Blog

More Than Numbers: Strengthening RCT and Cost Reporting for Policy and Practice

by Suvarna Pande (3ie) and Catherine MacLeod (ideas42)

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a powerful tool for understanding what works in development and anti-poverty programs. They provide insights to guide practitioners and policymakers in improving and scaling interventions. But for RCT findings to inform these decisions, they must be communicated clearly and systematically—something that’s easier said than done. Good reporting isn’t just about […]

How the science of giving is revolutionizing philanthropy

by The ideas42 Team

When a nonprofit wants to raise more money, conventional wisdom suggests bombarding donors with emotional appeals and compelling data. But what if the secret to unlocking greater charitable giving lies in understanding how people actually make decisions?

In a recent fireside chat, Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving, and Sarah Welch, Managing Director of Charitable Giving & Philanthropy at ideas42 explore the unexpected insights from behavioral science that are transforming how organizations approach fundraising—and changing philanthropy worldwide.

How Farmer Networks Can Unlock Sustainable Agriculture

by Jessica Li, Cecilia Shang, Dana Guichon

Early on a Tuesday morning in Boone, Iowa, while the corn fields are still wet with dew, the coffee counter at a local Casey’s gas station hums with conversation. Loitering near the cash register, John chats up his neighbors while his truck finishes filling with diesel.  He’s been coming here for coffee and a doughnut […]

The Power of Us: 2024 in Review

by Bridgette Gray, CEO

This year has been a testament to the idea that we are greater than the sum of our parts. We’ve collaborated with partners around the world in a range of fields. Here are a few projects that showcase how much more we accomplish together.

How a Board Game Empowers Girls in Ghana to Control Their Reproductive Futures

by Rahin Khandker

The girls jittered as they looked down at the game board. If they moved their piece one more square forward, they would win the game. Afia drew the game card for her team and the blood immediately drained from her face. Oh no—it was the dreaded Chance card. The girls on the opposing teams shrieked […]

8 Ways to Unlock Better Teaching Practices

by Katherine Flaschen

Despite nearly universal enrollment rates in primary education in many low- and middle-income countries, many children are not receiving the quality education they need to thrive. Nine out of ten children in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, cannot read with comprehension by the age of 10. A critical piece in solving this learning crisis is to […]

3 Tips for Making It Easier to Choose a Charity

by Jen Shafer

“The needs of the charitable world are endless, but unfortunately my financial resources are not—that is the most challenging part about giving.” “When I get too many emails, it’s overwhelming.… I just start deleting them.” Donors receive a constant stream of requests for their attention and money. Fundraisers know this, and so they engage in […]

Courts Without Fear

by The ideas42 Team

How Kansas City Municipal Court is leveraging insights from behavioral science to help more people voluntarily clear their nonappearance warrants, without the threat of being arrested.

A Novel Solution for Increasing Donations to Giving Platforms

by Dave Sharp (Every.org) and Piyush Tantia

Every.org, a technology-driven nonprofit and online fundraising platform, is dedicated to creating an easier and more meaningful giving process for both donors and nonprofits. As is the case for many platforms, maintaining operational sustainability while offering free services to other nonprofits poses a significant challenge. A key component of their sustainability model involves encouraging donors […]

Ten Questions with Antoinette Schoar: On Financial Heuristics, Scaling, and Storytelling

by The ideas42 Team

Financial Heuristics Training is one of ideas42’s most successful field-based interventions, one that has been replicated and scaled across geographies and populations. ideas42 co-founder Antoinette Schoar reflects on how the training program has evolved, and how this model has influenced ideas42’s approach to real-world problems.