Millennials and
Giving
Six-Point Creative Works
Overview
Recommendations
Findings
Objectives &
Methodology
Methodology
Millennials
Born 1980-2000
Methodology
National Data
Millennial Research Project, including “Giving
Tuesday 2015: Attracting Millennial Donors” (4th
year of Giving Tuesday)
Other national research
Methodology
Local Data
10 interviews with millennials from Hampden,
Hampshire, and Franklin counties with
follow-up survey
Survey through CFWM and community partners
Census information
FINDINGS
“My grandmother died… a lot
of family members have died
of cancer so I give to the
LIVESTRONG Foundation for
Cancer Research and Cancer
Connection.”
- Jon
Passion and personal experience
“Dakin is where I adopted my cats
from, so I feel very strongly about
Dakin, and so I donate to them when
I can. I had a good friend who
worked for Community Resources
for People with Autism, and she did
a really great job rounding us up
for a fundraiser here and there…
The stuff I care about informs
where I want to put my money and
time.”
-Madison
“I can be very skeptical of the system.
When there’s a certain number of people
filling administrative roles in an
organization, I can be pretty skeptical of
how efficient that organization is.”
- Sara
Demand for transparency and effective stewardship
“I don’t give to Goodwill because I’ve
heard that they’re not very good with
their money.”
- Maggie
“It’s helpful to me when it’s like, ‘If you
donate X amount of money, you give X
amount of’... phrasing.”
- Madison
“I tend to be like, “Where is my money
going? What is the organization doing to
support themselves? Are they going
about looking for grants, are they listed
in federal funding?” I like to know that
information before just giving.”
- Jolanda
“brands reaching out to this
demographic, make sure you are
authentic, emotional, and
cause-oriented.”
- Creating Brands That Engage Millennials
Forbes
Transparency and Trustworthiness
“To define a voice as trustworthy millennials demand
transparency and authenticity. Brands who are unafraid to
project a unique tone of voice and stand for something are
immediately trustworthier.”
- Talking to Millennials
Sense Worldwide
“I give to national causes because giving
$100, while not a hardship, is a
significant amount of money...but if I can
give $12 monthly over the course of a
year, it’s more manageable for me. ”
- Karina
Giving is not a given
“I don’t donate to any causes. I have
never really had a steady income until
recently, and I feel like that’s been the
reason why, if I’m ever given the
opportunity, I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t have
extra money.’”
-Katie
“Disposable income to make donations
isn’t huge.”
-Callie
“None of my friends, including myself,
are actively doing anything about it. We
just kind of talk about it and our concern,
but that’s as far as it goes.”
- Julie
“I care about food contamination. I mean
I was vegetarian for seven years
because I was concerned about
purchasing conventionally grown meat.
The people that I know are part of [the
causes I donate to], knowing that they
are good, honest people doing part of
their work, their mission...you don’t really
know about the organization or what
people are going through until you are
part of it.”
-Maggie
It’s all personal
“And then it happened to somebody
close to me. So I think that’s when it
became like, “Okay, this is something
that needs to be addressed. IT needs to
be fixed, and we need to come alongside
our friends, and make sure they’re being
safe and getting the help they need..”
- Madison
“My friend Pat encouraged everyone. He
challenged 61 people who he tagged to
make a donation. ”
- Callie
“I’ve always strongly identified with
feminism...women’s rights are pretty
central to my own. And I’ve been deeply
immersed in the queer community. ”
- Katrina
“I saw firsthand the impact I
had on a child’s life, and that
was really, really important to
me... and we still keep in touch
to this day.
I give time and money to those
organizations, trying to better
their missions ‘cause they’re
doing a great job.”
-John
Prior Engagement
“To truly involve this generation,
it is vital that organizations engage
with their Millennial audience
members other than just asking for
donations.”
Source: “#GivingTuesday2015 Report” - The Millennial Impact Project
“Facebook is where I find out
about events. Most of the events I
go to are because friends invited
me via Facebook events.”
Source: Millennial Impact Report 2016 Wave 2
(Echoed by 7/10 interviewees)
“What are people up to? What’s going on
in my area?”
-Madison
“...to keep track of events.”
-Karina
- Median Household income
$40k
- Likely recently changed
jobs or apartments
- Renters
- Online financial
transactions
- Debt but rich social lives
- Consume a lot of media.
HIPSTER
LTD
Persona Boards
- Median Household income
$80k
- Homeowners
- Financially and physically
healthy
- Kids and management
careers
Persona Boards
ADULTING
FTW
RECOMMENDATIONS
Where to go from here?
1. Don’t Neglect
Core Supporters
Most likely to give, and will give in larger amounts
Can’t assume familiarity or recall
Change of platforms and donor/nonprofit
fatigue continues to put this group at risk
2. Engage millennials
early and consistently
Engage millennials inside and outside of facebook well before
Valley Gives Day
Create consistent content that reminds them of what your
organization is doing and keeps you on their radar in tone
and language that is authentic (not corporate)
Examples: feature a star employee or volunteer, create
and feature shareable cause-focused content (10 things
you can do from your desk for education) etc.
Tell them/ show them where their money is going
Prompt them to share with their friends and family members
Online and Offline
Veer towards showcasing the work of your organization as it
ties to a specific interest or cause
Offer relatable content in an authentic tone of voice
Encourage millennial employees and supporters personally
share content
“Authenticity and boldness are more likely to resonate with this
population for cause-related messaging.”
Keep in mind!
#BRANDSSAYINGBAE
Be authentic…
Be authentic…
QUESTIONS
/DISCUSSION
Thanks!

Millennials and Giving

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Methodology National Data Millennial ResearchProject, including “Giving Tuesday 2015: Attracting Millennial Donors” (4th year of Giving Tuesday) Other national research
  • 5.
    Methodology Local Data 10 interviewswith millennials from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties with follow-up survey Survey through CFWM and community partners Census information
  • 6.
  • 7.
    “My grandmother died…a lot of family members have died of cancer so I give to the LIVESTRONG Foundation for Cancer Research and Cancer Connection.” - Jon Passion and personal experience “Dakin is where I adopted my cats from, so I feel very strongly about Dakin, and so I donate to them when I can. I had a good friend who worked for Community Resources for People with Autism, and she did a really great job rounding us up for a fundraiser here and there… The stuff I care about informs where I want to put my money and time.” -Madison
  • 8.
    “I can bevery skeptical of the system. When there’s a certain number of people filling administrative roles in an organization, I can be pretty skeptical of how efficient that organization is.” - Sara Demand for transparency and effective stewardship “I don’t give to Goodwill because I’ve heard that they’re not very good with their money.” - Maggie “It’s helpful to me when it’s like, ‘If you donate X amount of money, you give X amount of’... phrasing.” - Madison “I tend to be like, “Where is my money going? What is the organization doing to support themselves? Are they going about looking for grants, are they listed in federal funding?” I like to know that information before just giving.” - Jolanda
  • 9.
    “brands reaching outto this demographic, make sure you are authentic, emotional, and cause-oriented.” - Creating Brands That Engage Millennials Forbes Transparency and Trustworthiness “To define a voice as trustworthy millennials demand transparency and authenticity. Brands who are unafraid to project a unique tone of voice and stand for something are immediately trustworthier.” - Talking to Millennials Sense Worldwide
  • 10.
    “I give tonational causes because giving $100, while not a hardship, is a significant amount of money...but if I can give $12 monthly over the course of a year, it’s more manageable for me. ” - Karina Giving is not a given “I don’t donate to any causes. I have never really had a steady income until recently, and I feel like that’s been the reason why, if I’m ever given the opportunity, I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t have extra money.’” -Katie “Disposable income to make donations isn’t huge.” -Callie “None of my friends, including myself, are actively doing anything about it. We just kind of talk about it and our concern, but that’s as far as it goes.” - Julie
  • 11.
    “I care aboutfood contamination. I mean I was vegetarian for seven years because I was concerned about purchasing conventionally grown meat. The people that I know are part of [the causes I donate to], knowing that they are good, honest people doing part of their work, their mission...you don’t really know about the organization or what people are going through until you are part of it.” -Maggie It’s all personal “And then it happened to somebody close to me. So I think that’s when it became like, “Okay, this is something that needs to be addressed. IT needs to be fixed, and we need to come alongside our friends, and make sure they’re being safe and getting the help they need..” - Madison “My friend Pat encouraged everyone. He challenged 61 people who he tagged to make a donation. ” - Callie “I’ve always strongly identified with feminism...women’s rights are pretty central to my own. And I’ve been deeply immersed in the queer community. ” - Katrina
  • 12.
    “I saw firsthandthe impact I had on a child’s life, and that was really, really important to me... and we still keep in touch to this day. I give time and money to those organizations, trying to better their missions ‘cause they’re doing a great job.” -John Prior Engagement “To truly involve this generation, it is vital that organizations engage with their Millennial audience members other than just asking for donations.” Source: “#GivingTuesday2015 Report” - The Millennial Impact Project
  • 14.
    “Facebook is whereI find out about events. Most of the events I go to are because friends invited me via Facebook events.” Source: Millennial Impact Report 2016 Wave 2 (Echoed by 7/10 interviewees) “What are people up to? What’s going on in my area?” -Madison “...to keep track of events.” -Karina
  • 15.
    - Median Householdincome $40k - Likely recently changed jobs or apartments - Renters - Online financial transactions - Debt but rich social lives - Consume a lot of media. HIPSTER LTD Persona Boards
  • 16.
    - Median Householdincome $80k - Homeowners - Financially and physically healthy - Kids and management careers Persona Boards ADULTING FTW
  • 17.
  • 18.
    1. Don’t Neglect CoreSupporters Most likely to give, and will give in larger amounts Can’t assume familiarity or recall Change of platforms and donor/nonprofit fatigue continues to put this group at risk
  • 19.
  • 20.
    Engage millennials insideand outside of facebook well before Valley Gives Day Create consistent content that reminds them of what your organization is doing and keeps you on their radar in tone and language that is authentic (not corporate) Examples: feature a star employee or volunteer, create and feature shareable cause-focused content (10 things you can do from your desk for education) etc. Tell them/ show them where their money is going Prompt them to share with their friends and family members Online and Offline
  • 21.
    Veer towards showcasingthe work of your organization as it ties to a specific interest or cause Offer relatable content in an authentic tone of voice Encourage millennial employees and supporters personally share content “Authenticity and boldness are more likely to resonate with this population for cause-related messaging.” Keep in mind!
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 25.
  • 26.