Intergenerational Engagement A Meeting of the Minds VCM Annual Retreat April 4, 2008

Overview  Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for your Nonprofit (Peter Brinckerhoff) 1. Do you understand generational differences? 2. Can you address generational differences? 3. Are you being left in the dust by generational differences?

Five Generations  Greatest Generation ( )  Silent Generation ( )  Baby Boomers ( )  Gen X ( )  Gen Y, Millenials (1981 – 2002)

Greatest Generation (84+)  Group size: 20 million  Greatest tech event: rural electrification, commercial radio  Emphasis: tradition; helping others; being part of a large-scale, valuable change

Silent Generation (63-83)  Group size: 30 million  Greatest tech event: private auto ownership; use of early office machines; mass industrialization  Emphasis: tradition, loyalty to a key issue, value of joint work ethic

Boomers (46-62)  Group size: 80 million  Greatest tech event: Television  Emphasis: their value to team, your need for them; their ability to improve services; young/cool workplace; public recognition; they can change the world

Gen X (28-45)  Group size: 45 million  Greatest tech event: PC and cable  Emphasis: their value to the work of the org; value of independent thinking; work-life balance

(6-27)  Group size: 75 million  Greatest tech event: everything is on the internet  Emphasis: the good that they can do with their peers; challenge of doing good in the community and doing it well; need for new perspectives and ideas

Four Big Impacts  Boomers Coming in the Door  Boomers Going Out the Door  Whatever Happened to GenX and  Unintended Consequences

A Balancing Act  Boomers are currently the focus of most products, services, systems  If we ignore GenX and they’ll go on without (in spite of) us: They move and act in groups (power in numbers) They will check you out online first (what will they see?) They will ask their peers second (what will they hear?) Then they may come to you directly…  So what will our community look like when Boomers are gone?

Trends that Matter  Financial Stress  Technological Acceleration  Diversity of Population  Redefining the Family  MeBranding  Work-Life Balance

What is this “MeBranding?”  The desire to have services and products delivered in the exact, unique way that an individual wants them. MeVolunteering MeBenefits MeServices MeScheduling Etc…

Six Big Actions 1. Include generational issues in planning 2. Mentor and discuss among generations 3. Target market by generation 4. Age down 5. Meet techspectations 6. Ask

From a Volunteer Standpoint  Organizations need to bridge the great divide of generations  Boomers and are the focus, but very different  Most orgs are designed to meet needs of Boomers  To engage consider these strategies: Ramp up your web site Create volunteer opps that suit them  Move in groups  Believe in opinions of peers  USE TIME EFFICIENTLY

Resources  Generations: The Challenge of Lifetime for your Nonprofit (Brinckerhoff) Also…  Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers and Nexters in Your Workplace (Zemke, Raines, Filipczak)  Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values and Defining Moments Shape Leaders (Bennis, Thomas)