When it comes to fundraising, which delivers better results: doom and gloom? Or hope? I’ve been pondering the idea of framing, the way we present information to prospective and current donors, both positive and negative, in hopes of securing a contribution. While there are academic studies on behavioral biases, there is not an overwhelming body of research when it comes to the impact of positive versus negative spin on charitable giving. So let’s break down what we do know.

PPC search has been a steady workhorse when it comes to donations-focused, down-funnel strategies: It’s relatively cost-efficient with a solid ROI (when done right). But what about all the fancy new stuff, like AI learning and audiences and voice? Having done some research of my own, I reached out to an old friend, Eric Werner, for an opinion.