Baffling and elusive to some, this generation has something to say about philanthropy.

Marlee Honcoop, our Member Services Coordinator — and Millennial — shares her thoughts.

People think we don't have a role to play in philanthropy when they think about my generation. They think selfies, smartphones, and student debt. But, a new study is talking about how my Millennial cohort is also poised to drive some changes in philanthropy.

To get a clearer picture of what I'm talking about, check out the NPR post that originally inspired me: How Millennials are Reshaping Charity and Online Giving. There's also a report and video from The Millennial Impact Project showing how people like me interact with a social purpose organization's call to action.

The way my generation thinks about giving or philanthropy boils down to three concepts:

• We don't like 'spin.' We give to organizations that use technology as a tool to increase their transparency, so we know where their dollars are going and how the money is being used. Australia-based thankyou. allows you to track the impact of your purchase. Check out their video here.
• We also really do not like the word 'donate' — because it implies a one-time transaction. We want our philanthropy to have long-term purpose. We'd like to think what little money we have is contributing to the greater good of our communities — and we want to see how it accomplishes that.
• We appreciate personal experiences — and then telling everyone about them (I know, it can be annoying). 92Y and United Nations Foundation used this to their advantage when they started the #Unselfie campaign for #GivingTuesday.

We want to feel authentically connected to the causes we care about because we know that movements can change things. As the lead for Donors Forum's #ILGiveBig campaign, I want to help create a movement that will sustain the awesome work our social purpose organizations do in Illinois. I'll bet if you look at your staff, you might find some lurking Millennials waiting to make things happen for your organization.

What do you think? What transformations could be possible if we unleash the power of Millennials? Share your comments by clicking below on "add new comment" (log-in required).

— Marlee Honcoop, Member Services Coordinator

* It's a contest! Got an emerging idea?
Do you have a finger on the pule of ideas that make a person go "Hmmm. . .?" Submit a compelling idea to us and if we highlight it as an Emerging Idea, you win a prize! Email your idea to Delia Coleman at [email protected].