Cherian Koshy’s Behavioral Science Fundraising Workshops

Behavioral Science & Donor Pyschology

Cherian Koshy, keynote speaker in behavioral science and donor psychology, smiling in a light blue checked shirt against a dark background.

Unforgettable Fundraising: How to Build a Donor Experience That Sticks

Description:
In an attention economy, your biggest competition isn’t another nonprofit—it’s forgetfulness. This hands-on masterclass, led by Neurogivingauthor Cherian Koshy, dives into the neuroscience of memory and generosity. You’ll learn how to create donor experiences that are not only meaningful—but memorable enough to inspire action again and again. Packed with real-world examples and brain-based strategies, this session gives you a practical framework to build loyalty, retention, and lifetime value.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand how memory formation impacts donor behavior and long-term giving
  • Identify friction points in your donor journey that cause forgetting and disengagement
  • Apply neuroscience-backed tactics to storytelling, stewardship, and appeals
  • Build a “Memory-First” fundraising plan to increase donor retention
Hold your date

Talk Triggers for Nonprofits: How to Get Your Board and Donors to Tell Your Story

Description:
Word-of-mouth is still your most powerful fundraising tool—if you know how to spark it. Based on concepts from Jay Baer and Exactly What to Say, this masterclass teaches you how to identify and train your board, staff, and donors to share memorable, repeatable, and trust-building stories that grow your reach and revenue.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify your organization’s “talk triggers” that others naturally share
  • Use persuasive prompts to train others in storytelling
  • Workshop signature stories that board members can confidently share
  • Turn passive supporters into active brand advocates

Exactly What to Say to Donors: The Science of Magic Words

Description:
Words move money. In this masterclass based on the Exactly What to Sayframework, Certified Guide Cherian Koshy shows you how to unlock conversations that lead to transformational gifts. Through real-play exercises and role-specific scenarios, you’ll learn the behavioral science behind “magic words” that turn curiosity into commitment—and how to coach others (including your board!) to use them confidently.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Discover the most persuasive language patterns for major donor conversations
  • Practice using “magic words” to navigate objections and ask with confidence
  • Gain tools to train your board and colleagues in effective donor communication
  • Create a customizable script bank for your own fundraising use

Artificial Intelligence and Change Management

AI Without the Robots: Using Everyday Tools to Supercharge Your Fundraising

Description:
AI isn’t the future, it’s already here. But you don’t need to be a tech wizard to harness its power. In this fast-paced, interactive workshop, you’ll get practical, hands-on guidance on how to use free or low-cost AI tools to save time, generate better donor communications, and uncover new opportunities. Whether you’re a solo fundraiser or managing a team, you’ll walk away with an AI-powered toolkit you can start using tomorrow, ethically and effectively.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn how generative AI works and where it fits in your workflow
  • Get hands-on with AI tools for crafting appeals, emails, and stewardship
  • Explore real-life nonprofit use cases for AI in donor research and segmentation
  • Understand the ethical considerations and guardrails to put in place

Transformative Leadership in the Age of AI: Preparing Your Nonprofit for What’s Next

Workshop Description:
The AI era demands more than tool adoption. It requires a shift in how nonprofit leaders think, plan, and lead. This interactive workshop invites nonprofit executives, fundraisers, and board leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the sector and how to lead with clarity, adaptability, and purpose in the face of rapid technological change.

Drawing from current research and real-world examples, you’ll assess your organization’s readiness, challenge the myths and fears surrounding AI, and design a path toward responsible, mission-aligned adoption. You’ll leave not just with inspiration, but with actionable strategies for integrating AI into your organization’s culture, workflows, and long-term vision.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the landscape: how AI is transforming philanthropy across sectors
  • Identify key opportunities and risks of AI for your specific mission and model
  • Assess your organization’s current readiness for AI-driven change
  • Apply a change management framework to introduce AI without disruption
  • Design a leadership strategy that fosters innovation, trust, and ethical adoption
  • Craft your organization’s AI readiness roadmap for the next 12–24 months

A Note from Cherian

“

I've spent my entire professional life working in and with organizations that are creating an impact in the lives of real people. I have seen lots of them perpetually struggle because they ask the wrong questions (and then get the wrong answers) and that's why I provide so many resources for free. I want you to feel encouraged and empowered to create a better world. If you'd like to take the next step and work with me, I would be humbled and honored to help you ask the right questions and find the unique answers that will propel your impact.

To your sustained success,
Cherian Koshy logo emphasizing nonprofit fundraising strategies and social impact initiatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op714oe4nN4

He’s not just a thought leader—he's a passionate advocate for using technology to foster social impact.

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Cherian's Approach to Speaking & Storytelling

Don't Just Take Our Word for It

Transformed Organizations

“Cherian Koshy is a fantastic presenter on many topics (I'm a fan!). And in this instance, he excelled even more. Trying to make sense of budgeting in the midst of this COVID crisis is an extremely daunting task. Cherian was honest about the challenges (a welcome relief!) and then offered actionable steps for how to do the best possible in uncertain, volatile times. This session helped me move from dismay to conviction on how I can, and must, act to sustain my nonprofit.”

Karen Schofield-LecaAmerican Nurses Association

“It's rare when I encounter a webinar in which I experience every piece of information shared to be extremely valuable. This is one, no question. Mr. Koshy not only knocked it out of the park, he knocked it a mile out of the park.”

David Luna

“The presenter was extremely knowledgeable, very well versed in nonprofit work, and gave real and useful information for a spectrum of budget in crisis organizations during this scary pandemic. I appreciated the uplifting sentiments that we are all amazing and extremely intelligent, too.”

Jenny DeRuntzThe YWCA Berkeley/Oakland

“Jam-packed with information that is backed by research and experience as well as new ideas and inspiring, thought-provoking content. Highly recommended!”

Danielle NaplesYMCA of Greater Pittsburgh

“Cherian shared very useful tools and strategies for getting things moving quickly in fundraising. It was a lot of information to take in and process, and some of the steps aren't as easily accomplished (i.e., quickly) as others. However, he outlines a very practical process that covers all the bases in developing a successful fund-raising strategy.”

Timothy Voss

Leadership and Strategy

The Leader’s Playbook: Adaptive Fundraising in a Changing World

Description:
The world isn’t just changing, it’s evolving faster than ever. This session is your adaptive leadership bootcamp for fundraising professionals who need to manage up, across, and forward. Through frameworks drawn from behavioral science and real-world nonprofit challenges, you’ll develop the mindset and toolset needed to navigate uncertainty, lead through complexity, and drive sustainable growth.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn the four adaptive leadership moves every fundraiser must master
  • Build strategies for managing donor expectations, board dynamics, and change fatigue
  • Practice scenario-based decision-making using real-world nonprofit tensions
  • Develop your own “Fundraiser’s Leadership Manifesto” for intentional impact

From Vision to Velocity: Strategic Planning with Predictable Success

Workshop Description:
Why do some nonprofits scale with ease while others stall despite strong missions? The answer lies in understanding your organization’s lifecycle—and adjusting your leadership, structure, and strategy accordingly.

In this workshop inspired by Les McKeown’s Predictable Successmodel, you’ll identify which phase your organization is in—from Early Struggle to Treadmill—and discover the strategic moves required to get to (or stay in) Predictable Success. Through interactive exercises, candid assessments, and practical frameworks, you’ll develop a strategic roadmap that balances innovation, systems, and people.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the 7 stages of organizational growth and where your nonprofit fits
  • Recognize the leadership styles and team dynamics that support (or sabotage) growth
  • Identify the key actions needed to escape the “Whitewater” and avoid the “Treadmill”
  • Align your board, fundraising, and operations around your current lifecycle phase
  • Create a tailored 12–18 month strategy to move toward Predictable Success

Major and Planned Gifts

Legacy Leverage: Making Planned Giving a Priority Without a Full-Time Planned Giving Officer

Workshop Description:
Planned giving often feels like a luxury reserved for large shops—but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive workshop demystifies the process and shows how any nonprofit, regardless of size, can start or grow a sustainable planned giving program. With frameworks rooted in behavioral science and donor psychology, you’ll discover how to inspire legacy commitments without complex tools or legal jargon.

Whether you’re just starting or ready to level up, this session will help you turn intention into action and move donors from someday to signature.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand what truly motivates legacy donors (hint: it’s not tax savings)
  • Identify the “hidden planned giving prospects” already in your database
  • Use simple, scalable scripts and storytelling techniques to initiate conversations
  • Integrate planned giving into annual fund and major gift conversations
  • Create a 12-month micro-campaign calendar for legacy cultivation

Major Gifts Without the Mystery: Building a Scalable, Relationship-Driven Program

Workshop Description:
Major gifts aren’t just about wealthy donors—they’re about meaningful relationships. In this workshop, you’ll learn a proven system for identifying, cultivating, and closing transformational gifts without relying on outdated pyramids or passive prospecting. Using a behavioral approach and scalable strategies, you’ll walk away with practical tools to build a pipeline, make better asks, and deepen trust at every step.

This session is ideal for fundraisers at any level looking to strengthen or reboot their major gift program—even if you wear multiple hats.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Define what a major gift means for your organization (it’s not always six figures)
  • Segment and prioritize prospects using interest and intent—not just wealth data
  • Use “relational cues” to guide when and how to move toward the ask
  • Practice conversation techniques that build trust and unlock generosity
  • Build a simple, actionable moves management system to track progress and stay focused