Fifty Jewish Federation Development (fundraising) Volunteers (DVs) gathered in the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center Theater recently for Bridging the Gap: A Generational Perspective to hear a presentation by Kim Lear of BridgeWorks LLC, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm specializing in generational issues. The event was part of the 2012 Annual Community Campaign kickoff. The Annual Campaign is the community’s largest yearly fundraising effort that supports a family of 60 local, national and international agencies, programs, services and innovative projects that deliver programs and services for Jews of all ages and needs.
Development Volunteers are a group of hard working and committed lay leaders who partner with Jewish Federation to inspire others to support the work of the organization and to raise funds for the ongoing community campaign.
The speaker focused on the role of DVs building relationships with donors through a generational lens. Ms. Lear described the four generations and the characteristics of each. The Traditionalists (born prior to 1946) are loyal, desiring to leave a legacy, fiscally conservative and have faith in institutions. Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) are questioners of authority, desiring to put their own stamp on institutions and optimistic. Generation X’ers (born 1965-1981) are resourceful, self-reliant, skeptical of institutions and independent. And the Millennials (born 1982 to 2000) are globally concerned, media savvy, realistic, environmentally conscious and collaborative.
“Using this generational lens allows solicitors to determine where donors are coming from. Putting the characteristics of each person into the generational framework provides another tool to understand donors and subsequently build relationships with them,” said Rachel Katzman, Chair of Federation’s DV efforts.
“Jewish Federation is committed to providing the development volunteers with education and resources to enable them to be successful solicitors and leaders in the Jewish community,” said Jessica Litwack, Federation Senior Development and Communications Associate who oversees the DV activities.
Jewish Federation is the central planning and resource development organization for the St. Louis Jewish community. Federation works to build and support a thriving Jewish community – through a network of 60 agencies, programs and services in St. Louis, Israel and around the world.