Avengers, Assemble! What the Marvel Cinematic Universe Teaches Us About Donor Connection
The Neuroscience of Narrative, Emotional Synchrony, and Story Structure that Moves People to Give

What do Marvel blockbusters and major gift conversations have in common? More than you think. In this session, we’ll journey into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to uncover the neuroscience behind great storytelling – specifically neural coupling, narrative transportation, and mirror neurons – and how they create the “Oh” moment in donors’ brains.

Using the architecture of successful cinematic universes, we’ll explore how your nonprofit can craft a larger narrative arc that donors want to stay inside, invest in, and feel a part of. Whether you’re sending appeals or planning campaigns, you’ll walk away with a powerful narrative framework that creates continuity, emotional resonance, and generous action. Create a consistent narrative world across every donor touchpoint—from events to appeals to thank-yous. Learn how cinematic universes build identity, continuity, and connection across stories, characters, and timelines—and how your nonprofit can do the same.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understand how story structures like the Hero’s Journey, ensemble casts, and long-form narrative arcs build donor loyalty
• Learn the science of neural coupling and how to engineer moments of synchrony between donor and message
• Apply cinematic storytelling to your donor communications to make them feel immersive, not transactional

Cherian Koshy
Kindsight

The Plot Twist: How Surprise and Disruption Create Unforgettable Donor Moments

In film, plot twists grab attention and reframe meaning. In fundraising, they create moments of delight and emotional salience. This session unpacks the science of surprise (dopamine, reward pathways, expectation violation) and teaches fundraisers to use it ethically to enhance thank-yous, renewals, and event experiences.

What You’ll Learn:

• The “Oh!” moment as a neurological reward
• How to ethically disrupt donor expectations to build emotional engagement
• Before/after examples of communications that surprise and move