There is often a gap between people’s intentions and actions—perhaps they intend to use a non-profit’s program or service but don’t follow through, don’t realize they are eligible for certain benefits, or have certain misconceptions about what’s possible or expected in a particular context.
Applying a behavioral lens can help agencies address these issues, and in doing so make good programs even more effective, enabling them to help more people. We’re currently accepting requests for assistance from non-profits looking to apply behavioral insights to existing or new programs. We’re also eager to support more organizations through our educational workshops and Office Hours, which are free to New York City non-profits.
Click here to view our full list of projects.
Behavioral Design Center Office Hours
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Project Assistance
Through collaborative design projects, we help non-profits apply behavioral insights to their work.
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Educational Workshops
Our practical, interactive workshops equip non-profit leaders and staff with tools to identify potential behavioral barriers and design solutions.
Our Projects
This project focused on illuminating and addressing behavioral barriers in Reading Partners’ volunteer onboarding process in order to increase the number of active volunteers serving New York City school students.
Read MoreThe BDC identified behavioral barriers limiting the number and diversity of students applying for Breakthrough-NY’s free 10-year program. We redesigned one of their webpages and suggested other ways to increase applications, particularly from boys of color.
Read MoreWe focused on enhancing staff effectiveness in engaging clients in support groups and activities that have proven valuable to participants.
Read MoreThe project sought to identify behavioral barriers limiting responsive actions to CCC’s “Take Action” emails and offered recommendations to motivate advocates to send more letters to state and city leaders.
Read MoreWe worked with ExpandedED Schools Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program to identify barriers to after-school educators participating in its STEM Educators Academy (SEA), a program designed to support skill development and educators’ sense of belonging in the STEM field. Read the project brief.
uaspire‘s text-message student advising services provides personalized support to help college students make financially responsible decisions and secure and maintain the financial assistance needed to support their choices. To maximize the value of this support, we identified barriers limiting student response rates and strategies to overcome them. View project brief.
BLOGS
NYC Behavioral Design Center supporters have included: the W. T. Grant Foundation, The New York Community Trust, the Booth Ferris Foundation, the Pinkerton Foundation, Fidelity Charitable Trustees' Initiative, and Casey Family Programs.
