Adding to the ever-increasing pool of research surrounding the Millennials, the Pew Research Center recently released the results of a study on the behaviors, values, and opinions of this unique generation. This study confirms much of what we already know – Millennials are well-educated (on track to become the most highly-educated generation in American history), politically liberal (66 percent of Millennial voters backed Barack Obama), and increasingly self-expressive (75 percent have at least one social networking profile). 

What does this all mean for the nonprofit community, and fundraisers in particular? Well, Millennials have started to come of age and enter the workforce. Soon they’ll have disposable income, and the capacity to start giving philanthropically (or increase the giving they already do). This group has spent a lifetime being bombarded by messaging everywhere they go, meaning it will be more important than ever to keep their priorities and characteristics in mind when developing your key messages and determining meaningful opportunities for engagement with your organization.

How in touch are you with the Millennials? The fine folks at Pew created a quiz to go along with their report. Not surprisingly, the quiz has already become a Facebook sensation (how do you think I heard about it?).  Being a child of the 80′s, I got a score of 97.  How do you stack up?

Filed under: Donor Relations, Reviews, Trends by Mandi Moshay on February 26, 2010