Charitable giving is rapidly evolving. Contributions from foundations and corporations have increased, while more and more dollars from individuals pass through donor-advised funds. Who is giving—and how much—continues to shift. And, in the wake of COVID, even what counts as giving is expanding.

Navigating these changes is critical for non-profits, funders, platforms, and others in the giving space. New research on donor behavior can spark innovations to increase proactive, strategic, and impactful giving. This can mean more funds for more charitable organizations to solve critical social problems around the world.

To support this work across philanthropy, we’re excited to share a resource to help those who work toward social good navigate these changes: an update to our literature review on the behavioral science of how donors give.

In this work, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we examine scholarly research on social norms, shared identity, incentives, framing, and more. Reflecting a parallel emphasis in the field, the literature review pays increased attention to insights on racial and gender equity within giving.

The full review includes many techniques that practitioners can explore to drive donor attention toward organizations that confront social inequities. Here is a selection of the novel studies we encountered.

Read the full article about how donors give by Nick O'Donnell and Bradley Noble at ideas42.