Nonprofit Lowdown

Rhea Wong

This is Nonprofit Lowdown where I review and recommend the best ideas, resources, tools, tricks and tips to run your nonprofit like a pro!

  1. 5D AGO

    #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/⁠

    44 min
  2. 11/17/2025

    #364- Giving Tuesday But Make It Major Gifts

    In this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m sharing a juicy slice of one of my free live webinars—and trust me, this isn’t your typical “Giving Tuesday tips” vibe. Instead of talking about social posts, I break down how to turn Giving Tuesday into a major donor discovery day. Yep. One day. Major donor pipeline. Let’s go. Why Giving Tuesday is secretly one of the BEST moments to surface major donor prospects. The wild fact that 3% of your Giving Tuesday audience could literally fund your next program—and how to spot them. The real difference between annual donors and major donors (and why treating everyone the same is costing you). How to use simple “signals” to catch the folks who are quietly watching your work and ready to step up. Why in-person meetings boost your major gift success by 70%—and how to book more of them during year-end. Exactly how I segment donors into Lane A (annual givers) and Lane B (top 30 major prospects) without burning out. Wins from my students who’ve skyrocketed year-end revenue and landed surprise 5-figure gifts. Major donors often self-cultivate and self-solicit. Your job is to create the right conditions so they raise their hands. This episode shows you how to turn Giving Tuesday traffic into real conversations and transformational gifts. This episode features just a portion of my free webinar. If you want the full session—plus more tools to grow your major gift program Inside the Episode: Why You’ll Want to Listen:Want More Trainings Like This? Important Links: Webinar Registration: https://go.rheawong.com/majorgiftsplaybook-5083-1612  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/⁠

    14 min
  3. 11/10/2025

    #363- Making the Case for Your Board

    If you’ve been listening to me for a while, maybe caught one of my trainings, or you’re on my email list, this is your nudge: now is the time to work with me on your major gift strategy. I only have 20 spots left between now and the end of 2025 in my Big Ask Gift Program, and prices will increase in 2026. Let’s be real — one of the biggest blockers I see when folks reach out to me is their board. Maybe they say, “We only have $1,000 for professional development,” or they hesitate because they can’t see the ROI clearly. In this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m walking you through exactly how to make the case to your board — with plain numbers, clear ROI, and a ready-to-forward approval packet that gets a yes fast. Your donors are being spoken to — the only question is, by who? Let’s make sure it’s you, with a clear, confident strategy. Important Links: How Much Revenue Is Your Nonprofit Leaving on the Table?:   https://magic-sparkle-maker-45.lovable.app/  Book an Evaluation Call Here:  https://go.rheawong.com/application  Board Video: https://share.descript.com/view/kgx4gQmiyzY Webinar Registration: https://go.rheawong.com/majorgiftsplaybook-5165  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/⁠

    16 min
4.9
out of 5
127 Ratings

About

This is Nonprofit Lowdown where I review and recommend the best ideas, resources, tools, tricks and tips to run your nonprofit like a pro!

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