Evangeline Pattison, VP of Client Services & Senior Consultant
As a millennial, a development professional, and someone deeply committed to advancing Kingdom work through generosity, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how my generation is reshaping philanthropy. At this year’s West Coast Symposium, I had the privilege of presenting “The Next Generation of Major Donors: Millennials as Wealth Creators and Inheritors.”
This wasn’t just a talk about trends—it was personal. It was about people like me, and maybe like you, too.
The $84 Trillion Moment
We are living in the midst of the most significant intergenerational wealth transfer in history. By 2045, $84 trillion is expected to change hands—and 86% of that will pass directly to heirs. That means millennials are not only emerging as wealth creators in their own right, but also as the key stewards of this massive economic shift.
This isn’t theoretical. I see it every day in my work: peers who are founding companies, inheriting businesses, and stepping into family legacies. And more than that, they’re stepping up to give—but with a different set of expectations than previous generations.
Redefining Generosity
We millennials have grown up in a world defined by uncertainty and rapid change. Many of us came of age during 9/11 and entered adulthood during the Great Recession. We carry student debt, navigate skyrocketing housing costs, and often feel a deep tension between abundance and responsibility. Yet despite—or maybe because of—these challenges, we are passionate, values-driven givers.
We care about impact. We care about authenticity. And we want our giving to reflect a deeper sense of purpose. Giving isn’t just a transaction—it’s part of how we define who we are.
In fact, more than 20% of millennials say they want to be known for their philanthropy. We’re not looking to fund institutions for their own sake—we’re looking to solve problems, change lives, and leave a legacy that matters.
What Makes Millennials Different?
In my presentation, I shared some of the traits that make millennials unique as donors. Here are just a few:
- We treat all our assets—money, time, relationships—as tools for change.
- We value collaboration over hierarchy.
- We are influenced by our peers more than traditional authority figures.
- We often prefer smaller, trust-building steps before making larger commitments.
- We need to see and feel the impact of our contributions.
And we’re already making an impact. According to the Federal Reserve, millennial net worth has more than doubled in the last two years—from $4.6 trillion in 2020 to $9.4 trillion in 2022. We’re not just future donors. We’re here, we’re engaged, and we’re ready to act.
What Organizations Can Do—And Why It Matters
If you work with donors—or hope to—now is the time to build authentic relationships with millennials. Here are a few things that resonate deeply with us:
- Make it easy to start small. Invite us to events, share stories, ask for our input.
- Tell us the “why.” We give to missions, not just organizations. Be clear and bold about what you believe.
- Celebrate shared wins. Show us how our giving makes a difference—and cheer on others doing good work, too.
- Use the channels we’re already on. Yes, that includes text, social, and storytelling through compelling visuals.
- Treat us as partners. We’re not just wallets. We want to build something with you.
From One Millennial to Another
This isn’t just strategy—it’s discipleship. When we invite millennials into lives of generosity, we’re inviting them to live out their calling with purpose, joy, and impact. And when we truly understand their heart, we move from merely seeking gifts to cultivating partners in the Kingdom.
Let’s be the kind of organizations that millennials want to give to—because they believe in what we’re building together.
We’ve been privileged to help many organizations be more effective in their fundraising by learning and implementing relational fundraising principles in their work with donors. Want to talk?