WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG MARCH/APRIL 2019 57 GENERATIONAL GIVING How do people of different ages donate to charities? Here are some comparisons by generation. Millennials • 40 percent are enrolled in a monthly giving program. • 11 percent of total U.S. giving comes from Millennials. • 84 percent give to charity. • Most likely to contribute to work­sponsored initiatives, donate via mobile, and watch online videos before making a gift. • Active on their phones and respond best to text messages and social media, but rarely check personal email or respond to voice calls. Baby Boomers • 49 percent are enrolled in a monthly giving program. • 24 percent say they were prompted to give an online donation because of direct mail they received. • 72 percent give to charity. • Answer voice calls, check email regularly, and also use text messaging and social media. • Most likely to make recurring donations on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Gen Xers • 49 percent are enrolled in a monthly giving program. • Most likely to fundraise on behalf of a cause, make a pledge, and volunteer their time to an organization. • Prefer text messages or voice calls. These donors regularly check email and stay up to date on social media feeds. • 59 percent are inspired to donate to charity by a message/image they saw on social media. Silents • 30 percent of donors aged 75+ say they have given online in the last 12 months and on average give 25 percent more frequently than younger generations. • 88 percent give to charity. • Represent 26 percent of total U.S. giving. • Prefer voice calls and direct mail—do not typically use text messaging or social media. Source: Nonprofits Source