Social Citizens Blog

How Do Millennials Avoid Being Chumps?

Kristin Ivie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:28:55 +0000

When I first saw the headline “Will Millennials become the chump generation?” I was gearing up for another intergenerational throw down. I wasn’t exactly sure what we were being accused of this time, but last time I checked with Fred Durst, being called a chump was not a good thing. After reading Robert Samuelson’s column in the Washington Post, I realized that it was a more of a warning than a criticism. Samuelson discusses the recent Pew research on Millennials which shows that our generation is taking the effects of the recession hardest of all. Thirty-seven percent of Americans 18-29 are out of work, and proportionally more Millennials have lost jobs during the crisis than those over the age of 30.

Says Samuelson: “The adverse effects could linger. An oft-quoted study by Yale University economist Lisa Kahn found that college graduates entering a labor market with high unemployment receive lower pay and that the pay penalty can last two decades.…As baby boomers retire, higher federal spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid may boost Millennials' taxes and squeeze other government programs. It will be harder to start and raise families. Millennials could become the chump generation. They could suffer for their elders' economic sins, particularly the failure to confront the predictable costs of baby boomers' retirement. “

Having repeatedly heard the suggestion that Millennials might be the next great generation, I’m much less excited about this new potential tag line. Millennials: The Chump Generation is not a phrase I want to see inscribed on anything. While we may be saddled with some unfortunate economic circumstances, both now and in the future, I hope that we can do something more than sit back and watch it happen.

The traits of our generation may give us an advantage in facing these economic challenges. We are a tech-savvy, collaborative, upbeat, pragmatic and innovative generation, so, with the right resources, we should be able to dodge oncoming bullets…especially if some of said bullets are coming from 20 years down the road.

According to Pew, we are bound to be the most highly educated generation in America. I hope this means we should also be the most prepared to face some of these challenges. But education isn’t everything, so what else can we do now to ensure that we don’t end up looking like chumps?

We respect older generations and recognize we can learn a lot from them. Even if they’re not going to balance the national budget, perhaps the generations before us could try to atone for their economic sins by helping to prepare us now for the challenges to come. They could invest in us through career development, helping to make sure we get the opportunities for collaboration, resources and learning experiences that will help us thrive. Or they could provide advice and funds for Millennial start-ups, both in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Since we respect those who have gone before, we would be happy to have Boomer and Gen Xer mentors and partners.

We not only adopt new technology at astonishingly high rates, but we’re helping to shape it. Many of both the most used and most innovative technologies were created by Millennials - Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, Jack Dorsey's Twitter and Chad Hurley and Steve Chen's YouTube being the most obvious. And others are applying technology and new platforms to bring about social change. There's a great list of our generation's social entrepreneurs started on a previous post, and there are surely more to come.

We are the most diverse generation, respect those who are not like us, and hope this leads to a more just and open society. After use of technology and music/pop culture, Millennials reported that our liberal and tolerant outlook made us distinct as a generation. The Pew study confirms that we are the most open to interracial and same-sex couples, immigrants, and nontraditional family arrangements. Maybe our openness will translate to a willingness to work in nontraditional ways and arrangements to face the coming challenges.

What else can Millennials, and Boomers and Gen Xers for that matter, do to help prepare us to face a potentially shaky economic future?

The New Dork: An Entrepreneur State of Mind

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:37:57 +0000

Remember when being a dork meant you just weren’t cool? That was before “The New Dork” – a spoof of Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes’s "Empire State Of Mind" which pays homage to the rising generation of geeky entrepreneurs – or, what we like to think of as the new trendsetters.

While “The New Dork” just started hitting the interwebs this afternoon, it’s already being deemed the anthem for entrepreneurs, and why not? It paints a picture and tells the story of entrepreneurs doing what they love – and we think there’s nothing dorky about that.

So, who's your favorite "New Dork?"

Oversharing 2.0

Kristin Ivie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:50:55 +0000

Today's topic: oversharing. I will admit I'm a repeat offender. I can't count the number of times I've been enjoying a meal with a new acquaintance and inexplicably started sharing personal information in excessive detail. Before I know it, the words are just rushing out of my mouth like water from a broken dam, and there is literally nothing I can do to hold them back. Usually my oversharing is forgiven; occasionally I'm delighted to find it matched, or even one-uped, by the person across the table; and, yes, every now and then, it's met with visible discomfort and the notable lack of a follow-up get together, but overall, it's a relatively harmless vice.

Having slightly more potential for harm, however, is the habit of oversharing online. It's no secret that we at Social Citizens are all for being active online. We love to see people blogging, tweeting and posting videos about their thoughts on issues, brands, and experiences, but is there a point where all that social networking is TMI?

When I helped my dad sign up for Twitter over Christmas break, we had an exchange which demonstrates what I think is a common generational difference. He was a little bit horrified by the public nature of everything he was being asked to post on Twitter. He was not so sure about sharing his location, his photo, nearly anything he was doing or even his real name. ("Kristin, you have heard of identity theft, yes?")

According to the recent Pew study on Millennials, we're actually more wary of others than previous generations. Perhaps our penchant for transparency and our comfort online overcome this stated mistrust and lead us to post too much information about ourselves online because I hadn't really given much thought to the dangers of talking about myself in such a public way, and based on some of my friends' online activity, apparently neither have they. Whether it's airing private grievances, posting pictures I wish I'd never seen or just making your daily routine public, oversharing online can lead to discomfort and danger.

Foursquare is a fun application encouraging people to check out new places in their city, but we might need to think twice about how we use this and other location-based applications. Perhaps in an effort to rack up badges, some users have taken to checking in literally everywhere they go. (I am of the opinion that if someone cannot join you there, it's not kosher to check in.) In addition to annoying their twitter followers, these overzealous check-ins are also establishing their itineraries by chronicling when they get to work, when they go out for lunch, back to work, at the Dupont Circle metro (where they're clearly starting their commute) at the Clarendon metro (where they're clearly ending their commute) and at their apartment building. You do that every day for two weeks and as PleaseRobMe.com tries to demonstrate, you are giving opportunistic evildoers a leg up.

A recent survey indicated that the majority of Americans think it's wrong to friend your boss on Facebook. Likewise, an even higher percentage of bosses (62%) think being friends with their employees online is weird. I tend to disagree, but I'll concede that I have a particularly social media-friendly office environment. But the survey results touch on a common concern about sharing too much via social networks with coworkers, as well as potential employers, clients, students, exes or parents.

This concern is complicated by the fact that many people don't even realize who they are sharing all their information with through Facebook. Every now and then, there's an uproar about Facebook, and the changes to its privacy settings - who owns your information, who can see your information and whether you can really remove your information might surprise you. Nick O'Neill has a helpful list of privacy settings every Facebook user should know, or if you prefer, you can watch the video version.

Where do you draw the line on talking about yourself online? And how do you take advantage of the utility and fun of social networks without putting yourself at risk?

Young Donors Want More than a Party!

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Today’s guest blogger, Derrick Feldman, is CEO of Achieve where he provides guidance to organizations to help them develop new fundraising strategies. Today, Derrick focuses on the importance of engaging young professionals as donors in a more meaningful way.

Walk into a hip bar in a metropolitan area after work and there’s a chance that you’ll be greeted by a table draped with a banner bearing the logo of a local nonprofit. Over the music pulsing in the background, two young staffers will welcome you and offer you a name tag. On behalf of the nonprofit’s Young Professionals Group, they’ll thank you for coming, encourage you to enjoy yourself and offer you information about the organization.

This has become an increasingly likely scenario, which is why, during a recent conversation with a university vice president, I listened as he expressed concern about such groups. “More than 10 organizations in the city have some sort of young donor group with an affinity to the organization,” he said. “They’re all competing with each other for attention.”

It’s true: The concept of the Young Professionals Group (aka, Young Donors Society or Young Donors Group) has spread faster than a funny video on You Tube – which explains why, when we speak on young-donor engagement, I’m always asked whether these groups work. Of course, as a consultant, I have a famous answer for this and many other questions: It depends.

Let’s first look at the positives:

Right idea. By establishing such a group, a nonprofit takes a step in the right direction, demonstrating that it recognizes the need to involve the next generation.

Front-line experience. Some Young Professional Group activities do engage young people in the work of the organization through group volunteerism and other opportunities, giving the young professionals an opportunity to have an impact on the organization.

Creative fundraising. These groups raise support for the organization, often in creative and nontraditional ways. It’s fun to see some of the fundraising ideas that come out of these groups – granted, some are a little tacky, but others are pretty interesting.

Energy boosts. Young nonprofit leaders can be reinvigorated by the organization’s interest in working with young donors, and they’re often excited to help craft activities and events to pull more young professionals closer the organization.

Now let’s break down some of the cons:

Poor substitutes. These groups too often act as substitutes for real relationships. Recently, when I asked a fundraiser how many of her donor visits were with young professionals, she said, “None … that’s why we have a young donor group: to create that relationship so I can focus on larger donors.” True, the Young Professionals Group is an opportunity to create new relationships, but real donor engagement goes beyond that. As donors, young people expect a call, a conversation and a personally meaningful engagement opportunity.

Social, social, social. Trust me: I like a party as much as anyone. But, social activities can’t provide real young donor engagement. It’s demeaning and disrespectful to assume that the key to engaging young professionals is throwing a party in a bar. Would you hold events at bars if you were pursuing your top 50 donors above the age of 40?

Benefits vs. Philanthropy. There’s a difference between a Young Professional Group and a dues-paying society. If you pay dues, you expect a personal benefit; with philanthropy, however, you expect to give for the benefit of the community or the beneficiary of services. If Young Professionals Groups are established with dues expectations – even if the contribution is to the organization – the donor will expect some sort of personal benefit. As a result, once a young professional feels the value of the relationship has diminished, he or she will leave. On the other hand, if his or her personal philanthropic interest and engagement is high, that person will stick around.

So, nonprofit leaders: Here is your opportunity to think beyond simple activities to personal relationships.

Undoubtedly, some organizations will say Young Professionals Groups can have great benefits. I agree. But that doesn’t make them substitutes for personal relationships. As in life in general, a party, event or activity is a great way to meet people, but not a great way to forge real relationships.

So, what’s an organization to do? Utilize these groups to ignite engagement and then take a traditional approach to relationship building. Call and invite a young professional to hear more about the organization. Understand his or her personal motivations and match interests to opportunities beyond the Young Professionals Group.

Like an annual event, that Young Professionals Group might one day lose its flair; when it does, you’ll want to have a relationship that can outlive it. That way, you’ll still have access to your young professionals’ talent, motivation and passion long after the party’s over.

It's Time to Move Beyond the Great Generational Divide

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:38:31 +0000

Yesterday our friends over at the National Conference on Citizenship turned up the heat when they posed the question, “What’s in a Generation: are stereotypes being replaced by a society wide call to do good? “ I say, let’s hope so.

About two and a half years ago when Social Citizens was just a kernel of an idea, we saw our society begin to shift in a way that was more accepting of openness and transparency – be it in government, in the workplace, or even the nonprofit sector. We saw a new social marketplace being born where goods and services were exchanged not just for money and profit but for good social outcomes. We saw the adoption of technology explode as social networks began springing up everywhere keeping us connected 24-7.

While generational generalities are difficult to make, since not all people of the same age have the same characteristics and life experiences – we do know there are patterns that define us. I believe many of the above examples were heavily influenced by the rising generation of Millennials. However, with my parents on Facebook, and my 95 year old grandma playing wii bowling with her neighbors, there are certain patterns of behavior which transcend generations. And while these technological advancements have in large part either been created by or heavily adopted by my peers, they are impacting the way that all of us do business, elect our public officials, and make choices about how we give back to our communities.

What I appreciate about the conversation over on NCOC is not just their leading question, but the questions that follow – is it really important to continue the debate over which generation is “better” or “more civic minded” or is it time to put those aside and recognize our collective power, and the tools available to us to help meet some of society’s most pressing needs? Call me an idealistic Millennial but I think this is where we must go if we are to realize change in our communities and around the world.

I think we’ve made great progress in bridging sectors and building public-private partnerships. Now is the time for greater understanding and appreciation across generations. There’s much that can be learned if we open our minds – and there’s much we have to share if people are willing to listen.

For some expert and diverse perspectives over on NCOC, I encourage you to take a look at what authors and sociologists Morley Winnograd and Michael Hais, and Pete Peterson of Common Sense California have added to the conversation. What are ways that you have worked with members of other generations to do good? How have you seen people defy the characteristics of their generation to achieve change?

How to Date a Social Citizen

Kristin Ivie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:47:02 +0000

During D.C.'s "historic" snowstorm this week, I read, among many things, a funny (and informative) article on "How to Date a Lawyer." Since the overwhelming number of lawyers in D.C. is only rivaled by its number of young nonprofit professionals and idealists and since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought it might be helpful to make a little how-to guide of my own. Let's face it, lawyers might be a popular choice, but if you're really looking for someone you can write home about, you're probably in the market for a social-web savvy, cause-oriented team player. So, I give you: how to date a social citizen, in seven easy steps.

Get out there and volunteer. There are tons of volunteer opportunities available through serve.gov, where you are sure to meet social citizens who are impressed with your commitment to serving the community and your mural painting prowess. Some organizations, like One Brick, even combine service with social interactions where you can mix and mingle with fellow volunteers, or you can always demonstrate your leadership skills by organizing an impromptu happy hour following an afternoon of service.
Dress the part. You are sure to catch the eye of a social citizen in TOMS shoes, Yellow Bird Project t-shirts and, when there's no time for subtlety, a StillerStrong headband.
Learn the lingo. Keep up with social citizen-friendly blogs and be prepared to drop key phrases into conversation. Beth's Blog, the HuffPo Impact vertical, Change.org, and Philanthropy 2173 are good places to start. Using phrases like "high impact," "crowd-sourcing," and "triple bottom line" and generally adding "social" to most nouns will be music to a social citizen's ears.
Keep all your social media profiles updated with your favorite causes. When your social citizen sees that you've started a cause to raise money for your favorite nonprofit, added a twibbon to your avatar, and voted for a worthy nonprofit in the latest online grant competition, they'll be wrapped around your little finger.
Give gifts that give back. When your relationship reaches a gift-giving level, score extra points by giving your social citizen something that also benefits her favorite cause. If you need something stat, the Case Foundation's Megan Stohner recently compiled a list of Valentine's Day charitable gift ideas.
Be connected. Respond promptly to facebook messages and wall posts, DMs and @replies, blog comments, texts, and all forms of Google communication, including but not limited to, chats, emails, reader comments, buzzes, and waves. (Notice that I did not include Facebook pokes. You are not obligated to employ or respond to pokes, as they are ambiguous and uncomfortable.) Using your smart phone to show you can stay in touch on the go will impress and delight your social citizen.
Be transparent. Even if this goes against your dating instincts at first, demonstrating transparency is a sure-fire way to show your social citizen love interest that you're worth his or her time. Showing that you value the unique blend of your personal and professional lives and that you resist the urge to be a different person at home or at work will make every social citizen feel at ease.

There you have it. Happy Valentine's Day and good luck!

Millennials: Looking for More Than Just a Job

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:21:42 +0000

With the economy still in uncharted territory and families struggling to make ends meet, we have watched as individuals and organizations alike have been forced to do more with less. At the same time, we are witnessing what many believe to be the beginning of a new era of problem solving and social entrepreneurship – as Millennials demonstrate that it’s not just one sector that will help solve some of our most challenging social problems, but rather a look at blending sectors and structures to create meaningful impact.

The Case Foundation kicked off a new blog series last week focused on helping individuals find nonprofit jobs, and over here on Social Citizens we thought we’d build on that series and bring attention to some of the opportunities being offered to the Millennial Generation for fellowship programs here at home and abroad.

Recognizing that the nonprofit sector needs to attract talent to address long term challenges, ProInspire was founded last year to do just that. Inspire Fellows are outstanding business professionals with two or more years of experience who want to use their skills for social impact. This highly competitive one-year program offers top business professionals targeted positions with leading nonprofits, as well as professional development opportunities, and a network to support their individual career growth.

Previous Inspire Fellows finalists came from American Express, Bain, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and other leading companies and were placed in positions at nonprofits from ACCION International, and City First Enterprises, to Living Cities, and Year Up. All positions are currently based in the Washington D.C. area. Applications for Pro Inspire are open through March 8.

Turning to the global side of things, and we all know that Millennials are more globally aware, connected and concerned than any generation before them – enter, Global Health Corps. Also founded last year, the aim of Global Health Corps is to strengthen the movement for global health equity by connecting outstanding young leaders with organizations working on the front lines in the fight for global health.

GHC recognizes the delivery of effective health care requires more than doctors and nurses. Yet, opportunities are scarce for individuals with backgrounds in management and supply systems, computer programming, engineering, or other professional skills to embark on a career serving public health. Without these opportunities, too many skilled young professionals are left out and unable to offer innovative approaches to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Global Health Corps applications are open now until March 10 for US Citizens, and until April 10 for non-US Citizens.

Fellowship programs like Global Health Corps and Pro Inspire, remind us that everyone has valuable skills they can bring to the table. We also know that the entrepreneurial leaders who find themselves giving a year in service to others will return better positioned as leaders and innovators within their companies and communities.

Know of other Millennial focused fellowship programs that should be on our radar? Please include a link in comments below.

A Lost Generation of Entrepreneurs? I think I found them.

Kristin Ivie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:29:52 +0000

Last week BusinessWeek posted an article by Jeff Bussgang, a seasoned investor and entrepreneur, who shared his concern that we are suffering from a lost generation of entrepreneurs. It seems he tried to make a list of significant entrepreneurs under 35 and wasn't able to get very far. Jeff argues that since the 2000s were lean years that did not produce many substantial start-ups, that generation of 20-somethings was not able to develop company-building skills. He says we have not had the opportunity to see success at a young age or learn the important lessons of start-up leadership, so our generation has also missed out on the early start-up experience that would have made great mentors and serial starters later in life. Further, we are lacking good entrepreneurial role models, and he worries the next generation of entrepreneurs too could be lost without footsteps to follow.

With all due respect, I think maybe Jeff worries too much. If he's looking for examples of young people with start-up leadership experience, skills and success, he may just be looking in the wrong place. This generation is less interested in making as much money as possible and more interested in starting organizations that are mission-focused, so we are looking at nonprofits and companies with double or triple bottom lines. While the 2000s may not have been a good time to start a business, that hasn't kept twenty-something entrepreneurs of every stripe from starting nonprofits and social ventures.

As much as I might have tried to discourage them, the upshot of all the Millennial nonprofit start-ups is that people of our generation (successful and not) are learning a lot in the process. I don’t think Jeff should be worried about a lost generation of entrepreneurs; rather, I think he should be glad to see that whatever the economic climate has been, this generation of entrepreneurs is using innovation to address social challenges, even when that means sacrificing opportunities for personal gain – the same types of opportunities that might have drawn them into the circles that would get Jeff’s attention.

In an effort to ease his worries, we at Social Citizens would like to offer few people he can add to his list of under 35 success stories with leadership experience and start-up skills that will have no problem serving as role models for their peers and the next generation of entrepreneurs, who may also focus a little less on profits and a little more on changing the world.

Blake Mycoskie, 33, founded TOMS Shoes with the idea that promising to give away one pair of shoes for every pair purchased. Prior to starting TOMS, Blake has founded four other businesses since college.

Emily Pilloton, 28, who wrote “Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People,” and founded Project H Design, a nonprofit team of designers, architects and builders that mobilize product design ingenuity to benefit humanity, habitats, health and happiness. See her on the Colbert Report earlier this year.

Scott Harrison, 34, who left his job as a successful nightclub promoter to start charity:water, an incredibly successful nonprofit providing clean water for hundreds of thousands of people.

Jonny Dorsey, 24, who while in undergrad at Stanford decided to take a leave of absence to start FACE AIDS and oversaw the expansion of the organization to 150 schools across the country. He's now cofounder of Global Health Corps, which strives to promote global health equity.

Ory Okolloh, 34, is a blogger, co-founder of Ushahidi, an innovative technology platform originally developed to map violence after the 2008 Kenyan election, and co-founder of Mzalendo, which tracks the performance of Kenyan policiticans.

Esra'a Al Shafei, 23, who promotes human rights for ethic and religious minorities through multiple online campaigns and is the founder and director of MideastYouth.com, an interfaith network developed to provide young people with freedom of expression.

Sam Adelsberg, 22, who is the co-founder of LendforPeace.org, which allows people to support the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through online microloans to vetted entrepreneurs in the West Bank.

Courtney Macavinta, 34, started Respect RX, a social venture that promotes self-respect, relationship respect and respect for all for teens and young adults, and has been featured consistently as an expert on issues facing teens and women.

Jacob Colker, 26, who after managing numerous political and advocacy campaigns founded The Extraordinaries, a social enterprise which gives people the opportunity to volunteer their spare moments for causes they care about using their mobile phones.

I've more than doubled Jeff's "depressingly short list" here, but do your part to help him feel better...add to the list!

As 2010 Census Begins: Will the Millennials be Counted?

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:26:13 +0000

As director of the US Census Bureau, Robert Groves, arrived by dog sled on Monday to Noorvik, Alaska to kickoff the 2010 Census, I wondered why this remote Inupiat Eskimo Village located 3,000 miles from Washington, DC would be the staging for the launch of this important decennial event. The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like: hospitals, schools, bridges, tunnels, and emergency services. Not to mention, it also determines how many seats each US state will get in the House of Representatives.

While US Census workers started their task of counting all 310 Million Americans in this remote village 30 miles above the Arctic Circle, I started to think about the barriers that exist whether counting the Inupiat’s or counting the Millennials. But since this is Social Citizens, we’ll focus more on the latter, (plus it sounds like the Inupiat’s are now well accounted for).

As the 2010 census shifts into the lower 48, the U.S. Census Bureau is paying particular attention to what they say are some of the hardest-to-count segments of the national populace: 18 to 25 year-olds, the unattached/single, economically disadvantaged, and minorities. Without using overgeneralizations, that accounts for a pretty good number of Millennials. Many of us were filling out college applications during the last census, and it’s likely the majority of Millennials had their parents fill out the form the last time the Census was conducted. Many may not know what the census is, let alone how it could impact our communities.

While the government is spending $133M on advertising and publicity around the 2010 Census, if they’re trying to reach Millennials they’re going to have to do more than the obligatory Facebook Fanpage and Twitter Feed. Between mobile technology, social media and more traditional modes of communication, it's not that we're harder to reach - we just have a lot more content being thrown our way making us more selective about what we pay attention to.

So, as a free service to Uncle Sam, below are my suggestions on how to increase awareness and participation for the Census among the Millenial Generation:

For Millennials who are sold on the idea of participating in the census but have questions about the process, whether they should be counted apart from their parents, etc. regular online chat support could be used to allow people to have their specific questions answered (this could also be supported through the exisiting census Facebook and Twitter presence).

Partner with on the ground organizations and nonprofits who can send text message reminders to Millennials during key points throughout the process for updates on deadlines and additional resources.

College campuses could have "census challenge" parties where students fill out forms and are given incentives from local restaurants and stores for completed forms.

Creative social media campaigns can be used to educate Millennials about the process, its timeline, and the importance of being included. This could include the creation of short, entertaining videos for YouTube, and extensive outreach to bloggers who typically reach Millennial audiences.

As many nonprofits have learned, you often reach a wider audience and see greater engagement when you let go a little. The Census Bureau could provide small prizes for people who creatively explain and promote the census using social media. This could engage and educate students and young professionals looking for experience and generate marketing materials that appeal to a younger demographic.

What are your ideas for how the Census Bureau could reach Millennials and other hard to track down demographics? Have you seen any creative tactics used in your area?

Up Next for Millennials: Coming of Age, Losing the Hype, and Being Better for It

Kristin Ivie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:49:36 +0000

Howe and Strauss, authors of Millennials Rising, predict that based on generational trends, the Millennial generation’s “complete breakout” will be around 2010. We should be hitting our peak right now, really coming into our own, and attracting a lot of attention for it. And I think, in many cases, we are. Many of the conferences and affinity groups in our sector are starting to provide significant roles and development opportunities for the “next generation,” our generation’s role in the 2008 election is still being analyzed by experts, and let’s not forget the hubbub created around the Morgan Stanley superintern’s report about How Teenagers Consume Media.

Next, however, will come the ebbing of public interest, when people are tired of hearing about who we are as a generation, what we care about and how we are different from those who have gone before. Based on the cycles of previous generations, Howe and Strauss say this should happen in the oh-teens, although it’s possible that social media will speed up that timeline a bit. Then what will we do with ourselves??

This reminds me of a post I read last year by Len Kendall about why he stopped writing about being a Millennial and why he advises others to do so as well. Len practically begs Millennials to distinguish themselves as something great, regardless of age and to resist the urge to use the gimmick of being young, while we can. Yes, there is another generation behind us. Yes, they’ll start getting more attention than us in a few years. They will be the new twenty-somethings with great ideas and new ways of doing things, and we may, for a moment, feel like the forgotten middle child.

Rather than exploring how I am personally distinguishing myself beyond my youth or how this blog is going to stay relevant when the next generation is the hot topic, I’m concerned with how our generation is going to continue to be relevant, influential and impactful. Our true relevance isn't based on youth. As we’ve discussed before, social citizens can be any age, but the Millennial generation has defined the social citizen. Millennials’ relevance is now, and will continue to be, based on our unique way of looking at problems and shaping our society. And rather than lamenting our generation's inevitable fade from the list of hot topics, I’m frankly looking forward to being a person with a unique way of meeting a challenge and not a YOUNG person with a unique way of meeting a challenge. We don’t need youth as a novelty to gain a seat at the table.

Just as Boomers continue to be relevant, we will stay relevant as we come of age. We will always be Millennials. As the buzz around our generation is dying, we will also begin taking the reins in business, politics, government, media and nonprofit work. I get all tingly dreaming about some of the ways the characteristics that make us Millennials will continue to impact all aspects of our society.

We prefer partnership to hierarchy. Will we improve the way that our organizations, and even governing bodies, work by releasing more control, collaborating more than we are competing and eliminating careful bureaucracy? How will we treat the generation entering the workplace behind us, and how will that spur innovation?

We blend the sectors and structures. As is already being demonstrated with our affinity for social enterprise and cross-sector partnerships, we connect our values and causes to our jobs and our shopping habits, and we reject the belief that doing good is the responsibility of just one sector. As our buying power increases, will we force business, more broadly, to make more environmentally and socially responsible decisions? Will we demand that nonprofits function more like businesses? Will models like TOMS Shoes replace business models that are purely profit-driven? What will the new standards be for Corporate Social Responsibility?

We value transparency. With online personas created by all of our blogging, facebooking, and tweeting, it’s nearly impossible for individuals to set a hard line between professional and personal and for organizations to limit the information circulating about them to what comes out of their communications shop. Will our standards be compromised as we knock down the walls between our personal and professional lives? Or will we set new standards for transparency and openness?

We are globally aware, globally connected and globally concerned. The effects of globalization and technology have helped us to realize that it IS a small world after all. Will our increased concern, connection, and sense of responsibility regarding our neighbors in other countries and cultures make a significant impact on their lives? Will our institutions be more active and quick in preventing genocide, oppression, and other injustice around the world? Will we be more peaceful?

We are idealistic and optimistic. Having rejected the cynicism of the generation before us, we are convinced that change is possible and that we can make a difference. Will this lead us to try outrageous things that others haven’t? Will it increase our willingness to put trust in each other and institutions to do the right thing?

Make it a Day On(line): MLK Day Virtual Town Hall

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:40:36 +0000

On Monday, the Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network will bring the nation together in service, dialogue and reflection during the MLK Day Virtual Town Hall to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. For those of you who have made it a “Day On” already and have found a service project in your community, thanks for your service. For those of you who are stuck in front of your computers on Monday, don't worry, you can tune in and join the interactive dialogue here.

The MLK Day Virtual Town Hall will begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. EST and will feature service events and dialogues nationwide. Note, all times are eastern standard.

8:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks by Congressman John Lewis and Michelle Nunn
8:30 a.m. Hands On Atlanta, Annual King Summit Freedom Rally
10:00 a.m. Greater DC Cares, Powell Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
11:00 a.m. Youth HandsOn at PS 57 James W. Johnson School in Harlem
12:00 p.m. Hands On Sacramento at Quinn Cottages
1:00 p.m. HandsOn Greater Phoenix at South Mountain Park
2:00 p.m. Special Live Announcement
3:00 p.m. United Way of Greater St. Louis at St. John United Church
4:00 p.m. Closing and Call to Service in 2010

Also, there are opportunities for social citizens of all backgrounds to get engaged. If you're a web professional, developer, graphic designer or new media professional who is willing to volunteer your skills for the common good, consider taking the MLK Day Technology Challenge. The purpose is simple: to connect schools and non-profits that have technology needs, including skills training and mentorship, with the skilled volunteers who can help meet those needs.

For more information about MLK Day of Service opportunities near you, visit serve.gov. Whether you choose to "make it a day on," or "a day online" let us know how you plan to honor Dr. King's legacy.

Is the Haiti Response a Game-changer for Mobile?

Kristin Ivie — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:55:03 +0000

Early yesterday evening, the American Red Cross announced it had received more than $5 Million in texts, $10 at a time. That means more than 500,000 people from all over America have texted "HAITI" to 90999. Although they are still raising much more through other forms ($35 million so far in total), this is a record for the organization and for mobile giving. Previously, the Red Cross's most successful mobile giving campaign was in 2008, when they raised $200,000 in response to the hurricane season. Other groups, including Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti and the Clinton Foundation, are also accepting text donations. It's amazing to see how people are responding to this crisis through various forms of giving, and I wonder what this will mean for future mobile campaigns. In addition, Ushahidi has adapted its mobile mapping technology to assist in the relief efforts. As of this morning, 425 reports have been posted through voice, text and video to help find and map urgent needs, threats, survivor information and response.

We have talked on this blog about how 2010 might be the year of mobile, when adoption and technology catch up with other parts of the world and we begin using our cell phones in new and innovative ways. I wonder if this Haiti response is any indication of what's to come. As we learn more about these efforts and the numbers behind them, the public may have more questions and reactions that could help improve the mobile giving process.

This will lead to increased comfort (and therefore use of) mobile giving, disaster response platforms and other budding technology. I'm sure there are thousands of people who are being compelled to give via text for the first time because of this crisis. People who were unsure about giving at football games or while watching American Idol may have been pushed over the hump by what is happening in Haiti. Odds are, they had a good experience. They received a confirmation text message, it will show up as $10 (and just $10) on their bill, and they will feel even more comfortable doing it again next time.

There will be pressure on the entities involved in mobile giving campaigns. Over the past few days, I've seen people in my Twitter stream pose questions about what the mobile service providers would be donating and how much money actually goes to the beneficiary. As the amount of money given to Haiti through text grows, there could be more questions about who, if anyone, is gaining from this. Through the Mobile Giving Foundation, 100% of donations will go to the organization you choose. Neither the Mobile Giving Foundation nor Verizon, At&T or whoever keeps you connected will take anything off the top. BUT the Mobile Giving website also states that they charge "back costs for short-code costs, reporting and messaging charges directly to the nonprofit organizations or their supporting service providers on a post-donation basis."

I've not been able to find out how much money we are talking about here, but a Seattle Times article last year cited the amount as 10 cents per transaction. If I'm reading this right, 100% of mobile donations may go to the organization, but the organization has to pay mobile marketing companies like mGive to be able to receive these donations. There may be special arrangements made around this campaign for Haiti, but people are going to want to know what these charges are. Undoubtedly, providing this mobile donation service costs money, so mGive and organizations have to charge something to be able to continue providing this service, but this might be the perfect CSR opportunity for a major service provider like Verizon or AT&T. If I were them, I might drop the commercials about the maps for a commercial about how they are funding organizations like mGive and the Mobile Giving Foundation so nonprofits don't have to pay anything to receive mobile donations.

In addition, while service providers are not taking anything off the top of these donations, they are still charging whatever service fee you agreed to when you signed up for your plan. Let's say your plan charges 10 cents per text sent and received. When you consider that you send one text and receive up to three (I did) to confirm your donation, Verizon is making 40 cents on your donation. I think as we realize how much money that adds up to, there will be calls for service providers to either waive all fees on mobile donations or to donate that money.

There also may unfortunately be a little bit of backlash. The fine print says that when you donate $10 by texting "HAITI" to 90999, you are also agreeing to receive up to four texts per month from the Red Cross. While unsubscribing is easy enough (just text "STOP" to 90999), I'm sure the vast majority of people do not know these texts are coming and may get annoyed with text solicitations pretty quickly.

Did you use mobile giving for the first time in response to Haiti? What was your experience and what are your questions?

Mobilize.org and Generation Engage: a Match Made by Millennials

Kristin Ivie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:39:59 +0000

This week Mobilize.org announced it would acquire the assets, staff and programs of Generation Engage. In some ways, it’s surprising to see this merger because it’s not something done every day. In other ways, it’s not surprising at all.

Generation Engage has worked since 2004 to encourage youth civic engagement and to fight the political isolation of youth, particularly those in community college systems. Mobilize.org was founded in 2002 to get the youth of America engaged in the political process and empower them to influence public policy. Their missions are basically identical. They were both founded and are run by Millennials. They are both based in Washington, D.C. The organizations have worked together on a number of projects, including the 80 Million Strong coalition last year. Their similarities might make you wonder why they didn’t merge before now. This merger will save thousands of dollars every year and, if all goes as planned, truly make the resulting organization “more powerful than the sum of its parts,” as Maya Enista says in her announcement letter.

They are doing what many organizations are unwilling to do – recognizing their many commonalities and merging to form a more powerful organization. While there will undoubtedly be growing pains, I’m interested to see where they are six months or a year from now and how they are able to leverage each other’s strengths to move the dial on youth civic engagement. I’m especially glad to see this move from two Millennial-driven and Millennial-focused organizations. One of our strengths as a generation is our collaborative way of working toward change. And this collaboration is not without sacrifice. Generation Engage chairman Justin Rockefeller put the values and mission of the organization he has spent five years building ahead of his personal ego and his organization’s legacy. Much like I have asked Millennials to consider whether starting a new nonprofit is the best use of their resources and passion, Justin seems to have recognized that his team could better serve its mission and have greater impact as part of Mobilize.

Since the economic crisis, financial necessity has driven more organizations to consider and discuss mergers like the one announced this week between Mobilize and Generation Engage. Twenty percent of nonprofits polled by Bridgespan last year said mergers could play a role in how they respond to the economic downturn. But as Bridgespan points out, tight budgets are not the only reason for considering a merger. Just as hardship and necessity often push people to innovations and inventions they would benefit from under ordinary circumstances, mergers can be a smart strategy for healthy organizations as well. Just because two groups of people can afford to run extremely similar organizations does not mean they should.

While for-profit mergers and acquisitions are often incentivized and orchestrated by strategic planners and financial backers, nonprofits cannot always find the same type of support. This may be changing a bit (for example, The Knight Foundation is helping in the Mobilize and Generation Engage partnership), but nonprofits interested in the possibility of a merger may have to get creative as well. In the Stanford Social Innovation Review last year, consultant Jean Butzen suggested nonprofits look to current donors, capacity-building grant programs in your community, national funding opportunities, and pro bono services. For additional resources on nonprofit mergers, check out the Lodestar Foundation and LaPiana Consulting. For now, I tip my hat to Mobilize and to Generation Engage, wish them the best of luck and will be looking forward to reporting on their progress later this year.

It's Beth's Bithday, "Be A Generous Geek"

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:21:11 +0000

As social media maven Beth Kanter celebrates her 53rd Birthday today, she does so in true Kanter style, using the tools and techniques that she blogs about each and everyday to teach, inspire and raise money for the Sharing Foundation which will help send 53 more Cambodian children to school.

Beth is an NPtech pioneer. She has influenced countless numbers of individuals, nonprofits and changemakers to more effectively use social media for social change. That’s why I was delighted when Amy Sample Ward and Stacey Monk asked if I’d join in on their birthday blogging surprise party for our friend Beth. There are numerous posts and conversations I could point to that have inspired me personally, and I wanted to share with you just a few of the ways that Beth has influenced this constantly evolving space.

Beth is a teacher: whether it’s through her creative use of finger puppets or through her deep and informative blog posts Beth has a way of sharing information so that you don't only understand it, but you want to jump on the next opportunity to test it out yourself. After all, we know that social media is about trying new things and there is no better experimenter out there than Beth.

Beth is an analyzer: she doesn’t just share information, she breaks it down and provides deep analysis and case studies. The Case Foundation benefited directly from this through Beth and Allison Fine's analysis of our first Giving Challenge.

Beth is generous: perhaps this speaks for itself, but Beth is a giver. She reminds us the importance of using social media to engage in conversation, it's not a one way street. Beth comments on other people's blogs, she retweets great information, she shares case studies and deep analysis of the issues, she donates to causes she cares about. And, if you too want to know how to be a "Generous Geek" check out the presentation below she gave this past summer at Mashable's Summer of Social Good.

Be A Generous Geek: Mashable Summer of Social Good

Happy Birthday Beth from all your friends at the Case Foundation!

How the Web Can Transform Plain Janes to Wonder Women

Kristin Ivie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:20:14 +0000

Last month Allison Fine started an interesting discussion on her blog about women, social media and influence. Allison wondered if social media might be the X factor that would help women make real strides in closing the leadership gap. Among commenters, there seemed to be a general consensus that women, as well as other groups, have been able to circumvent, at least in some instances, the glass ceiling and constraints placed on them by the traditional business world. Women have been able to use social media to get their thoughts out to the marketplace without having to get permission or backing from an organization.

The Women of the Year list by She Takes on the World is full of women who have used social media to champion all manner of causes from the global water crisis and microcredit to idea-sharing and motivating young people to succeed. While all of these women would probably be making a difference without laptops and iPhones, they have been able to multiply their efforts with creative social media use.

Organizations like Blogher work to help women online by create opportunities for exposure, education, community and economic empowerment. A 2009 Blogher study reported that 42 million American women are using social media regularly both to share and find information and advice. The survey also found that more than 60 percent of these women use blogs and social networks to find information about social activism.

A recent Vanity Fair article, America's Tweethearts, discusses how previously unknown women representing different sectors and interests have been able to use social media to gain a unique kind of fame on Twitter. In the article (whose author doesn't seem to be entirely sold on with Twitter) one of the "twilebrities" featured, Felicia Day, points out: “Doors were closed to us before. Now the tools for success have been democratized. It’s just me and whoever wants to talk to me, wherever they are in the world.”

It doesn't take a celebrity spokesperson or even a twilebrity spokesperson to leverage social media for wide reach. Like an online flashmob, scores of women (and oddly, some men) began posting one-word status messages yesterday. "Black," "lavender," and "red" were littered among our news feeds, and quickly people began asking, explaining and commenting over the colorful posts, not only on Facebook, but on Twitter and other social media platforms. The Case Foundation's Allie Burns wrote a post discussing both the buzz and the criticism around the campaign. Whether a quietly orchestrated awareness by a breast cancer organization or a prank by a group of young women, it has created a discussion carried on by common women which has permeated the social media world.

It's exciting to see that social citizen gals are using social media to share their ideas and passions and to advocate for the causes that are important to them. And since Millennials may be the most active and engaged online, Millennial women - as individuals and as groups - may have a greater opportunity to be heard and wield influence at a younger age than the women before us. I hope, and trust, that we will continue to take advantage of this opportunity - not to grab self-serving fame for it's own sake, but to change the world with our creative approaches, open and transparent conversations and inspirational acts.

Millennial Predictions for the Next Decade

Kristin Ivie — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:58:48 +0000

As we this decade draws to a close and we prepare to ring in a new year, there are many perspectives about how the 2000s will be remembered. In the last 10 years, we've seen many defining moments, including the Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, a recession, the inauguration of our nation's first African-American president, incredible advances in technology and a social media revolution that has been compared to the Industrial Revolution.

However, what also defines this decade is the fact that our generation, the Millennial Generation, truly came of age during this time – and these events and many others have helped define who we are, for better or worse (although we hope the former). As we look forward to whatever lies ahead in 2010, Kari and I thought it would be a great opportunity to invite some of our diverse and interesting Millennial friends to offer 100-word predictions on what lies ahead for our generation in the coming decade. Take a look at their thoughts, and add your own in the comments.

I know enough to know I haven’t the foggiest what the 2010s hold. Rewinding back to 1999, very few among us could have predicted the anthrax scare, Twitter, sexting, “not on our watch!,” or Matisyahu. But I will posit that in the next decade, the social graph is likely to become an indispensible engine of social change. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Every Millennial is empowered – like no member of any generation before them – to rally 100s, or 1000s, to catalyze positive change in the world. I have no doubt these social citizens will continue to amaze us.
- Jason Rzepka, VP of Public Affairs, MTV

I spend a lot of time thinking about how technology and social media can bring people together locally and globally. In the next decade, innovative ideas using the web, particularly mobile will radically transform our concept of volunteerism and giving. There is something powerful that happens when you can see the direct impact of your involvement. I view social networks and communication tools like Twitter as an evolution of the physical role a church or community centre once played. It has never been easier to find ways to get involved, meet others offline and use your skills for good.
- Amanda Rose, social entrepreneur and Twestival organizer

At some point over the last ten years I became an adult – and found out very quickly that being an adult is hard. There is no manual or guide to reference. You are on your own. By comparison, changing the world isn’t so difficult. Ten years ago, there was little that one individual could do that would produce meaningful, measurable changes in our society. Today, there are websites and widgets to help you navigate and a global community to join or help to mold. Being an adult will always be hard. Changing the world is getting easier by the day.
- Brian Reich, communications specialist and Media Rules! author

Next decade, giving money will become less important than giving voice, giving time and giving work.
- Ben Rattray, founder and CEO of Change.org (who challenged himself to predicting in 100 characters...exactly)

In 2010, the oldest of Gen Y will be 30 years old. No longer the "baby" in the nonprofit workplace, the "next" generation will quickly become the "now" generation and the whole world will be watching to see if we will step up to lead with compassion, innovation and a sense of urgency to fix the myriad of problems we've inherited. 2010 does not ask that Gen Y get "ready to lead.” It demands that we actually lead. What I think we'll see in 2010 is more young people answering that call. And I hope to God that you're one of them.
- Rosetta Thurman, writer, speaker, professor and consultant

Expect a re-examination of ideology in the sphere of millennial-directed activism. It is unsurprising that millennials – having grown up in the shadows of astronomically sloppy ideological doses – so strongly gravitated towards the pragmatic Barack Obama. However, we must re-imagine, not turn away from, ideology. Without an agreed upon and articulated set of ideals, we will find ourselves paralyzed, forever on the defensive. Algorithm-calculated action coupled with social-network-organized dissent makes for a dynamic revolutionary body, but if we do not birth universal and flexible guiding philosophies into which we can package our intentions and actions, it will live soullessly.
- Alex Steed, Millennial Generation activist and enthusiast

The 2000s handed society a new set of tools. In the 2010s, we face the burden and the opportunity of figuring out how and when to use those tools for social good. Social networking tools could create homogenous online ghettos—or bridge cultures and communities. Online philanthropy tools could reinforce reactive, inefficient giving—or increase impact and reward performance. To succeed, we’ll have to innovate. But innovation is not an end in and of itself. Innovation is a means to reach our goals. Let us hope that the 2010s are nicer than the naughty 2000s—and that we learn to use the tools we’ve been given.
- Jacob Harold, Program Officer at the Hewlett Foundation

The coming decade will see the demise of traditional political constituencies/Parties- to be replaced by The Cloudists. Cloudicrats/Cloudicans will create+push major policy agendas with cash, GOTV etc. using free G-software and no "national headquarters." They will organize via amazon-like algorithms ("voters who liked this initiative also voted for.....") and will change the very mechanisms of government/ing in ways we can't even imagine.
- Ari Wallach, cofounder of The Great Schlep

My generation, the Millennial Generation, is staring off the edge of a tall cliff – Democracy, Society, Economy, pick your metaphor – and we’re deciding; collectively and through the use of technology, whether we are going to fall off or take a running start, jump and soar. I promise, we’ll run, jump and soar and in this decade we will innovative, create, collaborate and build a new definition of leadership, for all of the metaphors above. We are facing obstacles, no doubt, but we will best them. I am energized by what my generation will build if we invest in each other.
- Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org and cofounder of the 80 Million Strong campaign

Waving Goodbye to 2009: Google Wave Style

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:28:29 +0000

Like many, I waited patiently for my coveted Google Wave Invite and when it finally came (thank you Eric Johnson), I continued to wait. This time for someone, anyone, to help me understand what / how / who I was supposed to be "waving."

I think I may have just had that "aha" moment. The one when the mystery surrounding Google Wave finally came together and made sense for me. If you're still trying to get there, the video above is a fun 2009 year in review compiled using the functionality of Google Wave. But if it leaves you wondering what the practical uses of Wave might be for you and your organization, we've compiled a list of some great resources here.

Have your friends or colleagues come up with any creative uses for Wave? Do you think we'll be seeing more uses in the new year, or now that more than a million invites have gone out, will we just move on to whatever's next?

Will 2010 be the year of mobile?

Kristin Ivie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:59:12 +0000

For a few years now, I've been hearing people talk about how mobile will hold the next big wave of innovation here in the US. The exception to most technological advances, we are behind many developing nations in mobile. In Africa, for example, it is already being used for microlending, reporting violence and human rights abuses, crowdsourcing crisis information and HIV/AIDS prevention. Organizations like FrontlineSMS and Ushahidi are leading the way in using mobile for social good, and the UN is delivering food aid to refugees via text message.

Because so many people in the US have access to computers, mobile hasn't been a priority, but the convenience and utility of being able to give, bank, report, research and organize on the go may finally be dawning on us.

For a while now, we've been able to leverage the immediacy of being able to donate instantly to a cause that moves you through text to give campaigns. And with the help of the Mobile Giving Foundation, mobile giving is improving with respect to the range of organizations that can set up mobile giving campaigns and the percentage of the donation that actually reaches the nonprofit. Last year Alicia Keys demonstrated the power of mobile giving when she raised $450,000 for Keep a Child Alive from 90,000 mobile donors through one appeal on American Idol, and Ben Stiller has recently launched a series of hilarious Stillerstrong videos to raise money through mobile giving for a school in Haiti. For more about mobile giving, see extremely helpful articles by Joanne Fritz and Katrin Verclas.

When people ask what the next *big* thing in social media will be, the quickly growing, and moderately addictive, Foursquare is often the answer. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, it really only makes sense to use Foursquare on your phone because the purpose of the social media tool is to share with friends where you are out and about in your city and trade tips on deals, favorite dishes or places to watch the game. While I'm still getting into the habit of checking in when I go out, this game-meets-information-sharing platform has lots of potential. Once the reportedly coming-soon blackberry application is widely released, Foursquare will likely be widely used for not only impromptu happy hours, but also volunteering and community organizing.

Holiday bargain hunting has also proven an opportunity for new mobile applications. According to a Deloitte survey, one in five holiday shoppers says they are using their mobile phones to shop this year. The New York Times reports that "of those, 45 percent said they would use their phone to research prices, 32 percent said they would use it to find coupons or read reviews and 25 percent said they would make purchases from their phones."

There are a slue of applications that have been created for mobile-enhanced shopping, including one called ShopSavvy actually allows users to scan the barcode on an item and automatically search for the lowest price available near them. (Is it just me, or is that amazing?) And companies like Amazon and eBay, who says its mobile shoppers are spending $500 million this year, are trying to make it easier for customers to shop using their phones. Just as mobile is helping smart shoppers, applications are also being created to help retailers get smart about mobile. For example, Yowza uses GPS locations to send shoppers coupons for stores within walking distance of their location.

Although this may not be quite the heyday of mobile in the US yet, Foursquare will release a BlackBerry app and become widely adopted next year, and retailers will learn from the mobile use of consumers this holiday season. With all of this activity in mobile (finally) heating up, it seems like 2010 could be a big year. What do you hope to see in mobile innovation and adoption next year?

Why Spend Time Chasing Younger Donors with Fewer Dollars?

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:55:23 +0000

Today’s guest blogger, Derrick Feldman, is CEO of Achieve where he provides guidance to organizations to help them develop new fundraising strategies. Today, Derrick continues the conversation we began last week on the importance of engaging younger donors and why fundraising isn’t just about raising money.

Fundraisers often ask, “Why should I spend time working with young donors?” In response, I challenge them to perform a simple test: analyzing the age of their current donor base. If they‘re like many organizations, they’ll find a significant number of donors age 40 and over. Some of you might be thinking, “That’s where the money is; that’s the most efficient base. If I can meet my goals focusing on that base, why spend time chasing younger donors with fewer dollars?”

It is true that a lot (but not all) of the money is in that older demographic. But fundraising isn’t – and never should be – simply about raising money today. It’s about developing relationships that result in long-term stability and effectiveness. Achieving that objective requires diversity. Think of your investment portfolio: It requires investment in long-term vehicles as well as those with a quicker, more short-term return. Similarly, when it comes to cultivating donors, you need to work with those who can make an immediate impact as well as those who have the ability to contribute stable returns over a longer period.

So, it’s not about why you should focus on engaging young donors. It’s about how you do it.

Before we talk about how to engage these donors, though, I want to offer a quick caveat. You might be tempted – as many organizations are – to pursue this effort to become relevant with the 20- to 30-something audience by setting up a Facebook page or some other social media site. Many organizations assume that, simply by putting themselves in that setting, they’ll attract young donors to their mission. But this approach often fails because, simply put, technology can be a useful tool, but it is not the answer for reaching young donors.

To reach young donors, you have to consider what they respond to based on life, work and personal interest. In our experience and research, we’ve found that young donors respond best to organizations offering the following four benefits.

A personal connection to the mission

Typically, young donors are involved in organizations related to causes or issues by which they or someone close to them have been personally affected. If a woman fights cancer, she might enlist in a cancer-related organization. If a man loves to read, he might volunteer to battle illiteracy. If a young family has overcome poverty, they might volunteer at a food bank. Once connected to an organization, these people want to help shape the direction or have the opportunity to directly assist someone served by the organization.

Networking

Young donors and professionals view involvement as an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals. They also see involvement in an organization as a means to meet other professionals and local community leaders – possibly with the objective of eventually serving in larger, more powerful organizations.

Social Atmosphere

Young donors are encouraged by opportunities to work with and be involved in organizations with a social atmosphere. They want opportunities to volunteer, attend or participate in programs of organizations where the experiences are lively, upbeat, and positive.

Easy to plug in

Young donors are looking for easy ways to get involved. They respond to calls to action and clear methods to make a difference. If, when they look at websites and other information for an organization, they find it cluttered, or they can’t clearly see next steps, they will move on to another, easier-to-reach opportunity.

All organizations should embrace these four key elements as they develop a fundraising strategy for young donors. It can be a fairly straightforward process. For example, some organizations develop societies and clubs for young donors – as part of the club, the young donors connect with other young donors in unique social settings, meet with key leaders and volunteer. These kinds of societies provide an entry point for young donors to get involved. Yes, social media can help to support this effort, but don’t assume that social media alone will build this base.

Also don’t assume that, once you’ve made your connections, you can stop there. You must – as you would with any donor – continue to develop the relationship. Cultivate and visit with young donors to show how you admire their passion and how they can affect the work of the organization. Give them opportunities to rub shoulders with more veteran donors and community leaders. Listen to their ideas and make them feel connected to the mission. Offer them private meet-and-greets with board members before board activities, invite them to work with staff to shape a strategic plan, etc.

In short, engage that young donor’s enthusiasm, passion to improve the community and desire to connect his or her personal network with the work you do, and you might be surprised by the result. You likely will develop a relationship that pays long-term returns.

Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. After all, these young donors aren’t young forever.

Climate Change: The Next Tour of Duty

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:39:44 +0000

As the "Veterans for American Power" buses traveled the United States over the course of the past few weeks, it was as though these returned veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan were on their next tour of duty. They had already volunteered to serve our country during a time of war, but the tour they are on now is to fight for American energy independence - another great challenge facing their generation and generations to come.

Yesterday, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, President Obama stressed the importance of confronting climate change. The President said, "there is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, more famine, more mass displacement – all of which will fuel more conflict for decades." But, then he took it a step further by connecting the question of national security to the climate problem. "It is not merely scientists and environmental activists who call for swift and forceful action – it's military leaders in my own country and others who understand that our common security hangs in the balance."

That’s exactly the message that individuals behind Operation Free hope the President will carry forward when he joins world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen next week. Operation Free, a project of the Truman National Security Project, is leading a coalition of (largely Millennial) Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who are working to broaden the debate over energy legislation. They are building a movement to make it clear that it’s not just environmentalists who care about or are talking about Mother Earth.

By enlisting the support of groups not traditionally associated with green issues, Operation Free has garnered the attention of everyone from local leaders to Members of Congress, and even the President himself. They have leveraged all of the tools at their disposal including Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, YouTube and their group blog to share their message, and with a dozen people off to Copenhagen this week, they will carry that message to world leaders who are gathered for the conference.

Last month, the Case Foundation released “All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service” a paper focused on the importance of engaging veterans in civilian service once they return home from duty. The report found that 92 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans agreed that serving their community is important to them, and their volunteerism rate is nearly double that of the adult population overall. Operation Free is an excellent example of how the unique skills, talents and perspectives of our newest veterans can be harnessed to tackle our nation's problems and lead the way to lasting solutions.

Although they have given much, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan maintained that they have a great deal left to give. They are ready to continue to honor our country through service, this time as civilians - and we need to ensure there are new opportunities for this generation of veterans to use their unique talents and skills here at home.

Clinton Global Initiative Calls On Next Generation of Leaders

Kristin Ivie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:20:13 +0000

You’ve probably heard of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which was founded in 2005 by President Bill Clinton to bring together world leaders to take action on global challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together some of the biggest difference-makers in the world, and its members have made nearly 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved more than 200 million lives in 150 countries. But do you also know about Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)? CGI U was launched two years ago to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.

The third annual CGI U Meeting, held at the University of Miami from April 16-18, 2010, will host nearly 1,500 young leaders who are passionate about making a difference in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation and Public Health. In addition to giving students the opportunity to hear from experts, celebrities and NGO leaders who are making a difference, students will spend a significant amount of time learning from and collaborating with other students who are creating change.

The speakers, panels and skill sessions have not yet been announced for 2010 CGI U, but to get a taste of what you can expect, watch some of the 2009 and 2008 webcasts or check out an insider’s view of the last event. To top off the weekend, CGI U participants will join together for a service project to give back to the host community of Miami.

The good news? There’s no meeting fee. The better news? The admission of students, youth directors and university officials to CGI U is based on their submission of a Commitment to Action, a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on their campus, in their community, or in a different part of the world. Thinking back, I’ve been to a few conferences that, while delivering interesting content, seemed to have little in the way tangible outcomes, so I love that CGI U provides a structure for students to put their ideas into action and actually monitors the progress of commitments.

Some past commitments include a program to exchange food for recyclables, a social change summer camp for Palestinian refugee youth, and the construction of a multipurpose theater in Brazil. If you need some inspiration, check out the 2009 CGI U Outstanding Commitments, which received grants from the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Wal-Mart Foundation to implement their commitments. Since the first CGI U meeting, students around the world have made nearly 2,000 commitments that will make the world a better place, and I’m excited to see what the Miami attendees come up with.

Students have until February 1, 2010, to make their Commitment to Action and apply to CGI U. Commitments to Action should include a detailed plan outlining how you will make a difference in the area of Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, or Public Health.

These Days "DM" Means Direct Message, Not Direct Mail

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:51:09 +0000

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in Allison Fine’s monthly Social Good podcast for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Together with Tom Watson, we discussed how organizations large and small are raising dollars and awareness through online fundraising contests. There’s certainly no shortage of these contests as we’ve seen in recent months, but as the end of 2009 fast approaches, contests aren’t the only way that organizations are raising money online. We know that a little creativity in reaching and keeping new donors has never been more important.

As the Nonprofit Times suggested to organizations last week, “it might be time to check to see if your online donation page is working because more than 111 million people plan to use the Web to give to nonprofits this holiday season.” This according to a new report by Convio, that estimates more than $4 billion in donations will be made online this year, up about $1 billion from last year’s holiday giving season.

While the survey found that charity Web sites are the biggest influence on online consumers' decision to give (44 percent), it’s not just your online donation page you should make sure is up to snuff, because today’s donors will be looking for your Twitter handle, your Facebook fan page, or they may simply stumble upon you via Google. As John Haydon pointed out in a post today, you need to think of Facebook, Twitter and Google as your organization’s new homepage. After all, nearly 25 percent of respondents to the Convio survey said that what family and friends say on social media platforms and in personal e-mails influences their decisions on which charities to support.

I admit to being on a bit of soap box these days as I talk about the need for nonprofits to focus on cultivating the next generation of donors, my peers the Millennials. While we may not all have the financial means to give in a significant way today, there are two things that should not be overlooked: the collective power of our individual smaller donations, and our high expectations for a seamless experience when donating online or via mobile devices. It’s safe to say that we’ll be reaching for our laptops to donate to causes we care about much more quickly than we could ever find our checkbook and a postage stamp.

With this in mind, I turned to the data to see who was giving online and expected to see more of a discrepancy when it came to the breakdown by age (with Gen X and Gen Y leading the way). Perhaps it’s time to get off of the Millennial soap box, because on average about 60% of people across the board are giving online. Of the survey respondents, 66 percent of Younger Boomers, categorized as ages 44 to 53, said they would donate online this holiday season, followed by 65 percent of Generation X respondents, ages 30 to 43; 64 percent of Generation Y, ages 18 to 29; 60 percent of Seniors, ages 65 and older; and, 59 percent of Older Boomers, ages 54 to 64.

It’s clear there is still no silver bullet for fundraising. Charities must promote their causes across all channels and simply putting up a website, or having a presence on a social network site, is not enough. As Tom Watson was quick to point out in last weeks podcast, “organizations that do the best, fear the least – they let people do their own fundraising.” So, how can your organization use this holiday season to appeal to new donors online? This post started with a focus on how to reach Millennials donors, but these traits can be applied broadly to attract any donor who is among the 60 percent following this generation’s lead in going online for their end-of-year giving.

Make an emotional connection, but make sure you do so in an authentic way
Place a premium on involving peers and friends – remember, Millennials trust their social networks above anyone else and can see right through gimmicks and marketing ploys
Try to go where they are, and do more than just ask for money. It can be as simple as follow us on Twitter, or share this link on facebook.
Don’t expect a second chance to make a first impression, if they don’t give the first time, you may lose them forever
Treat them (and all donors) with respect, and be quick to thank them for their support – yes, they expect that immediate recognition
Don’t forget why you’re asking. If you can’t tell your story in a clear and compelling way, one of the 1.1 Million other nonprofits competing for their attention can

Santa Isn't Real and Other Disappointments - And How to Deal

Kristin Ivie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:08:41 +0000

Life is full of disappointments for Millennials. Over and over again we are faced with the realization that things are not what we expected them to be. Santa isn't real. Milli Vanilli wasn't really singing. Capri pants are not actually flattering on anyone. And the Wizard of Oz is just a little man behind a curtain. And these disappointments occasionally pervade our work as well. We are a very idealistic generation, with very high standards for ourselves, our organizations, our colleagues and our politicians, but we have had to face disappointments in the organizations we have been involved with and our sector as a whole.

In conversations with my peers, I have found recurring themes of disappointment. There's competition where we expected collaboration, ego where we expected humility. I recently saw someone tweet about how disappointing it is to learn that a nonprofit organization you trust and admire does not treat their employees well. Many of us felt mislead when we first learned about that our loan to Kiva wasn't really helping the taxi company entrepreneur buy his first car in Tanzania. The Red Cross's response to helping victims of 9/11, and then Katrina, was criticized for lacking transparency, accountability and cooperation. The Center for Civic Education appears to have misused almost $6 million in taxpayer money. In many cases we may find, upon closer inspection that these things can be explained by efficacy and simplicity, or were misunderstandings. But they can still be hard to swallow.

I am disappointed (and annoyed, frankly) every time I see an organization that I have previously supported represented by what some appropriately call “chuggers” (charity muggers) - those people with clipboards that follow you down the street, making you feel like a criminal because you don't "have a minute to save the environment" or "care to help change the lot of a single mother in a developing country." I don't like that my previously donated dollars could be paying someone to harass me on the street, and it goes against what I believe about charitable giving by paying people to stand on the street and beg for money from complete strangers who have no known connection to or interest in their cause or relationship with the person asking, not to mention the questions about efficacy, damage to brand, or fair labor practices.

And while there are valid reasons for many of the things we find disappointing, we end up feeling jaded about organizations we work for, partner with or give to. One temptation might be to launch our own initiatives because at least we know that we won't sell out, we won't treat people poorly, we won't lose sight of our mission, we won't misuse funds. But we already know I don't think that being disillusioned with how a few organizations function qualifies you to start your own. And we realize that just up and leaving the sector isn't going to fix anything either. So what do we do? How do we regain perspective? A few ideas:

Volunteer with another organization. Get a little outside your nonprofit and get back to the face-to-face, remember why you are doing what you're doing. Every time I spend a little time with the City Year Corps here in D.C., I feel a little better about our world and it’s future. We are all flawed people, so we bring those flaws to work sometimes, but we are here to make a difference and I really believe we are doing that.
Do a reality check. We have a tendency to be a very idealistic generation - and I love that about us. It drives us to go hard after things that previous generations didn’t think were possible, didn’t value as important, or both, and we will achieve many of them, but swallowing a healthy dose of realism could help keep us from becoming totally jaded. No organization is perfect, and not everything is black and white. To employ a couple more clichés, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but take off the rose-colored glasses, accept how things work sometimes, and you will begin to see how you can best function in this space and make the greatest difference you can in an imperfect world.
Spend some time with a mentor. I think it's always interesting to contrast my experience with those of the people who have been doing this longer than I have. My dad didn't always love his job, but he stuck with the same organization for 30 years because that's what people did. As a woman, I am conscious that many of the women we work with have had to fight to overcome adversity from all sides: men who don't respect them as superiors, other mothers who think they shouldn't be working with children at home. There have always been disappointments in this, and every, sector, but we will continue to fight to improve it, just like the Boomers did, and hearing about that occasionally could do us some good.
Consider appropriate channels and opportunities to express your concerns. If we aren't doing anything about it, it's not helpful to sit around and lament. So, taking a dose of my own medicine, I've written an email to an organization who regularly sends me updates and requests for donations, who I have supported in the past, but who I've felt kind of "ew" about since I've been accosted by their chuggers on the street. I know my email probably won't change their practices. If so many organizations have started harassing people on the street, it must work. But one instance of feedback is better than none, and I will have done my part. As we saw with Kiva, constructive, public criticism can be really productive. They responded well, explaining their methods and resolving to be more transparent in the future about what making a loan through Kiva really means.

Life is not really a box of chocolates, and there are sour moments when we see the man behind the curtain. But we aren't quitters, so let's learn from disappointments, gain perspective from those who can provide it and continue to challenge each other to be better.

A new style of gratitude

Kari Dunn Saratovsky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:48 +0000

We couldn’t let the Thanksgiving holiday week slip by without a quick post of gratitude – in honor of you. You are our co-conspirators, our inspiration for new ideas and fresh content, and you push us to produce more thoughtful conversations here on Social Citizens. Let’s face it, 2009 has been a tough year no matter who you are - but it’s nice to know that our social networks (both in real life and right here online) are helping us be even better when it comes to showing our thanks.

Think about it, you can “friend” someone or “retweet” what they say. You can “like” and “rate” and “vote” and “comment” - all are gestures of gratitude even if you could never get your Uncle Al to understand what it is you do all day, while reaching across the table to pass him the bowl of cranberry sauce. But, these gestures of gratitude are built in to what we do – they are our new social currency and in this economy, the great thing is, they won’t cost you a thing.

In case you haven’t shown your gratitude as part of Tweetsgiving, learn more from the great folks at Epic Change and help The Twitterkids raise money to build an additional classroom, cafeteria, and library in Arusha, Tanzania.

This Thanksgiving remember what you’re grateful for – there are plenty of ways to do so. From our blog to your feed, Happy Thanksgiving!

Putting Stock in Social Enterprise

Kristin Ivie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:12:12 +0000

After seeing young social entrepreneur William Kamkwamba speak recently, I wrote a post wondering how we can find and encourage young people in remote areas who have the potential to change the world. While I'm not sure this question has been fully answered, there are some exciting campaigns, programs and organizations working to capture the entrepreneurial spirit for good. Today is Social Enterprise Day, and this week (November 16-22) in 85 countries including Rwanda, Lebanon, and Bangladesh, efforts as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week are meant to inspire young people to create innovative solutions to social problems. Last year, the first Global Entrepreneurship Week included almost 25,000 events in 77 countries and included more than 3 million attendees.

GEW is an opportunity for idea exchange, mentorship, collaboration and competitions meant to spur innovation among students, like the Global Innovation Tournament, which gives students a week to come up with a solution to a problem (this year, to make saving money fun) and post their results in a YouTube video. Other events this week include business pitch competitions, workshops on how to succeed in a struggling economy or take ideas to scale, speed networking events, and clean technology contests. Initiatives like GEW are encouraging because they provide additional access to young aspiring entrepreneurs and show that the entrepreneurship boom of my generation will be a social entrepreneurship boom. For more reasons why GEW matters, check out Nathaniel Whittemore's post on Change.org. Social Edge, from the Skoll Foundation, which has been promoting social entrepreneurship for years, also has a list of current opportunities for young people around the world.

For Millennials interested in getting a social enterprise-focused graduate degree, the options are growing as well. A few years ago I would never have thought of getting an MBA. I remember talking to one of my mentors about various graduate school programs, and he practically begged me not to get a Masters in Social Work. He said that while a degree in Social Work was admirable and helpful, it wasn't the only option if I wanted to make a difference. Business school, he said, was not just for investment bankers; it could help me run an efficient nonprofit or manage a government agency. Business skills can, and should, be used to help people. Not help them realize that Coke is better than Pepsi or help them decide they need another pair of kicks, but actually help them. Now after working with small nonprofit and entrepreneurial projects in Ethiopia and promoting sustainable economic development in the West Bank, I am fully convinced he was right. As Colleen Dilenschneider wrote recently, especially for our generation, social change is sector agnostic. The kind of sustainable change we want to see will be achieved through a mashup of the public, private and independent sectors, and I want to be prepared to craft that mix. Being profitable and doing good are not two opposing options; rather, they can be achieved at the same time, by the same initiatives.

And as I've been looking into it, I'm encouraged to see that business schools seem to believe the same because there are lots of great programs with a social edge. A few of the programs, many of which have emerged or restructured in the last decade, are below.

The Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke’s Fuqua School promotes the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact by teaching students to apply business skills to global problems. Founded in 2002, CASE offers social enterprise-focused coursework, career planning, internships and financial assistance.
Yale School of Management’s entire MBA program encourages students to think creatively and take risks to improve the world.
At the University of Michigan's Ross School, a partnership with UM’s School of Social Work and School of Public Policy created the Nonprofit and Public Management Center, which provides opportunities for students to serve on nonprofit boards, take special courses and participate in nonprofit consulting internships.
Stanford Graduate School of Business lists two of its four key areas as Global Awareness and Social Innovation, recognizing both the far-reaching impacts of globalization and the social impact and responsibilities of businesses.
Columbia Business School has a Social Enterprise program, which helps students align their personal and professional values in careers that result in social benefits to a broader community. The program's focus areas include Public and Nonprofit Management, International Development and Emerging Markets, Social Entrepreneurship, and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
The Haas School of Business at UC-Berkeley focuses on teaching students to lead through innovation by challenging conventional wisdom, being creative and collaborative and discovering how to seize opportunities. Students who plan to play in the public or nonprofit sectors can take advantage of the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership.
In 2005, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern launched the Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK) program to meet the needs of students who want to do well and do good.

By no means exhaustive, this list is exciting just as a demonstration that some of the country's most well-respected schools are investing in leadership for social change, but even at schools which are not yet championing social good in their taglines and focus areas, Net Impact's more than 200 chapters provide business students with resources and networks to seek social and environmental sustainability. And most of these schools are also putting their money where their mouths are. They offer various loan forgiveness or repayment assistance programs, which provide funds to help MBA graduates who are earning relatively lower salaries (i.e. $80,000 or less) working at nonprofit organization or local, state or federal agency.

What other opportunities have you seen for budding social entrepreneurs? What kinds of opportunities are still missing?