It’s a fact of life that every generation criticizes the generation to come after it. Boomers criticized Gen X. Gen X criticized millennials. And now it seems that we’re all ganging up on Gen Z.
But why?
For all the bad press they receive on social media about their supposed lack of work ethic, social faux pas, and naive idealism, Gen Z is actually doing some really great things for social justice and equality in today’s workforce.
And while I wholeheartedly believe that the nonprofit industry has a long way to go before we can throw out capitalism entirely, I have to admit that I feel inspired by the unique perspective and innovative approaches this next generation is bringing to social change work.
And yet, I’m a pragmatist. I have to ask myself…
Do I believe in the cause enough to trust young people with leadership positions on my board? To implement consent-based decision-making processes in my organization? To neglect my grant commitments in favor of a fairer system of fundraising?
Do I believe Gen X can actually disrupt the nonprofit industrial complex and usher in a new era of equity, inclusion, and diversity?
I’m on the fence. But whether it happens now or later, I think we can say for certainty that as Gen Z comes of age, we’re going to have a front-row seat to the show.
We can either take the next generation by the hand or let the door hit us on the way out.
So if we aren’t ready to take the plunge, maybe the answer is to cautiously dip our toe into the water of systemic change or even wade into the shallow end with the youngsters.
🎤🎤🎤
In this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my friend and change-maker Sarah Medina Camiscoli!
Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Law at Rutgers and the founding co-director of the Peer Defense Project. Sarah shows us how these visionary zoomers are experimenting with entirely new ways to build mission-driven organizations, from mutual aid networks to worker-self-directed nonprofits and beyond.
My fave takeaway – the power of Gen Z isn’t necessarily in the benjamins they can raise, but rather in their ability to manifest and multiply a following.
They’ve done what we Gen Xers and millennials have merely hoped to accomplish–leveraging digital community and grassroots solidarity to advance justice. (Sarah even gave me a template to start integrating some of these “prefigurative politics” into my own organization without fully disrupting the board and funders.👀)
So whether you lead an established nonprofit empire or are just a wannabe ally looking to support the next generation of world-changers, listen in on the discussion as Sarah breaks down everything you need to know.
Stick around to the end for her best tips on bringing Zoomers onto your board, doing right by youth staffers, and opening up decision-making to a consent-based approach in your organization.
You can hear the full episode right here 🎧: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/275-gen-z-fundraising-with-sarah-medina-camiscoli/id1436858854?i=1000646883799
If we were wrong about Gen Z, maybe we’ve been thinking about money all wrong too! Take the free Money Mindset quiz to shift your thinking so you can start attracting individual major gifts! https://go.rheawong.com/money-quiz
