Chapter 31: Differentiating Generations and Their Giving
How much do Americans from different generations give to charitable causes? To answer this question, this chapter begins by situating philanthropic behavior within historical, social, and technological changes segmenting one generation from the next. Additionally, the chapter summarizes life course development changes, specifically elongated transitions into adulthood and the relatively new life stage of emerging adulthood. The combination of these trends results in different approaches to organizational engagement. Younger generations tend to be more activity focused than organizationally loyal, and thus trends are reviewed based on action verbs, rather the organizationally based terms of prior generations. What was once work is now earning; education is now learning; religion is believing; volunteerism is serving; and donations are giving. Across four data sources, the trends are consistent: younger Americans generally give less than prior generations.
Patricia Snell Herzog
Patricia Snell Herzog, Ph.D., is Melvin Simon Chair and Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies in the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Prior, Herzog was an Assistant and Associate Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Center for Social Research at the University of Arkansas. She has published numerous articles, reports, and books, including The Science of Generosity: Manifestations, Causes, and Consequences (Palgrave 2020) and American Generosity: Who Gives and Why (OUP 2016).
Patricia Snell Herzog discusses the chapter with Bill Stanczykiewicz, Achieving Excellence editor and Director of The Fund Raising School.