Our Grandmothers, Mothers and Aunts get us!

             On November 6^th, AFP’s Diversity to Inclusion Series held its sixth conference on Women and Philanthropy. In the spirit of getting ready to Chair the Next Generation conference in March, I’d like to share some thoughts on how this conference opened my eyes towards realizing that Women and Next Gen are a whole lot alike.

People say that women and young adults are complicated, needy and emotional. While that may often be true, the way to our wallets runs through our hearts.

At the conference, it became apparent to me that women and Next Gen’ers share nine common traits:

1.       We want to create a better world for our children.

2.       We want to share with those who are less fortunate.

3.       We want to make an impression on our communities.

4.       We like to see the impact of our gifts.

5.       We give to many people, places and causes (which doesn’t make us cheap).

6.       We hold our charities accountable.

7.       We want volunteer opportunities that are challenging.

8.       We like a balance of social and educational events.

9.       We feel left out when we are not asked.

Women and Next Gen thrive off of the collective model of giving. Giving together and volunteering together in the amount and time we want, is the recipe for sustained fundraising. Focusing as much effort on the programming as you do on the development, will cultivate enough of a relationship to open the door for the ask.  

At this stage in the game, your charity might be getting many small gifts from a wide array of donors. However, if you align the integrity of the organization with the trust of the donor, the future of philanthropy, which is also known as Planned Giving, will fall into your lap.  Bridging the gap between generations will only happen if our parents and grandparents teach us the value of leaving our legacy (ideally on paper so that the bequest actually gets delivered!)

Another similarity is that both Women and Next Gen like to see the final product. We want to be educated on what needs to be done and where we need to focus our time. We want to use our talents and skillsets the best way possible. Sometimes we do that by getting our hands dirty. Sometimes it’s by having our voice heard around the table - or sometimes it’s just by giving a cheque and getting a thank you note.

Next Gen loves sparking change. We start a discussion, implement an action and deliver. And guess what? Our mothers taught us that. Women and Next Gen ARE the voice of philanthropy in the future. So let’s go charities! Now is the time to start investing in the complicated, needy, opinionated and emotional ones!

More info about the Diversity to Inclusion Series @InclusiveGiving or afpinclusivegiving.ca