About Cherian Koshy
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USA Today Bestselling Author Cherian Koshy is a leading expert on the neuroscience of generosity and the author of “Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making” (Dec. 9, 2025, Wiley). A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), he helps mission-driven organizations harness behavioral science, neuroscience, and ethical AI to inspire authentic giving. As Treasurer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global Board and a member of The Giving Institute and Forbes Nonprofit Council, Koshy shapes the future of philanthropy through research, teaching, and practical frameworks that connect science, strategy, and the human spirit. Learn more at NeurogivingBook.com and CherianKoshy.com.
Broadcast Bio
Cherian Koshy is USA Today bestselling author, speaker, and global expert on the neuroscience of generosity. His new book, “Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making” (Dec. 9, 2025, Wiley), reveals how the brain truly experiences giving — and why traditional fundraising methods often miss the mark.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), Koshy has spent more than two decades helping mission-driven organizations harness behavioral science, neuroscience, and ethical AI to build meaningful donor relationships. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global Board, and serves on the boards of The Giving Institute and the Forbes Nonprofit Council.
Known for his dynamic keynotes and practical insights, Koshy helps leaders move beyond transactional fundraising to create donor experiences rooted in empathy, trust, and identity. His work equips organizations to build a culture of generosity that’s both measurable and deeply human. Learn more at NeurogivingBook.com and CherianKoshy.com. Host question: “Cherian, you say generosity is hardwired, not a hard sell. How does understanding the brain change the way we inspire people to give?”
In-Depth Bio
Cherian Koshy — USA Today Bestselling Author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making (Wiley, 2025)
USA Today Bestselling Author Cherian Koshy is a global authority on the neuroscience of generosity, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®). As the author of “Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making” (Dec. 9, 2025, Wiley), he is redefining how organizations understand, inspire, and sustain giving in a distracted, data-driven world.
With over two decades of experience leading fundraising strategy and nonprofit innovation, Koshy helps mission-driven organizations bridge what he calls “the generosity gap” — the growing divide between people’s desire to help and the systems that make giving difficult. His groundbreaking work combines neuroscience, behavioral economics, and ethical AI to decode what actually drives generosity in the human brain. The result: practical, science-based tools that empower fundraisers to create donor experiences that feel authentic, relational, and deeply human.
Koshy’s central message is both hopeful and disruptive: “Generosity is hardwired, not a hard sell.” Through his keynotes, workshops, and advisory programs, he teaches that people are naturally inclined to give — but most fundraising systems unintentionally get in the way. By removing friction, building trust, and understanding the brain’s reward and memory systems, organizations can dramatically increase engagement and loyalty while preserving integrity and compassion.
As Vice President at Kindsight, he delivers keynotes, workshops, executive training, and behavioral insight to nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, and social impact tech companies worldwide. His Neurogiving Live workshops have transformed how leaders think about storytelling, motivation, and ethical influence.
A respected sector leader, Koshy currently serves as Treasurer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global Board of Directors, and serves on the boards of The Giving Institute and the Forbes Nonprofit Council. He is also a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and Rogare, the international fundraising think tank.
Before founding his company, which was then acquired by Kindsight, Koshy spent decades in nonprofit leadership, guiding development and marketing teams to record-breaking fundraising results. He earned a Certificate in Behavioral Science from Harvard Business School and a Certificate in Data and AI Ethics from the London School of Economics — blending rigorous academic study with hands-on sector experience.
A sought-after speaker at conferences including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, and CASE, Koshy is known for turning complex science into practical strategies that ignite insight and action. His clients describe his sessions as “revelatory,” blending evidence-based clarity with deep humanity and humor.
Outside of his professional work, Koshy is a Guinness World Record holder and a Kentucky Colonel — reminders, he says, that joy and generosity are universal human experiences. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he continues exploring how the brain and heart work together to create a more generous world.
Learn more at NeurogivingBook.com and CherianKoshy.com.