Introducing Millennials as Social Citizens

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Introducing Millennials as Social Citizens A
presentation for NOVN October 16, 2008
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Hi, Im Kari Im a Millennial
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Quick intro The Case Foundation

• Jean and Steve Case established the Case
  Foundation in 1997 to reflect their familys
  commitment to find
• lasting solutions to complex social challenges.
• Our purpose is to expand giving, promote
  everyday philanthropy, deepen civic engagement,
  and broaden the use of new technologies in the
  nonprofit sector.  We seek to do this while
  emphasizing the value of collaboration across all
  sectors, individual and organizational
  leadership, and entrepreneurship.

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Overview

• Who are the Millennials?
• What can we learn from their style of leadership
  and engagement?
• Why do Millennials matter to your organization?
• How can you effectively recruit and retain
  Millennial volunteers?

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Meet the Millennials

• Born between 1979 -1993
• Size and technology empowering them in new ways
• Mostly kids of Baby Boomers
• Think of themselves as part of a global social
  and economic system
• Pampered and protected

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What they want

• To Be Respected
• To Be Recognized
• To Be Remembered

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Millennial Characteristics
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Millennials - as Social Citizens
Individuals who are energetic and passionate
about social causes brimming with new approaches
and ideas for problem-solving disposed toward
sharing the responsibilities and rewards of
affecting change in the world and equipped with
the digital tools and people power to make it
happen.
Source Social Citizens, www.socialcitizens.org
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Defining Characteristics

• Blended Worlds
• Cause Lifestyle

Side to Side Leadership
Immersive Living
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Why Should We Care?

• As a whole, the nonprofit sector is just NOT
  ready for Millennials
• Many organizations are simply out of touch with
  this rising generation
• Hard to find conversations with Millennials,
  lots happening about them
• If Millennials are unhappy with their reception
  by nonprofits, theyll simply start their own
  efforts overnight, online, at almost no cost.

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RU ITK?

• Campaign
• Bottom-up
• Hyper Targeting
• Personal Connection
• Partnerships
• Amusement

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Meet them where they are
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In Their Own Words

• KEEP IT REAL
• "Being fake is worse than being uncool. Don't try
  to talk like us because it's not going to work.
  And, if you try to be something you're not or use
  celebrities that don't have anything to do with
  you -we'll see right through it."
• HEAR ME OUT
• "I have ideas and I want to make my mark. People
  my age are really creative and have a lot to say
  about what's going on. We can make your company
  better."

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In Their Own Words

• MY WAY . . . NOW
• "I want it how I want it. Period. I like to be
  shown, not told because my friends and I can form
  our own opinions. I skim info quickly because I'm
  impatient, and I hate waiting because I'm always
  doing a bunch of things at once.
• ENTERTAIN ME
• "It's all about me -and my friends -give us a
  laugh! We'll stop what we're doing if you're
  funny -or just fun. And then we'll talk about you
  to practically everyone we know -and that's a lot
  of people!
• Decoding the Digital Millennials
  http//myspace.com/ruready4us

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Thoughts for discussion

• Are my current web based communications appealing
  to a broad audience?
• Is my web site just an online brochure, or a
  place for staff, volunteers and other
  stakeholders to share, learn, and inspire one
  another?
• What is the status of my online volunteer
  recruitment efforts? Does it appeal to a
  Millennial audience?
• Am I making the best use of inexpensive tools and
  widgets (Causes, Network for Good, Global Giving,
  etc.) to connect with existing and potential
  donors?
• How could I leverage new online platforms and
  tools not just to fundraise but to build a
  connected network of advocates for my
  organization?
• Other than giving money, how can my stakeholders
  use the online medium to support my work?