THE KINDNESS EFFECT

Understanding the science and research around kindness.
Changing culture & community one kind act at a time.

The kindness effect image
Francesca Donlan developed and taught the first kindness class at Florida Gulf Coast University.

She taught more than 200 students over three years and their outcomes exceeded all expectations. At the end of each semester, students consistently liked themselves more, felt connected to their community, participated in and believed in kindness.

Research reveals that kindness has the power to significantly improve our professional and personal lives for the better. She offers one-hour presentations as well as half-day and one-day programs across the country to share tools (backed by science and research) that will strengthen morale, foster community and leave participants with a roadmap to create a kinder and happier life.

KINDNESS AND KIDS (OF ALL AGES)

The benefits of kindness have a profound impact on children of all ages. Increased acts of kindness create a richer community, stronger friendships, higher self-esteem. Is your current school culture as kind as it could be? Find out how to establish kindness as a value and create a kinder community with the right tools. 

KINDNESS, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

Science and research reveal that acts of kindness produce health benefits that help people live longer. Practicing specific kindness behaviors increases heart health, reduces inflammation, decreases stress and anxiety, improves resilience and creates stronger friendships. Learn how to adapt kindness techniques to live a longer and healthier life. 

THE KINDNESS TOOL KIT

Research and science reveal how kindness can change your life. Ivy League universities including Yale, Stanford and Harvard include kindness curriculum in their educational programs. What are all the experts revealing about kindness and how can it change your personal and professional life for the better. Learn how incorporate specific kindness techniques into your daily life.

CULTIVATING KINDNESS CULTURE AT WORK

Most people quit their jobs because they don't like their boss. Organizations that prioritize and value kindness attract and retain talented employees, foster community, have loyal customers, and enhance their reputation and brand image. Learn how to cultivate a culture of kindness.


  • UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

  • ST. GEORGE'S SCHOOL

  • FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

  • NAVAL WAR COLLEGE

IT'S COOL TO BE KIND

IT'S COOL TO BE KIND

The Kindness Effect class was featured on the cover of the Florida Gulf Coast University 360 Magazine.

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Stories2ShareNBC - firstfeature

Stories2ShareNBC - firstfeature

Francesca speaks to NBC's Story2Share about the impact of kindness on her class at FGCU.

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Stories2ShareNBC: Secondfeature

Stories2ShareNBC: Secondfeature

NBC's Story2Share returned to The Kindness Effect class at FGCU to see how students coped with kindness during Covid.

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WINKTV - Kindness Class helps Seniors

WINKTV - Kindness Class helps Seniors

CBS Wink TV films a segment on The Kindness Effect class about it's mission to help seniors during Covid.

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Kindness Podcast with swflstrong

Kindness Podcast with swflstrong

Francesca speaks with Southwest Florida Strong Podcast from CONRIC pr + marketing about the impact of kindness on Southwest Florida.

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World Footprints/Kindness/Podcast

World Footprints/Kindness/Podcast

Tonya Fitzpatrick, co-Founder of World Footprints, LLC, a socially conscious travel media platform interviews Francesca on the topic of kindness during Covid.

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WINKTV- Making Kindness go viral

WINKTV- Making Kindness go viral

CBS Wink TV produce a news segment about how Kindness Effect students helped the community.

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Florida Weekly: Come From Away - and kindness class

Florida Weekly: Come From Away - and kindness class

Broadway show Come From Away intersects with FGCU Kindness Effect class.

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Kindness Speech to ROCK team

Kindness Speech to ROCK team

Francesca shares some stories from class on the power of kindness with a group from FGCU's Roots of Compassion & Kindness.

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Ebella Magazine Essay

Ebella Magazine Essay

Francesca writes an essay on self compassion and lessons learned during Kindness Effect class.

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Gulfshore Business: Kindness in the work place

Gulfshore Business: Kindness in the work place

In recent years, experts have pointed to what they call a “kindness deficit” in the world. Francesca Donlan discusses the impact of kindness in the workplace.

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Gulfshore Life

Gulfshore Life

Kindness is a teachable virtue that can create a better world, and it all starts at home.

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Tea Parties With Angels

Tea Parties With Angels

TEA PARTIES WITH ANGELS - The Pulitzer Prize nominated true story of a remarkable Cape Coral girl and her relationship with angels.

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Deanna & Melissa

Deanna & Melissa

Best of Gannett and Society of Professional Journalists award for this six-part series covering two roommates challenged with different eating disorders and their attempts to help each other.

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Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Pulitzer Prize nomination for multi-media collaboration. Best of Gannett and Society of Professional Journalists First Place award for series on the life and death of a Fort Myers boy with a very special wish.

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Summer of Hunger

Summer of Hunger

The "Summer of Hunger" series took top award in Multi Media Storytelling for Excellence in Feature Writing by the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors.

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Dancing Classrooms

Dancing Classrooms

Almost 600 Lee County fifth-graders learned to twirl, swing, curtsy and take a bow as part of Dancing Classrooms. Between the beats of the music and the challenging choreography, they learned profound life lessons.

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Up Beat Columns

Up Beat Columns

The weekly column, The Up Beat, ran in The News-Press, a Gannett newspaper in Fort Myers, Fla. for three years and focused on the sunnier side of life.

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About image
Kindness Advocate, National Speaker, Writer, PR professional

Francesca Donlan is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist with experience as a travel PR exec and adjunct professor. Francesca holds a M.A. in journalism from the University of Missouri and a B.A. in psychology from Rutgers University.

Francesca has spoken about the science and research around kindness at a variety of schools, clubs and senior living communities. Some of those include North American Journalists Travel Association, University of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University, St. George’s school, The Naval War College, TeamFame at International Tennis Hall of Fame, Providence Library, Fort Myers Leadership, Pelican Preserve community, Buccaneer Estates and Magnolia Landing Golf & Country Club and more. 

She currently resides in Narragansett, Rhode Island.


  • Narragansett, RI, USA