Giving by the Generation
Motivations, experiences and economics influence donations by various age groups, and different charities benefit. We know how important it is to give back to our communities and to support charitable causes. However, recent research from the Blackbaud Institute indicates that the overall number of philanthropic donations in America has steadily declined since 2013 – for most generations. “There are significant differences that apply to charitable giving between generations, and these are formed largely by the greatest social influences of their time – war, depression, innovation … and technology,” says Lindsay Goble-Jordan, founder and chief philanthropic adviser for Write On Fundraising. “Traditionally, the more mature a generation, the greater their collective giving. This 12
SOCIAL DATEBOOK | 2019
is a reflection of increased giving capacity and accumulation of wealth over their lifetime.” Monica Champ, president-elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Eastern Oklahoma, agrees. “Generally speaking, among individuals who do charitable giving, the greatest generation [from the World War II era] and baby boomers are making larger gifts more frequently because they have more capacity to make gifts,” she says. These older generations, comprising the majority of charitable givers, usually focus donations toward causes related to religion, disaster relief, social services and the military. Generation X and
