Generation Why: The Importance of Millennial Giving
Millennials – some of us remember the excitement we felt when we got our first Nokia brick cellphones (the ones with the antennas that just would not break), while some of us found ourselves as mere preteens when the revolution of iPhones emerged in 2007. Individuals born between 1981 and 1996 are as diverse in age as we are in interest and financial means.
Accounting for 24.9% of the Bay Area’s population, millennials are not only the largest demographic in the American workforce but also the emerging leaders in the realm of non-profit giving. Millennials give in many ways: individual giving campaigns, social entrepreneurship, skill-share workshops, social media askes amongst friends and family, board member volunteers, deepening networking opportunities amongst our employers…the list knows no beginning and certainly no end. While our capacity to give proves to exist without bounds, one thing does solidify our commonality in the philanthropic world: “The Why.”
Generation “Why” gives when we are provided with details on why there is a need for impact. We donate when we feel we can make a direct impact on a cause we identify with; this association is usually based on personal experience or a strong parallel to our interests or social belief system. Donating is not just monetary; we view time as just as valuable of a currency as money. We seek community amongst other like-minded, action-driven individuals, and with the organizations we are backing with our tender of choice. Purpose and partnership are at the root of our service toward social change and philanthropy.
Our need to reverse social injustice parallels our (as well as our neighbors’) experiences of the social, political, and financial pressures of the world we live. Millennials, on average, earn less than other generations and face more financial ncertainty due to the fear associated with student loans and housing. However, we invest the most time in researching causes we enroll ourselves.
As we find ourselves at the threshold of becoming the next generation of impactful donors, it is no doubt that non-profits equally seek to partner with us. With vastly innovative opportunities to serve our causes emerging each and every day, millennials are at the forefront of creating change as accessible as it is urgent. Matching our hunger to influence change in our local to global communities positively, non-profits need our vision of giving and collaboration. Generation Why must continue to question how we can provide and push our curiosity about how to meet the needs of our causes.
We can all impact change and be partners in ending domestic violence and human trafficking. By partnering with a local non-profit, like Ruby’s Place, you promote change in your backyard and help us to expand our impact on the diverse clients who utilize our services. You are also helping to develop our services to reach members of our community who are not currently connected with us. For these reasons, it’s essential to keep in conversation. Let's keep the conversation going – comment below to tell us how you think non-profits like Ruby's Place can respond to your interests and needs as a donor. You can also email our Development Associate, Daisy, at daisy@rubysplace.org for ideas for partnerships or how to donate.
