THE MILLENIAL REVOLUTION

by Jessica Paulsen, Associate-in-Training, do good Consulting

"Yes, there’s a revolution under way among today’s kids – a good news revolution. This generation is going to rebel by behaving not worse, but better. Their life mission will not be to tear down old institutions that don’t work, but to build up new ones that do.”
- From Millenials Rising, by Neil Howe and William Strauss

In a 2006 study of incoming college freshman, 66% said it is “essential or very important” to help others, the highest percentage to give that response in 25 years. They have been called the next great generation, and they’ve just found themselves with a lot of time on their hands. Will they be working for your organization this summer?

Much has been written about the Millennial Generation in the past several years, as we begin to see more young men and women joining other generations in the workplace. Our attitudes and values sometimes clash and the differences among generations become more apparent. This generation, made up of young men and women aged 15-28, seems very different.

Their expectations of work are different. Many have never known the world without computers or cell phones, but they are more socially conscious than generations before, are ready to make a difference, and are volunteering in record numbers. Find out what makes them tick and you’ll find them working for change at your organization.

At 25, I’m a Millennial myself. My parents got their first computer when I was five, when I remember how cool it was to ‘draw’ pictures in Paint. In middle school, we dissected frogs in a computer program instead of a lab. I’ve been using PowerPoint since eighth grade and haven’t had a land line phone since college. Technology is a way of life. If you want to recruit young people, you need to look in the right places.

Once they get in touch with a cause in which they believe, they want to make a difference. Growing up in a fast-paced world, Millennials want results now. They want to be given responsibility and see results. Like other volunteers, if young people don’t feel engaged and appreciated, they won’t stick around.

Although some have deemed Millennials as uncommitted, that characterization is a bit off-base. Millennials are deeply committed to their work, their personal lives, and their goals, but they are not willing to sacrifice one for the other. If they don’t feel they’ve found a good balance, they won’t wait for change. They’ll move on to find a better fit, or create an opportunity that helps them meet these goals.

Speaking of moving, research has also shown that young people in this generation tend to move around a lot. They move away for college, take internships out of town, or move from city to city to find the right job. Whether your organization ends of being that 'perfect fit' for Millenials or not, fostering volunteerism among young people will create long-term advocates and donors for your cause.

At the end of the day, the full story on Millenials is yet to be told. For now, we know they’ll be different. And for non-profits today, that’s a very good thing.

If your organization needs help developing, refining, or evaluating your volunteer program (for all or any ages), contact do good Consulting at 217-778-1687 or dogood@dogoodconsulting.org. Also, be sure to check out do good’s volunteer-related resources at www.dogoodconsulting.org/resources.

Productive Meetings 101

by Jennifer Scanlan, Professional Development Specialist, do good Consulting

I recall a conversation I had with a team member at a previous job following a campaign planning meeting. My co-worker lamented the fact that there was no room for participation at the meeting. This person was extremely creative, dynamic, and insightful. It seemed, however, that each time we entered “planning mode” with the team, his energy and ideas drained right from him. How very unfortunate to have lost his input.

After some discussion, we figured out the problem and what prevented his participation. I noted to myself that I had seen this problem time and time again, just with different names and various faces.

The goal of our meeting was to gather a diverse group working on the campaign to achieve the best campaign plan possible. The result, however, was a plan that exactly matched the draft we started with and that included no new or innovative ideas. One problem? The facilitator’s preparation and implementation methods did not align with the mission of the meeting.

Have you ever noticed that all too many meetings consist of one person talking at the group, or one person going off on tangents and not involving the entire group? I have, and it makes for dull, unproductive meetings. Who wants to sit and listen to one person drone on and on, listing each item on the agenda instead of letting the meeting flow – by introducing each item then inviting and managing feedback when appropriate. There is a big difference between a lecture and a discussion, and one should not be confused for the other.

Another problem was the last-minute agenda from our leader. We had received the agenda at the end of the previous work day for a 9AM meeting. Even if the facilitator had truly been “facilitating” rather than lecturing, our dynamic, creative individual didn’t have time to review what was planned for discussion.

Don’t forget: non-profit staff and program volunteers are extremely busy and often overworked. Board members are volunteers who have other lives outside of your organization. Don’t assume that meeting attendees will be hurrying to their emails at the end of the day in anxious anticipation of your late-arriving agenda, or that they will have the time or the desire to ponder about the items that evening at home.

To create more dynamic meetings filled with new ideas, participation, and great energy, be sure to give meeting attendees at least 48 hours advance notice to review the agenda. Better yet? Send items needing review three days in advance to help busy volunteers, board members, and staff members adequately prepare for the meeting and their participation.

Jennifer Scanlan, a Professional Development Specialist with do good Consulting, can be reached at do good’s new Springfield office directly at 217-494-2727 or jennscanlan@dogoodconsulting.org.

Q&A: How do you measure special event success?

Dear do good:
I’m on the fundraising committee at a local charity. This spring, we held a fundraising dinner for the first time. The event, which we hoped to be the first of many, was fun and our attendance goal was exceeded, but it was also a lot of work. In the end, we ended up losing money. Because of this, the fundraising committee wants to pursue a different event next year – one that will make money for the group. I’m skeptical. What do you think?
~ Skeptical in Springfield

Dear Skeptical:
First of all, congratulations on your event. Exceeding your targeted goal for attendance is wonderful and quite an accomplishment for a first-year event for a non-profit. I’m really glad to hear you set an attendance benchmark for your event: this is critically important in measuring success and not many groups actually commit themselves to doing this.

Now, about the money. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals best practices guidelines, "a new special event is unlikely to do better than break-even, but the event should make better than break-even within three years to justify its continuation." In other words, you should expect to lose money on any new special event, not only in year one, but also year two. If done right, you should start to see returns on your annual event in year three and beyond.

Special events require a great deal of up-front commitment, coordination, and energy. But each year you put them on, that initial investment of learning the ropes and charting new waters decreases, thereby increasing your return. By starting a new event each year hoping to hit the jackpot with a hugely financially successful event, you could be setting yourself up for perpetual failure.

It’s important to remember that special events should largely be looked at as “friend-raising” events, not “fundraising” events. They are an investment in your organization’s future, used to cultivate new supporters and increase the investments of existing supporters. Your return on such events doesn’t necessarily come day-of, rather it comes in the form of increased annual fund contributions (from new donors and increased commitments from existing donors), increased buy-in for things like capital campaigns, and through increased energy and excitement in the community through visible celebration. You must be patient to see your investment pay off – you are essentially planting seeds of support at such events that are cultivated into flourishing support down the road if these seeds are well-tended.

To say that your event didn’t raise money the day-of is the wrong measure of success. Implement your post-event follow-up and cultivation plans and watch your seeds of support blossom. Review what went well and what didn’t. As you work towards a 2009 version of your event, you’ll find that your costs go down as systems are formulated and relationships develop.

So stick with it, Skeptical. If your group is in a position to pay a little now to gain a lot in the long-run and your fundraising committee volunteers have the energy to put into “friend-raising” special events for your charity’s cause, I say stay the course. Keep doing your goal-setting and outcome evaluations, create an event process manual and contact list, and use these findings to create a knock-out – and profitable – event in  just a few short years.

Good luck!
- Laura Huth, President & CEO, do good Consulting

Do you have a question for do good Consulting's non-profit experts? Submit your questions to dogood@dogoodconsulting.org.

Group Profile: Illinois Humane

by Jennifer Scanlan, do good Consulting/Springfield, Professional Development Specialist

Altruism isn’t only for the benefit of people. Just ask Pinky and Dolly.

Pinky is a pretty, loving girl who had a real rough start in life. Her first household failed to care for her and she lost her sibling due to neglect. Dolly has been displaced much of her life, and dreams about a home of her own where she can feel secure. Illinois Humane, a Springfield-based non-profit organization, is helping the girls find homes.

Did I mention that Pinky and Dolly are dogs? Dolly (pictured), also known as ‘The Dumpling’ because of her affectionate personality, is believed to be cattle dog-shepherd-rottweiler. Before Illinois Humane stepped in with care for Pinky’s skin disease, she was pink because she didn’t have a coat of fur! Thanks to the organization, she now sports a beautiful white coat.

Illinois Humane works to rescue, re-home, and provide better lives for abandoned, abused, and neglected companion animals. The organization also assists with the investigation and care of wildlife and exotic animals. It offers services primarily in Sangamon County and the Central Illinois area, and statewide for some programs.

Established in 2003, Illinois Humane is volunteer run. Since its conception, the group has conducted cruelty and neglect investigations, recovered animals from animal control facilities, responded to public needs to re-home animals, conducted spay and neuter initiatives, and advocated for better animal laws. Examples include funding for dog fighting and cruelty cases, mandatory cross-reporting for child welfare and animal welfare investigators, and immunity to emergency caregivers. Based on Illinois Humane’s disaster rescue in the Gulf Coast Disaster areas, which recovered 70 animals, the organization was able to inform the legislature about particular issues involved with emergency response.

Since 2003, through a cooperative effort with animal control facilities, Illinois Humane has saved and successfully re-homed to caring families more than 300 “pound” dogs. The organization holds pet adoptions on several weekends each month, usually at PETCO or PETSMART in Springfield. Notices of upcoming adoptions appear in Springfield’s State Journal-Register.

The group has done this tremendous work without a kennel facility or an office location. It shelters all rescued animals in a network of foster homes or in discounted kennel spaces. Illinois Humane relies on the support of individuals and businesses in the community; donations pay for the expenses of veterinary care, food, bedding, carriers, kennels, equipment and other animal care needs. Stay tuned for Illinois Humane fundraisers and events throughout the year which help with their spay/neuter programs, vaccinations, heartworm treatments, medical care, and rescue programs and services.

For more information or to help, contact animalinvestigations@illinoishumane.org, petadoptions@illinoishumane.org, or 217-698-3804, or go to www.illinoishumane.org.

Want to see your favorite non-profit group profiled in an upcoming issue of Doing Good? Contact do good at 217-778-1687 or dogood@dogoodconsulting.org.