite nuanced. On this episode, we’ll discuss research into similarity and how nonprofits can use this idea to encourage prospective donors to give.
One of the toughest problems that nonprofit leaders face is figuring out how to attract and retain employees. Employee turnover can not only decrease morale in the office but it can also make donors question an organization’s management practices, and even hurt the organization’s ability to advance its mission.
On this episode, we'll discuss research that suggests how small nonprofits, specifically, can attract and retain employees.
Have you ever wondered why some participants go through your programs and thrive whereas others receive the same service and don’t seem to make a lot of progress? What is it that makes some participants successful and others not so much? And, is there anything we can do to design programs such that everyone becomes a success story?
On this episode, we’ll delve into these questions and discuss how you can use the positive deviant approach to leverage your nonprofit’s success stories to improve your program outcomes.
If you’ve ever wondered why your donor community tends to be on the more mature side, or if you’ve ever considered launching a new initiative to specifically attract younger donors, this episode is for you.
On this episode we’ll discuss research that suggests that people might actually become more empathetic and potentially more generous as they get older.
Nonprofit leaders are tasked with a lot- not only must you manage a team or entire organization, but you’re also partially (if not fully) responsible for the organization’s reputation in the community. In fact, it may be the most important function of your job.
On this episode we’ll discuss the different steps organizations can take to maintain, better, or even repair their reputation in the community.
While nonprofits use social media for providing organizational updates, fundraising, and general engagement, it can really be an especially powerful tool for advocacy. That’s because at its core, advocacy is all about garnering public support for an issue.
On this episode, we’ll get into all the details, discussing research that suggests how to engage constituents specifically for advocacy via social media.
Overhead aversion describes donors’ preference to avoid making gifts to nonprofits with high overhead costs. The term “overhead” groups together several different types of expenses. This could include expenses as large as fundraising expenses and salaries, to smaller expenses like paying for the internet connection. But, is all overhead created equally? Would donors be able to overcome their overhead aversion if they knew their funds were supporting one type of overhead and not the other?
Find out the answer on this episode.
Collaboration is often the modus operandi for nonprofit leaders for both internal and external purposes, but it has its pros and cons. When leaders focus solely on collaboration, they may miss out on the benefits of competition. On this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of both collaboration and competition and how leaders can use both strategically.
Even though managing volunteers well is so crucial to programmatic and nonprofit success, there is actually very little information available to staff that is rooted in evidence. And of course, there’s that well known phrase in the nonprofit space- best practices.
On this episode, we’ll discuss research that tested how volunteer best practices affect volunteer outcomes such as recruitment, retention, volunteer satisfaction, quality of work, and hours volunteered.
Those who have benefitted from your nonprofit's programs are often an ideal pool of prospects to pull from. Having gone through your programs, they have an intimate understanding of the value you provide. But, when is the appropriate time to ask for a donation? New research sheds light onto how to determine that sweet spot for your nonprofit.
Many of us have experienced a member of our team keeping certain information close to their chest even though that information would be helpful for others to know. These knowledge gatekeepers can impede the flow of work at your nonprofit. On this episode, we discuss how leader behavior can motivate employees to share their knowledge freely.
Many nonprofits had to quickly convert their in-person programs to virtual ones when the pandemic started. Now that there are some safer options for getting together in person, programs are faced with the decision to either keep their programs virtual or go back to being in person. If you’re in this boat, this episode will offer a framework to help you decide.
When nonprofits seek to up-level their fundraising game, donor segmentation is often the strategy of choice. But with so many segments to choose from and so much data required, donor segmentation can seem like a monumental undertaking. On this episode, we’ll discuss new research that suggests maybe we don’t need to make it quite so complicated.
It seems like almost every nonprofit has undertaken some sort of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. But for as much time and money that has been spent on trainings, many organizations still have not achieved their DEI goals. This episode discusses why diversity trainings don’t work and what to do instead.
It is well known that storytelling is an effective fundraising tool, but new research and the application of storytelling in the healthcare setting indicates that stories have a powerful role to play in programs as well. On this episode, we’ll discuss what narrative techniques is and how you can leverage these powerful tools to help those you serve.
Is the end of the year really the best time to ask for donations? For our very first episode of the Nonprofit Science Podcast, we'll discuss research that answers this question.
Welcome to The Nonprofit Science Podcast! I'm Sheela Mahajan and I'm a scientist turned nonprofit expert who is on a mission to challenge nonprofits to think differently- namely, like scientists.
Every week, I bring you the latest scientific advancements that will help as you work to solve the most pressing issues facing our communities. We’ll cover topics such as how to attract and retain donors, how to evaluate programs, how to be the leader your team needs, and so much more. If it will help you advance your nonprofit’s mission, we’re getting into it on this show.
Starting March 1, 2022, join me here on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays as we harness the power of scientific thinking to grow your impact. This is the Nonprofit Science Podcast.