This paper examines the growing role of the Millennial generation in nonprofit organizations and volunteer work. It profiles Millennials — those born between 1982 and 2002 — highlighting their distinguishing characteristics: technological fluency, increasing racial and ethnic diversity, and rising educational attainment. The paper explores why Millennials are drawn to volunteer and nonprofit work, including a genuine desire to give back, political engagement, and the practical benefit of building professional experience during difficult economic conditions. It also considers employer-sponsored volunteerism and compares Millennial volunteer rates to those of previous generations, concluding that while Millennials may not yet lead in raw volunteer numbers, their unique skill set positions them to make a significant impact on the nonprofit sector.
Volunteer work is always crucial in strengthening support for those in need within our society. However, who volunteers and works with nonprofit organizations is a significant part of driving new innovation in charitable practices. Today, a new generation increasingly entering adulthood is the Millennials. These individuals have more education and a greater desire to give back to their society. As a result, more young people are volunteering and getting involved with nonprofit organizations, which is a positive outlook for the future.
The Millennial generation is the newest group of individuals reaching adulthood. It includes young adults born between the years of 1982 and 2002, making them roughly between 18 and 29 years old — many of whom are teens and young twenty-somethings. They are remarkably different from any generation that came before them, having been exposed to technology throughout their formative years. As such, "they have been plugged into technology since they were babies, are a safe generation, are the first generation for which Hispanics/Latinos will be the largest minority group instead of African Americans, and have the most educated mothers of any generation" (University, 2013). All of these features set them apart from earlier generations, which saw less involvement with technology and fewer educational opportunities.
Additionally, the Millennial generation is becoming increasingly diverse — far more so than any generation before it. It is clear that "they are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They are less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history" (Pew Research Center, 2010, p. 8). This distinguishes them from previous generations, including Generation X. Millennials will eventually attain the highest average education level of any generation, "a trend driven largely by the demands of a modern knowledge-based economy, most likely accelerated in recent years by the millions of twenty-somethings enrolling in graduate schools, colleges, or community colleges in part because they can't find a job" (Pew Research Center, 2010, p. 10). This strengthens their skills and positions them to drive meaningful, positive innovation. They carry enormous potential and continue to achieve educational success. According to research, "this generation will replace the Baby Boomers as they retire" (University, 2013), bringing with it increased knowledge of technology and a capacity for future innovation.
Not only are Millennials entering the paid workforce in great numbers, but many are also choosing to engage in nonprofit organizations and volunteer work. Nonprofit organizations need resources and manpower to maintain their strong role in modern society, and Millennials offer some of what is needed to serve society at an increased level. The Millennial generation is one of the largest groups entering volunteer and nonprofit work. Essentially, these individuals "want to make a difference, give back, and get connected to organizations that can help them translate their talents into solutions to our most complex problems" (Corvington, 2011, p. 2).
Nonprofit organizations can benefit dramatically from the increased knowledge and technical fluency that younger individuals bring. Millennials have a strong grasp of how technology works and can learn and adapt as technology evolves — an advantage not shared by many previous generations. They are also a great source of innovative, critical thinking. As such, "the most promising places for nonprofits to recruit new volunteer talent are among retired baby boomers, young people (Millennials), businesses, and religious organizations" (Eisner et al., 2009). The nonprofit sector must pay close attention to the growing Millennial generation, which represents a vast wealth of resources capable of benefiting nonprofit organizations dramatically.
Millennials themselves are genuinely interested in giving back. Research suggests that 21% of Millennials say the most important thing in their life is to help others in need (Pew Research Center, 2010). More and more Millennials get involved with nonprofit activities each day. According to the research, "nearly 6 in 10 (57%) of Millennials say that they had volunteered in the past 12 months" (Pew Research Center, 2010, p. 90). It is evident that Millennials want to give back in great numbers. Many work with nonprofit organizations to advance a specific cause, while others volunteer in their spare time simply to help give back to their communities. Either way, Millennials are making a significant difference in the nonprofit sector.
"Altruism, political engagement, and community involvement"
"Corporate programs and recession-era resume-building through volunteering"
"Millennials matching Gen X volunteer levels so far"
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