Over the last few years as a fundraising consultant, I’ve kept my research eye on the behavioral differences of donors of various generations.  To be honest, one reason was that as a young nonprofit leader, I was keenly aware of and frustrated by the ageism around me. Sure, there was a place for young leaders, but all too often it was only with fledgling grassroots nonprofits, not with large professional ones.  “People under 40 just don’t give,” a boss of mine once quipped. I know that’s not true – and I hope you do, too.

So I am dedicating this week’s blog entries to thoughts on philanthropic leadership.  The first comes from Michelle Waranch, the director of the Emerging Leaders and Philanthropists group of UJA-Federation of New York.  In her opinion article, “Gen Xers Are Far From Apathetic,” she accurately (and cathartically) paints a picture of the frustration of young leaders.

Filed under: Trends by Jim Hopper on January 27, 2010