Nonprofit Lowdown #370- The Neuroscience of Generosity (and What Fundraisers Get Wrong) with Cherian Koshy
We’re kicking off 2026 with a big conversation—and the perfect guest to start the year.
I’m joined by my friend Cherian Koshy, author of NeuroGiving and Vice President at Hindsight. Cherian’s journey from accidental frontline fundraiser to nonprofit tech founder to bestselling author mirrors so much of what many of us in this sector experience: curiosity, frustration with “best practices,” and a deep desire to do fundraising in a more human way.
In this episode, we dig into why so many traditional fundraising approaches feel off—and what neuroscience and behavioral science can teach us about how people actually make decisions about giving. We talk about generosity, identity, trust, and the mistakes nonprofits make when we over-engineer donations but under-invest in relationships and stewardship.
If you’ve ever felt like fundraising advice wasn’t built for real humans—or real organizations—this conversation is for you.
Happy New Year, and I’m so glad you’re here.
Important Links:
Cherian’s Book- Neurogiving: https://www.amazon.com/Neurogiving-Science-Decision-Making-Cherian-Koshy/dp/1394370458
How to Train ChatGPT: https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300
My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program
My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey
My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/