1. exploring generational trends & their giving

2. Introductions/Overview
Today’s Session:
Reflections on giving
5 Generations– overview
Discussion
Wrap-up

3. Reflections What kinds of causes do you support?
What captures your attention/motivates you to give?
How do you give?
What do you want your gifts to do?

4. With which of these (if any) do you identify?
Five Generations
Greatest Generation: born
Baby Boomers: born
Gen X: born
Gen Y/Millennials: born
Gen Z: born
With which of these (if any) do you identify?

5. You might be a… Greatest if…You remember when TV was all black & white
Baby Boomer if…You used a typewriter to write your term papers
Gen Xer if…You typed your papers on a word processor
Gen Y/Millennial if…The internet has existed as long as you remember
Gen Z if…Smartphones have existed as far back as you can remember.

6. Greatest Generation Approximately 9-12% of U.S. Population.
Belief system shaped by parents’ views, community values, views of respected political leaders.
Influences: Great Depression, WWII, G.I. Bill.
Tend to be conservative, fiscally prudent, and loyal to the groups and organizations with which they affiliate.
Appreciate when their vast experience is respected.
Prefer tangible symbols of recognition (plaques, etc.)
Strengths: Stable, disciplined, loyal, hard-working.
88% of Greatest Gen engage in charitable giving.

7. Baby Boomers Approximately 24% of U.S. Population.
Perspectives shaped by the views of immediate family & friends, and political events.
Influences: Civil Rights, Vietnam, Rock n’ Roll, MLK, JFK Assassinations, Woodstock.
Good team players; strong consensus builders; effective due to large numbers.
Willing to go the extra mile when working with others.
Prefer to be recognized by: status, title.
72% of Baby Boomers engage in charitable giving.

8. Generation X Approximately 20% of U.S. Population
Belief systems shaped by world events as seen on TV, friends’ values and views, and select co-workers.
Influences: AIDS epidemic, Space Shuttle Challenger, Sesame Street, Nixon Resignation, Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela’s release, Stock Market Crash.
More independent and less trusting than previous generations.
Loyalty to people, not to organizations.
Strengths: Adaptable, self-reliant, willing to “buck the system.”
59% of Generation X engage in charitable giving.

9. Generation Y / Millennials
Approximately 22-26% of U.S. Population
Belief systems shaped by community values and lifestyles, parents’ and grandparents’ views, world events.
Influences: Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, Technology, School Violence, Clinton/Lewinsky scandal.
Extremely open-minded about differences in race, gender, ethnicity, etc.
Motivated by professional development opportunities.
Appreciate timely feedback and recognition for individual contributions.
Strengths: Adept at change, optimistic, innovative.
84% of Millennials engage in charitable giving.

10. Generation Z Approximately 26% of U.S. Population
Belief systems shaped by parents, technology, world events.
Influences: No Child Left Behind, Cyber-Bullying laws, Great Recession, Post-9/11 vigilance, Video-on-Demand Services, Obama Presidency.
Most multicultural generation.
Value privacy; shapes how they use social media.
Strengths: Digital natives, service-oriented, culturally sensitive.
Life paths informed more by practical realities over passions. Inspired by entrepreneurs of tech world.
Not enough information is known yet about the charitable giving trends of Generation Z.

11. Group Breakouts Break out into pairs/triads.
Together, address these questions:
What causes do you support?
What captures your attention and motivates you to give?
How do you give?
What do you want your gifts to do?
“Knowing about generational attributes, what are some ways you might reach out to your classmates about supporting the college? How do you talk to you classmates about giving?”

12. Closing Thoughts
Can be a fun lens through which to examine the unique ways you approach life – and giving.
Only one dimension – does not explain everything!

13. Selected References
Crandall, M. and Zimmers, S. (2009). Bridging the generation gap in the workplace. Presentation retrieved from: workplace
Marketing Land. Retrieved from: population-segment
MobileCause. (2018). Charitable giving by generation. Retrieved from:
Scott, R. (2016). Get ready for generation Z. Forbes.com. Retrieved from:
Shah, R. (2011). Working with five generations in the workplace. Forbes.com. Retrieved from: workplace/#45b5c4f03e7a
Velasco, E., and Columbaro, N. (2014). Engaging the Five Generations in the Workplace. Presentation from the CESSE meeting July Spokane Washington.
Williams, A. Move Over Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z, September 18, 2015, New York Times. Retrieved from: