Bob Dylan’s song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ” came out in the mid-1960s when the largest population cohort in history, known as the Baby Boomers, emerged and began to shake up the status-quo. Their attitudes and beliefs were very different from previous generations and their collective influence changed almost every aspect of our culture.
Today another generation has emerged with the capacity to have an even greater impact on our culture. Larger than the Baby Boomer generation, Millennials have been studied and scrutinized for years in anticipation of their coming of age. Like the “Boomers,” their values and attitudes are very different from those of previous generations. For that reason and the unquestionable fact that there are so many of them, we are likely to once again experience some profound changes in many aspects of our society.
Sometimes Millennials are discounted because of their different perspectives. Some see them as entitled or selfish while others label them civic-minded and savvy.
In fact, Millennials will be the business leaders, community activists, journalists, inventors, teachers and government officials of tomorrow. They will also be the trendsetters, thought-leaders, movers and shakers and billionaires. Nonprofits will want the best, brightest and wealthiest of them to serve on their boards, chair their capital campaigns and advocate for their mission. So, instead of disparaging them, it’s time to embrace them before they get too far ahead of you.
Many nonprofit leaders have already recognized that there is tremendous value in creating ways to involve Millennials in their organizations sooner rather than waiting for them to climb the career ladder. They see young professionals as tremendous assets to their organizations because they can:
- Provide insight into their generation’s values and perspectives preparing the organization for the future.
- Contribute new ideas in the fields of marketing, communications, social media, strategic planning and more.
- Help navigate through the rapidly changing technology environment.
- Become a part of succession plans for leadership positions on committees and boards of directors.
- Engage their peers as volunteers and donors.
- Passionately champion causes they believe in.
Clearly nonprofit leaders can be better prepared to navigate a rapidly changing environment by involving young professionals and leveraging their unique perspective, knowledge and passion on behalf of their organization. While it may not be easy for some nonprofit leaders to get on board with this idea, perhaps it will help to remind them that, like it or not, “The Times They Are A-Changin.” And frankly who wants to be the person stuck in the past when the future comes along?
